Do Clothes Make A Man?

Do Clothes Make a Man?

By Elaine Gallagher

         Are you what you wear? Clothing carries symbolic meaning. A man wearing a police uniform suggests safety in the street as well as an enforcer of rules. A handsome man in a crisp, white Navy uniform has an aura of distinction that is universal. Uniforms as a type of clothing often have a set kind of feeling or observation. It carries with it a sense of pride and dignity.

Mark Twain is known for saying that clothes make a man. Overall, clothes represent you (your career), exhibit your mood (messy or polished to perfection), and often is the reason someone is liked or disliked. First impressions are based on your looks and include a top to bottom scrutiny. When you see a man in a beautifully tailored suit you can visualize him in specific professions. If a man piles into a pickup truck wearing jeans and a flannel shirt, you shout out plumber or carpenter. The clothing men wear daily usually depicts a career or lack thereof.

A woman will notice the entire package when first meeting a man. Looks are one review, but she will make inferences based on what he is wearing. A woman tries to determine if he keeps his apartment clean or is messy. Is his shirt dangling out of his pants or is he meticulously put together? Next time you walk back from lunch, look at men and play a fun game of "what does he do for a living". We try not to criticize others but we do so every single day.

Unfortunately, we live in a society that depicts clothing with social status. Yes, men are judged by the clothes they wear. For women it means someone they want to know or run away from.