Choosing and Caring for Clothes

Influences on Clothing Choices Physical Needs *Lifestyle Psychological Needs Social Needs *Group Identification *Dress Codes *Status *Conformity versus Individuality Special Needs

Buying clothes can take a big bite out of your budget Buying clothes can take a big bite out of your budget. Deciding what to wear can take time out of your day.

Physical Needs Clothes protect your body from *weather *environmental dangers *occupational hazards

Lifestyle Many of your physical needs for clothing are determined by your lifestyle. The majority of clothing choices are likely to be dictated by your daily activities.

Psychological Needs Any garment might meet a physical need. Clothes must have certain characteristics to meet psychological needs. Certain colors, fabrics, and styles of clothing can affect how you feel. An example: Bright colors might make you feel happy or excited. Soft fabrics can make you feel relaxed.

Choosing clothes you find appealing gives you a sense of well-being by helping to meet your psychological need for attractiveness. Wearing clothes that enhance your appearance can boost your self-esteem.

Social Needs The social need for acceptance plays a big role in the clothing choices most people make.

Group Identification People who identify with a group often use clothing as a sign of belonging. Members of certain groups wear uniforms as marks of identification. Uniforms are distinctive outfits that identify those who wear them with a specific group.

Dress Codes Dress codes are standards of dress that are enforced in a social setting. Formal dress codes are based on the belief that the way people dress tends to affect their behavior. Informal dress codes exist in society. Societal dress codes reflect people’s beliefs about modesty.

Modesty is the proper way to cover the body in various settings Modesty is the proper way to cover the body in various settings. Modesty can vary among different people, cultures, and societies. Some religious and ethnic groups have stricter informal dress codes than the societies in which The people live.

Status Status is a person’s rank within a group. People often use clothes as signs of their status. Certain garment, styles, and brands carry a higher status than others. Clothing with company logos, identification symbols can give a person a feeling of prestige or importance.

GAP American Eagle COACH Aeropostale Dolce e Gabbana Fendi People who desire a certain status may feel they must wear clothes that reflect that status. GAP Giorgio Armani Halston American Eagle Oscar De La Renta COACH Aeropostale

Conformity versus Individuality What other people wear greatly influences clothing choices. For most people, choosing clothes is a balance between conformity and individuality. Most people choose some garments similar to those worn by their peer group and some that are unique.

Special Needs Who might have special clothing needs? *Older adults *People with disabilities *Children learn to dress themselves

Specific Occasions We need different clothes for different occasions. Some occasions might include; *formal *career (interview) Choosing the right clothes for the occasion can influence how others see you and what they think of you.

Clothes can be used to point out your best features. Clothes can drew attention away from problem areas

What Affects the Way a Garment Looks? Elements of Design Color (hue) blue red green violet Line Texture (soft, stiff, rough, bulky, dull) Form full, tubular, bell-shaped

Exciting Element in Clothing Selection Color – The color used in clothing is pigment. Color has three distinct characteristics. Color can be defined in terms of hue. Hue is the name given to a color. Hue is what distinguishes one color from another. Value –the lightness or darkness of a color *tint *shade 3) Intensity – the brightness or dullness of a color

Line Line gives direction to a design The most common types of lines used in clothing design are: *vertical *horizontal *curved *diagonal

Structural & Decorative Lines Structural lines are seams – created when various pieces of a garment are sewn together. Decorative lines are added to fabric or garments to make them visually appealing.

Texture The way the fabric looks and feels. Fabric texture can be: *rough or smooth *shiny or dull *crisp or soft *bulky or silky Each texture gives a garment a different overall appearance.

Texture Fabrics with dull texture absorb light