Bachelor of Technology and Livelihood Education

Clothing
Selection,
Purchase
and Care

CLOTHING SELECTION
Lesson 3 - Clothing’s Influence on How Others See you

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TLEd 314 - Clothing Selection, Purchase and Care
Ms. Marianne M. Custodio
CLOTHING’S INFLUENCE ON HOW OTHERS SEE YOU
INTRODUCTION
You don’t have to be a fashion enthusiast to realize there’s a relationship between the
way we look and how others perceive us. Clothes are always part of the things we analyze when
we first meet someone. The clothes we wear allow us to project the image of ourselves that we
want others to see.

Even if it’s not our intention, the way we dress says a lot about who we are. In addition,
what we want to express with our fashion sense may not always be what others interpret.
https://exploringyourmind.com/fashion-psychology-clothes-say/

“Style is a deeply personal expression of who you are, and every time you dress,

you are asserting a part of yourself.”
Nina García

“If you know you look your best, it gives you a feeling of self-confidence, you are happy
and relaxed. So, we must be extremely careful to wear clothes that give correct impressions of
who we are.”
Shepherd, Frances et al. (1998)

In this lesson, clothing’s influence on how others see you will be discussed.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this lesson, you should be able to:
1. recognize that clothing is a major part of the image one projects to others;
2. know how people use clothes in projecting personal image to others; and
3. realize the value of being careful to wear clothes that give correct impressions of who you are.

PRELIMINARY LEARNING ACTIVITY

Provide a picture of a garment or clothing you “wouldn’t be caught dead in”. Discuss
the reasons why.

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TLEd 314 - Clothing Selection, Purchase and Care
Ms. Marianne M. Custodio
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LEARNING CONTENT

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TLEd 314 - Clothing Selection, Purchase and Care
Ms. Marianne M. Custodio
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TLEd 314 - Clothing Selection, Purchase and Care
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Color Psychology: What Colors Should You Wear and Why

Color psychology is the study of how colors affect your behavior, mood and
impression on others.

Can the color you wear really affect your mood? Research says yes; color can
absolutely affect your mood, behavior and stress levels.

Color specialist Leatrice Eiseman says how colors affect us correlates to that colors

behavior in nature. Eiseman has asked thousands of people what they think of specific colors
and has found many patterns.

Colors create the same impressions for different people.

For example, the color blue is almost always associated with blue skies, which when we
are children is a positive thing — it means playing outside and fun. Evolutionarily it also means
there are no storms to come and good sun for crops. This is why blue reminds us of stability
and calmness.

She cautions that there are no magic bullet answers, but there are generalities that can
be gleaned from decades of research on the patterns of what people think about each color.
Your personality can also change your opinions of colors.

So, how can you pick the perfect color for each situation? Based on the research, here
is your personal color guide:

Research shows that colors can greatly affect our moods and the way other people
respond to us. Amazingly, colors can even change our heart rate, blood pressure and
respiration, as researchers Keith Jacobs and Frank Hustmyer discovered in 1974.

With that in mind, here’s the ultimate color guide on what color to wear.

