The Science of Fashion

[Fight!]

As someone with Social Phobia, I have always been obsessed with my appearance, and thus have always had an obsession with fashion. Don't laugh. I'm cereal.

Anyways, as most of you already know, what you wear has a significant effect on how people view you. Why? Well, we as humans merely adapt and learn by observing and associate what we have learned with other things. It is a sort of inductive reasoning we use to better understand the world around us. Rich, professional, or successful people tend to wear tuxedos, which is what we come to associate them with, which is why they help in interviews.

Some of you may know everything I say already, for others this may be the first time hearing stuff like this. In either case, feel free to skim or scrutinize whatever you see fit to.

Let' start with the basics: colors. What we associate colors is also dependent on a sort of inductive reasoning. Note that the psychological effects of colors are considerable, but not earth-shattering. They augment feelings towards the wearer, not set them. Combining colors somewhat combines the properties of the base colors.

Colors

Black and Darker Colors are associated with Authority, Mystery, and Sadness. Depending on how it is worn, wearing exclusively black may infer that you are an emotionally unstable person; don't let that dissuade you from wearing it though. Black and darker colors are powerful and go with most things well. White and Lighter Colors are associated with Innocence, Purity, and sometimes Simplicity. Wearing white can make you seem more homely, kind, and clean. Filth shows more clearly on white, but it is a commonly worn color for a reason. Like black, it goes with most things well, but is not as powerful a color. Pink is often associated with cute things, but it's rarity on men can make them stand out. Gray is associated with neutrality and mediation. Gray goes well with many colors, and wearing it will give you the authority of black with the purity of white. Gray is also a cool color, making it less engaging but also less likely to provoke conflict. Red is associated with passion, be it love or anger. Red is a more intense and engaging color. Wearing Red makes it easier to gain attention, making it a commonly used tie color for newly elected presidents. Careful though, wearing too much red could make you appear more hostile or easily angered. Blue is associated with coolness, as well as other qualities of water and sky. Blue is a cool, relaxed color. Wearing Blue will make you appear more casual and relaxed. Wearing blue can lessen negative feelings towards the wearer such as anger. Yellow is associated with warmth and energy. It is often annoying, which is why it is a very risky color to wear. However, wearing yellow will certainly make you stand out. Green is associated with all things natural. Wearing green will make you appear more peaceful and natural. Lighter hues may be associated with neon lights or sickness. Orange is associated with warmth. Orange is a stimulating color. The properties of orange could be considered a combination of those of red and yellow, and as such wearing orange could be risky, but not as much so as yellow. Wearing orange can make you appear more fun, quirky, and unique. Purple is associated with royalty, luxury, and combines the cool and passion of blue and red. Wearing purple can make you appear unique, and like blue will make conflicts less intense.

Along with colors, there are many things that affect how others perceive you.

Concepts

Uncommon or rare styles will cause you to appear unique and may make you a social deviant. This is not necessarily a bad thing, however. Being unique causes you to stand out, and may be a relief from more common styles. Tight fitting clothes expose, while looser clothes conceal. Wearing pants that are too tight or too loose should be avoided, but tightness and looseness should not be avoided entirely. Tight clothes can be used to show off muscles, while loose clothes can be used to create the illusion of size, which makes the wearer appear larger. Sleeves can conceal muscle, whereas the lack of sleeves exposes them. Appearing more muscular is generally a plus in fashion. Layers can be used to create a unique look. For example, wearing an unbuttoned button-up shirt over a t-shirt creates a line (see subtleties) which can make one appear taller while also making the wearer appear larger due to the looseness of the button up shirt without making the wearer appear wider around the belly because that part of the body is not exposed. Sunglasses hide the eyes, giving a more mysterious appearance. Most sunglasses give a more serious, cool, and potentially intimidating appearance, though some may be silly, and other some selection of these qualities. Glasses give the appearance of intelligence, but they can also make one appear to be more serious, cunning or nefarious.

There are a great number of subtleties that affect people's perception towards you as well.

Subtleties

Stripes will make you appear longer in whatever direction they are going. Vertical stripes may make you appear taller, while horizontal stripes make you appear wider. Stripes may also cause the mind stress if they are too thin and many in number. Logos create their own focal point, and thus distract from the rest of yourself. I advise against most logos, unless they're for some band or something you are really interested in. Wearing shirts with jokes have the same effect, but the entertainment may make the focal point worth it if you wish to appear non-serious, though it certainly won't help you get women. Pant length should be long enough to cover the socks completely. Exposing the socks creates in inconsistency in the line created by the pants, meaning unless your pants are way too tight, revealing the sock means revealing that your leg is not as wide as your pants lead the imagination to believe.

That's all I can think of at the moment, at any rate. If you have any questions or potential additions feel free to tell me

Oh yeah, and don't underestimate the science of faction. For realz.

[Himster]

Much of fashion is socially constructed and vary from society to society, from place to place and time to time: there are no real constants to be investigated, it can't really be considered science.

[removeduser_4536284751384]

Much of fashion is socially constructed and vary from society to society, from place to place and time to time: there are no real constants to be investigated, it can't really be considered science.

there are responses to certain fashions that humans have evolved.