Influences on Clothing Chapter 1

Who decides what clothes you wear? Why do you wear the clothes you do???

Choosing What to Wear Did you oversleep?? Did you pick out your outfit the night before?? Are your shoes comfortable for a long day?

Your Basic Needs Physical needs – comfort, protection and safety Clothing covers the body and protects from weather, harm and injury Intellectual, emotional, social needs = communicate info about people and their lives Make you feel attractive/confident Help identify you with other people

Your Activities Linked to how and where you spend your time Hiker chooses comfortable shoes Sports enthusiasts need protective gear Weekend activities call for either casual or dress outfits

A check of the weather guides our choices Warm weather close feature light colors to reflect sunlight, loose styles Cold weather clothing have multiple layers, heavy fabrics to trap air School may have dress code Part time job may have uniforms

Your Personal Preferences Your likes and dislikes Your values and beliefs guide your clothing choices Examine your values to discover your overall attitude What do you look for in clothing? Comfort, durability, low cost, easy care, status, latest style

People who want comfort Choose clothes that feel good Wear well over time Looking for low cost Special sales/bargains Preserve free time Clothing with little care Status Look or are expensive Have designer name Latest style/color May dress to blend in

Other Influences Family, friends, media influence our choices Family Constant presence Impact may go unnoticed Favorite activities Where they live

Friends Peer group- consists of people wth a similar background, social status, and age Friends/classmates Big influence on how we act and dress Group may decide what is “in Not good or bad Negative if peer group conflicts with individuals values

Media Message are communicated to a large audience Television, radio, movies, video, magazine, newspapers, catalogs

Advertising Tells you where the clothes are to buy Useful to consumers Purpose is to sell product, image idea Powerful tool May not mention negatives in ad Look for facts Create vague but positive feelings for product Gorgeous models = no product information

Celebrities “imitation” is the sincerest for of flattery Admire someone, they can influence your choices Entertainers = clothing, hairstyles, fashion Sport celebrities endorse brand products

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Regis Philbin started a craze Matching shirt and ties After 9-11 T-shirts, hats with FDNY and NYPD

Status Symbols Give wearer a special feeling of importance or wealth Names, initials of designer YSL – Yves St. Laurent Tommy Hilfiger Nike “swoosh” Choose the one which fits your budget

Changing Society Social influences on what people wear Society– group of individuals who live together in a particular area (nation/community) In the U.S. change is inevitable and ongoing What happens in one part of country can quickly influence other parts Five major trends

1. More Casual Living American society was once more formal Hats/gloves a part of woman’s attire Men wore business suits Dressed up when traveling on plain, went shopping or ate in restaurants Restaurants prohibited women from wearing slacks, men had to wear jackets

Women never wore white shoes before Memorial Day or after Labor Day Black was only color acceptable at funerals Black never worn for weddings Today most restaurants welcome casual clothes Wedding guests/bridesmaids wear black Workplace permits casual attire Most women no longer accept uncomfortable/constricting clothes

2. Rapid Communication Technological changes brought societies around the world in close contact We share goods, services, information quickly and easily Fashion news travels rapidly; computer, television, fax and videos Internet and Commercial online services offer new ways to communicate, advertise, and sell supplies to customers

3. Multiple Shopping Options Opportunities to shop everywhere Stores still favorite option Malls, strip centers– lined up in a row Indoor malls feature at least 2 large stores and a food court Mega malls = 400 stores, restaurants and entertainment areas Shop by phone, online, fax Shop 24/7

4. Consumer Power Designers drove the fashion world of yesterday Today the consumer influence is felt Consumers have more knowledge/skills Know what they want, rock bottom prices Shop where these demands are met Loyalty to a store brand name is less likely

5. Global Marketplace Well traveled shirt could have begun in another counter Someone created the design Fabrics created somewhere else Shirt manufactured somewhere else Thread, buttons, trim from another place

Garments made entirely in one country is the exception rather than the rule Developing nations become key players in fashion industry Fashion capitals expanded across the globe1940-1950’ high fashion designers were in Paris Today Tokyo, Germany, etc

Looking Ahead Clothes mean little to one and more to others Fashions reflect history Technology brought change Clothing expresses culture as well as your personality Learn what color and design you like for your best appearance

How To Make Decisions See page 33 1. State the situation 2. List various options 3. Evaluate options 4. Consider your values 5. Select the best option 6. Evaluate the results

Summary Clothing is often chosen to meet certain basic functions and needs People make clothing choices based on activities as well as personal preferences Values, family, and friends influence a person’s clothing choices

Influences on clothing choices reach consumers in several ways through the media Rules about clothing have relaxed in the United States, creating more choices for consumers

Advances in technology have greatly increased the variety of clothing available. Studying clothes and fashion can help you make satisfying choices about your wardrobe, and even your career

List 5 values you use when buying clothes. List 5 garments in your wardrobe. For each one, explain what influenced you to buy or wear that item

Identify how celebrities, movies, and television programs inspire current fashion. Collect magazine photos and write descriptions for a bulletin board or display