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TLEd 314 - Clothing Selection, Purchase and Care
Ms. Marianne M. Custodio
 You have different ways of thinking about colors:
You can pick the color based on the mood you are already in.
or
You can pick the color based on the mood you WANT to be in.
Here are some color ideas on what to wear:
Best Colors to Wear to the Office
Green
This color denotes freshness, safety and
harmony. It’s also associated with money
and the “go” signal for a traffic light—both
great characteristics in the workplace. The
color green is restful on the eyes and
produces the least amount of eyestrain,
making this a good choice for people who sit
in front of a screen for many hours.
Blue
This is the color of truth and wisdom. It also
has a calming effect and is linked to intellect.
It’s also the most stable color. So if you have
a volatile or drama-filled workplace, blue is a
great color to wear to counteract the tension.
Brown
The color of stability, brown is also seen as
masculine. If you’re a woman in a
predominantly male workplace, wearing a
chocolate brown suit can give you credibility.
Black
This power color can convey feelings of
mystery and seriousness. It is also
considered elegant and has a thinning effect.
(And who doesn’t love that?) If you want to
be treated seriously, the typical black suit
with a splash of green or blue works
wonders.
Worst Colors to Wear to the Office
Yellow
This is the happiest of all the colors and
usually stimulates joy. However, yellow is
TLEd 314 - Clothing Selection, Purchase and Care
Ms. Marianne M. Custodio
considered an unstable color, so it can be
over-energizing for the office and make the
wearer look weak.
Gray
Gray implies that people are passive,
uninvolved and have a lack of energy. If you
like wearing gray, pairing it with a brighter
color such as blue can help offset the
negative effect.
Red
This is the color of aggression and passion—
great for a first date, not so great for the
office. It also increases metabolism and
raises blood pressure, which is why it’s used
for stop signs and fire engines. Red can be
seen as a bit hostile in the work environment,
so think twice before wearing it often.
Colors to Wear in Moderation or as
Accents
Orange
This is a color of stimulation and enthusiasm.
It’s not as aggressive as red, but can catch
attention, so it’s good to wear in moderation.
Purple
Purple reminds people of royalty and luxury.
It’s also the color of magic. However, since
purple rarely occurs in nature, it’s also seen
to be artificial. A purple scarf, tie or purse can
be a nice, subtle addition to any outfit.
White
This color is associated with cleanliness and
perfection. It is always a safe choice for a
shirt or scarf, but too much white denotes
timidity and sterility—not good for workplace
relations.
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Colors affect our moods and how others
perceive us. But, of course, colors aren’t the
only thing that affects how people see us—
you can still be liked at work even if you’re
wearing a yellow suit. Still, when given the
choice, pick a color that will work for you and
not against you.
There is also some amazing color
psychology research on different situations.
Take a look at these interesting color ideas:
What Color You Should Make Your
Desktop?
Green. What color you choose for your
desktop and the colors you choose for your
website can greatly affect your productivity.
The color green is restful for eyes and
produces the least amount of eyestrain. This
is a good choice for computer desktops if you
are in front of a screen for many hours.
What Color to Wear to Work Out?
Orange. Orange is a color of stimulation and
enthusiasm. Orange is a nice mix of red’s
passion and yellow’s joy. Research has
found that orange increases oxygen supply
to the brain, produces an energizing effect,
and stimulates brain activity.
What Color to Wear on a Date (if you’re a
woman)?
Red. Red is the color of passion and gets
blood pumping. Women can wear this to get
their date’s heart racing.
What Color to Wear on a Date (if you’re a
man)?
Blue. Blue is the most stable color. Women
love seeing stable men. It is also calming
TLEd 314 - Clothing Selection, Purchase and Care
Ms. Marianne M. Custodio
and can help relax both you and your date’s
nerves.
What to Wear If You Want to Be Seen As
Strong?
Black. Researchers examined statistics from
more than 52,000 National Hockey League
games and found that teams were penalized
more for aggression while wearing black
jerseys. (Hockey teams have two color
jerseys and switch for home and away
games). Interestingly, the NHL in 2003
changed its jersey policy so that home teams
had to wear white. The authors of the study
compared the sets of data and found that the
same teams were assessed significantly
more penalties for aggression when they
wore the black jerseys than when they wore
white.
What Colors You Should Paint Your
Office?
Blue and Green. In 1999, researchers at
Creighton University found that
colors significantly influence employees’
emotions and efficiency. Workers in blue
offices felt the most centered, calm and
hopeful towards their work. Since blue can
lower heart rates and green reduces anxiety
and is associated with money, a combination
of blue and green is best for the workplace.
What Color You Should Never Wear to
Work?
Gray. Gray inspires people to be passive,
uninvolved and have a lack of energy. If you
like wearing gray, pairing it with a brighter
color will help offset the effect.
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 Choosing the color of your office, your clothes or your desktop should not be taken
lightly — colors do affect our moods and productivity. However, colors are not the only thing
that affects us — one can still be efficient in a gray suit or workout well in a black outfit. But,
when given the choice, picking a color that will work with you, and not against you can only
help.

LEARNING ACTIVITY
Examine the pictures and record your comments on the activity sheet provided.

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TLEd 314 - Clothing Selection, Purchase and Care
Ms. Marianne M. Custodio
 “The Language of Clothing”
Clothing choices influence the impression you make on other people. For example, the
way you dress for a job interview can either help you get the job or put you out of the list.

1. For each of the pictures I’ve provided, write a one or two sentence description of the
person.

2. In what ways were your comments influenced by the clothing each person is wearing?

LEARNING REFERENCES
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Education, Division of
Program Development. https://www.gov.nl.ca/eecd/k12/curriculum/guides/homeec/

Shepherd, Frances et al. (1998). Home Economics for Secondary Schools Book 1.
Guyana: Guyana National Printers Limited

https://www.inc.com/molly-reynolds/research-shows-that-the-clothes-you-wear-actually-
change-the-way-you-perform.html

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/do-something-different/201304/what-your-clothes-
might-be-saying-about-you

https://www.getspirit.com/blog/study-clothes-affect-the-way-others-see-us-how-we-see-
ourselves.html

https://www.psychologistworld.com/body-language/psychology-of-clothing-dating-dress

https://www.forbes.com/sites/learnvest/2012/04/03/what-your-clothes-say-about-you/
#322130156699

https://exploringyourmind.com/fashion-psychology-clothes-say/

https://brightside.me/inspiration-psychology/psychologists-say-these-11-clothing-colors-reveal-
your-personality-458660/

http://mrblue.createdebate.com/debate/show/
Does_a_person_s_clothes_tell_you_anything_about_someone_as_a_person_3

https://www.scienceofpeople.com/color-psychology/

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TLEd 314 - Clothing Selection, Purchase and Care
Ms. Marianne M. Custodio