Never Judge a Book by Its Cover
We’ve all been told to not judge others by their exteriors, but sometimes it’s hard to fight our misconceptions, especially when it comes to clothes. To help you catch yourself next time you're jumping to conclusions, here are 20 common ways people make snap fashion judgments.
1. Luxury Brands
When we see someone wearing a luxury brand, we immediately assume they must be wealthy or have a high status. This is why brands come with such high price tags, because they’re essentially selling you a social status. But in reality, many people can save up for a designer bag. The true millionaires and billionaires find these brands too flashy and prefer quiet luxury.
2. Accessories
When we see somebody who has carefully accessorized their outfit, we assume they’re put together or perhaps have an important function to attend. On the flip side, if we see someone going for a minimalist look, we might assume they don’t care about trends or didn’t put that much thought into their outfit.
3. Ill-Fitting
Brands and colors are one thing, but fit is a whole other story. Wearing clothes that complement your body can lead to lots of assumptions, from people assuming you can’t afford the right size, to them assuming you’re trying to show off your body.
4. Suits
Interestingly enough, there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that people treat you better when you wear a suit, or the formal equivalent. These suits indicate authority and professionalism, and so people treat you like you’re someone with a lot of responsibility.
5. Work Wear
Speaking of professionalism, your work outfit can also lead to lots of judgments, especially if you’re wearing it out and about. For instance, someone in a lab coat will immediately get our respect, meanwhile someone in a school hoodie may be considered a young up-and-comer.
6. Bold Colors
When people see someone wearing bright pink, green, or red, they can’t help but look their way. After all, that’s what big and bold colors do: they attract attention. With that in mind, someone may assume you particularly want attention solely based on the colors you wear.
7. Gothic
If you like to wear gothic, punk, or alternative fashions, you’ll also be attracting a bunch of assumptions. People will think you’re a rebellious individual and may even avoid you out of fear. Of course, you’ll also attract people who appreciate individuality.
8. Childish Attire
You may also get the wrong kind of attention if you wear childish items. This could be clothes that are five sizes too small, or shirts with cartoons or kid media on them. People might also assume you can’t afford clothes for your own age, but maybe you just like old cartoons and the way it fits.
9. Ironed Clothes
It’s not too hard to spot clothes that have been freshly ironed. When we see things like this, we assume the person is organized and pays attention to the finer details in life. We might also assume they have an important meeting or a work event to attend.
Dzulfikar Alkautsar on Unsplash
10. Wrinkled Clothes
In the same breath, when we see the opposite of polished clothes, we might assume the person is lazy or unorganized. Clothes that look unkempt, wrinkled, or even have stains on them might indicate the person is struggling with other challenges and doesn’t have the time to dedicate to their clothes.
11. Religious Items
There are many different kinds of garments that indicate a religious identity. This could be a headscarf, a turban, or even a cross necklace. When we see this, we assume the person is practicing their religion and has a connection to their cultural heritage.
12. Revealing Clothes
Revealing is a very subjective word. For instance, to some people, a tank top could be considered revealing, while to others it’s simply a matter of comfort and climate control. Unfortunately, women who wear revealing clothes may be considered promiscuous, but in reality, they're just normal women trying to live their lives.
Rafaella Mendes Diniz on Unsplash
13. Tweed
Tweed is a pattern that’s practically synonymous with academia. Many people describe professors as wearing tweed jackets, or students with patches of tweed in their sweaters. When we see this pattern, we assume this person is heavily invested in academics.
14. Sweater Weather
Speaking of sweaters, when we see people dressed in cozy and warm fabrics, they appear approachable and friendly. Bonus points if the sweater is made of a particularly soft and plush material.
15. Streetwear
Streetwear is also very subjective and depends on the region the person is located. For instance, Tokyo streetwear heavily varies from New York streetwear, but it’s easy to recognize the more urban-oriented individuals. We might assume they’re street-smart, confident, and probably very in tune with the area they live in.
16. Perfectly Coordinated
It’s pretty easy to recognize when an outfit is completely coordinated. For instance, the colors might all blend, or there is a strong aesthetic sense behind it. We assume this person probably puts a lot of thought into fashion, is very socially aware, and probably has good taste. Or, perhaps, they just want to grab that perfect picture for Instagram.
17. Mismatched Outfits
On the other hand, sometimes we see people dressed in a completely chaotic ensemble. Their pants don’t match their shirt, and the hat seems a bit strange. We might assume this person isn’t very resourceful, or perhaps they’re very eccentric. But on the other hand, they probably have more important things to care about than what they’re wearing.
18. Androgynous
Gender has also become a complex topic, and people are now empowered to dress in fashions that were once reserved for certain genders. For instance, men sometimes wear dresses, and women wear power suits. When we see these fashions, we might feel empowered and inspired ourselves. Or perhaps, we’re faced with our own prejudices.
19. Activewear
When we see someone dressed in activewear, no matter what their body looks like, we assume they are focused on fitness and are trying to improve their health. We might also think they are confident, or perhaps most comfortable in athleisure.
20. Casual Wear
When we see someone wearing something simple, like a pair of shorts and an open-collar shirt, we assume they are approachable. But in reality, we might not look twice at them, and perhaps that’s exactly what they want—to blend in and be judged on things other than their fashion habits.
