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Dress

Definition of Dress – any intentional modification of the body and/or supplements added to the body

Includes garments, spray on tans, color contacts, makeup, earrings, shoes, tattoos and diet and exercise

Dress is a tool that tells individuals how to behave in social situations; it helps us define age, gender, profession and interests.

We learn at an early age how to “read” the dress of others
Dress has a powerful effect on human interactions

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Culture

Culture is the shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and material objects that characterize a group or society.
It includes the way people live, think, dress, communicate, create art, celebrate traditions, and define beauty or success. Culture shapes how individuals view the world and express their identities—often seen through language, food, fashion, religion, art, and social norms.

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Culture, Theory and Dress

Symbolic Interaction Theory –explains how an individual defines themselves through interactions a relationships with each other

Looking Glass Self – process of using other people as mirrors to tell us who we are

Self Indication – process of learning who we are through continued reflection and action with others and constant experimentation and exploration

Why does culture matter?

Developing cultural sensitivity through travel & dress

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Theory and Dress

Roles are positions that people occupy in a group or society

Role Theory – helps us understand the roles we play and how dress is a part of those roles

Dramaturgical Approach – study of dress and appearances depending on the audience (like being on stage)

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Cooley Theory

The three stages of the looking-glass self applied to fashion

Imagine your appearance: You first imagine how your outfit appears to others. For example, you might think about how your new dress looks on you in a social setting.

Imagine the judgment: You then imagine how others are evaluating your outfit—whether they think it's stylish, trendy, or inappropriate.

Develop a feeling about yourself: Based on your imagined judgment, you form feelings about yourself. If you imagine people are admiring your style, you might feel confident, but if you imagine they are judging your clothes negatively, you may feel self-conscious or embarrassed.

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Symbolic Interaction Theory

The Symbolic Interaction Theory explains that people use clothing and appearance as a form of communication — to express identity, values, emotions, and social relationships.

Fashion and dress act as symbols that others interpret, allowing individuals to create meaning and connection through how they present themselves.

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Collective Selection Theory

The Collective Selection Theory explains that fashion trends are not created by one social class or elite group but are instead the result of many people — collectively — choosing similar styles that reflect the spirit of the times (zeitgeist).

This theory emphasizes that fashion change happens because large groups of individuals with shared values, interests, and experiences select and accept new styles at the same time.

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Dramaturgical Approach

In fashion, this means that how we dress is part of the “performance” of our social roles and identities.

The Dramaturgical Approach, developed by sociologist Erving Goffman, compares everyday social interactions to a theatrical performance — where people are like actors on a stage, using clothing and behavior as tools to present themselves to others.

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