Clothing As Identifiers

Clothing as an identifier has predated most academic writing on it. In Alison Lurie's piece she touches upon the societal implications of clothing. Lurie goes through the history of clothing as a social divider. In 2014, this fact has not changed. However, despite this lasting trend, we currently have the most clothing autonomy in human history. How we chose to use that freedom is more paramount today than ever before. Clothes are not simply a reflection of what you are, as they have been in the past, but a social indicator of what you want the world to see you as.

Clothing allows people to show more of their personality that ever before. As Lurie suggests, something as simple as color pattern relays personality. The "language of colors" as Lurie argues is vital in understanding oneself and perceiving the world. Conservative colors, such as those seen in religious communities and even in business, highlight the importance of visual appearance. Clothing signals more than it ever has in human history, complicating identification and classification.