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What your clothes say about you

New words

index : guide; key

acquire : to get something; obtain

ambiguous : having or expressing more than one possible meaning; unclear

integral : important

analogous : similar

convenes : to arrange a meeting

bonnets : a type of hat that covers the ears and is tied under the chin

What your clothes say about you

People wear clothes to protect their bodies from the cold or the burning sun, from insect bites and

injuries and from the unwelcome eyes of strangers. However, what people wear can also convey a

message about who they are and their role in society.

For example, visit nearly any country in the world and you will

notice that young people everywhere are wearing fashionable blue

jeans, not for work, but for social occasions such as parties and

concerts. The jeans are somewhat of an index of how these young

people view themselves: Im modern and stylish. Im relaxed and

confident. Im different from the traditionalolder generation. Jeansmake such an important statement that, in some groups, a person

might be judged by the brand of jeans he or she is wearing. As a

result, some young people feel pressured into spending hundreds of dollars to acquire a single pair of

designer jeans just to be in fashion.

Before you readDo you think its important to wear clothes that are in style?

Why are clothes important to people?

How do you decide what kind of clothing to bur for yourself?

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picture of doctor, army, fire

fighters, pilots wearing their

professional dress. they are

standing in group.

An even more direct means whereby people make statements about themselves

is via messages printed on T-shirts. One says Oxford University. Another reads

Italy 2006 world Cup. There are many kinds of T-shirt messages. They can convey

allegiance to schools and sport teams, advertise places or products, make

political statements, serve as wearable travel souvenirs, and commemorate

important occasions. These wearable messages are seldom ambiguous. They

clearly tell others, This is what I want you to know about me.

Just as blue jeans and T-shirts say a great deal about the people who are

wearing them, so does the Western business suit. It says that the person

want to impress others with his or her professional status. A fitted jacket and

matching trousers constitute a mans suit, while a fitted jacket and matching

skirt constitute a womans suit. A collared shirt and a necktie are integral

parts of the mans outfit, while stocking and highheeled shoes complete the

womans. Often this attire is not what the person chooses to wear but it is

what a company requires its top-level employers to wear. The business suit isso conventional that it is analogous to a uniform in other occupations.

A uniform identifies the occupation of many people. Military

personnel are easy to identify by their uniforms. The same is true

for civil emergency personnel like police officers and fire fighters.

Medical workers, airline pilots and members of religious orders are

other examples of people whose work can be identified by their

clothing. In certain contexts, special clothing is worn to differentiate

not only the occupation of people, but also their authority. For

example, when a court of law convenes, the judges robe is a clear indicator of her role and authority.Similarly, the chefs tall white hat indicates his job and that hes in charge in the restaurants kitchen.

Clothing might also show which group a person belongs to. For example, Scotsmen wear distinctive

tartans to show their clan affiliation, just as city street gangs wear coloured headscarves to show their

gang membership. Similarly, school uniforms identify children as student at a certain school.

Societies choose different ways to show marital status. In Western societies, women and often men

wear wedding rings on their left hands. Other cultures use different symbols. Hindu women, for

example, wear red powder in their hair after they marry. Unmarried Amish women wear black bonnets

on their heads, while married women wear white ones.

Clothing serves many functions beyond just protecting our bodies. Clothing can tell a lot about the

people who wear it.

Word power

Write synonyms of the words given below.

a. convey: ___________________________

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b. seldom: _________________________c. constitute: _______________________d. identify: _________________________e. indicator: ________________________

Comprehension check1. Answer the following questions.

a. Why do people wear clothes?b. What type of dress do young people wear while going to parties and concerts?c. Why do people wear message printed t-shirts?d. What does Western business suit tell about the people who wear them?e. What constitute a manssuit and a womans suit?

2. Write T for true and F for false statements.

a. People send messages about themselves via what they wear.b. For many people, jeans are somewhat of an index of their identity.c. A young person might spend a few dollars to acquire a pair of designer jeans.d. T-shirt messages that show allegiance to a school or sports team are often ambiguous.e. A suit and necktie are integral parts of mens and womens business attire. f. A jacket and matching trousers constitute the uniforms of military personnel.

3. One way that writers make their ideas clear is by giving examples. Sometimes an entire text is

made up of examples, with each paragraph giving a different kind of example to support the main

idea of the reading. There can also be several examples within one paragraph to help explain the

ideas in that paragraph.

In each paragraph, what example of clothing conveys a message?

Paragraph 2 _____blue jeans______

Paragraph 3 ___________________

Paragraph 4 ____________________

Paragraph 5 _______________________

Paragraph 6 _______________________

Paragraph 7 _______________________

4. From paragraph 5, list the examples of occupations that can be identified by clothing.

Creative writingWrite answers to these questions in your notebook. Write in full sentences.

a. Describe a common wedding tradition practiced in your family.b. Describe the clothing worn by students at your school.c. Describe a standard way that people greet each other in your community.