1. Influences on Clothing
Fashion Design
Influences on Clothing

2. Objectives: Describe the basic functions that clothing fulfills.
Explain personal influences on clothing choices.
Compare influences of family and friends on clothing choices.
Evaluate the media’s impact on clothing.
Explain how societal changes influences clothing.

3. Key Terms: Adornment Media Modesty Peer Group Society Status
Status Symbols
Values

4. Choosing What to Wear: Your Basic Needs Your Activities
Clothing covers and protects.
Clothes can make you feel attractive and confident.
Clothes can identify you with a group.
Your Activities
Hiking, biking, walking, movie going, yachting, etc.
Your Personal Preferences
Clothing likes and dislikes are determined by your values, beliefs about what’s important, desirable, or worthwhile.

5. Basic Functions of Clothing:
Protection
Identification
Modesty
Status
Adornment

6. Protection
Clothing insulates from the cold and keeps the sun from burning and dehydrating the body in the heat. Special clothing protects people from harm.
Examples:
construction workers, firefighters
and police officers, restaurant workers (hair nets), etc.

7. Identification
Clothing and accessories can identify people as members of a group.
Examples:
Image for a hotel staff, athletic teams, and members of the military.

8. Modesty
Clothing provides modesty, a belief about the proper way to cover the body with clothes.
Examples:
Bathing suits and sandals for the beach – but not for school.

9. Status
Clothing and accessories can show a person’s status, a position or rank within a group.
Examples:
Leaders of marching bands stand out with a tall fur hats. Members of the military wear insignias to indicate rank.

10. Adornment Binding of the feet, neck rings, wigs, etc.
People wear clothing and jewelry to enhance their appearance. People adorn their bodies with cosmetics, body paint, and tattoos in addition to clothing and jewelry.
Examples:
Binding of the feet, neck rings, wigs, etc.

11. Other Influences: Influence of Family Influence of Friends
Where the family lives, climate, family activities
Influence of Friends
Peer group influences – a need to fit in.
Impact of Media
Advertising
The ability to persuade people to buy.
Celebrities
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”
Michael Jordan – Air Jordan, Madonna – wearing lingerie as a daily wardrobe option, Lance Armstrong – Live Strong Wristbands, etc.
Status Symbols – (Wealth/Privileges)
Nike – Swoosh
LaCoste’s – Small Alligator

12. A Changing Society: More Casual Living Rapid Communication
Accepted at workplaces, restaurants, etc.
Rapid Communication
Fashion news transmits rapidly over computers. Fashions are available for sale at the same time around the world.
Multiple Shopping Options
Strip-Centers, Mega-Malls, Internet
Consumer Power
Rock bottom prices, best quality, good service, and least amount of hassle
Global Marketplace
Your shirt made have been
made/assembled in many different countries.