This article is not a part of any list I have made for my writing challenge. It came to me today when I was having a conversation with a driver about uniforms and how they can influence your perception of people. Then, I realize that it was not only about uniforms, It is the dresses that determine everything or most of it when it comes to human interpersonal interactions.
What comes to my mind first is Will Smith in The Pursuit Of Happiness (2006). There is a scene when Chris Gardner (the character played by Will Smith) made an entrance in an office dressed casually with paint stains on his clothes for the interview. He made a remark about his clothes and ask if they would interview him despite that. But he did not let them talk, he defended himself. Fortunately; he got the job. And all of that very scene was about Chris Gardner’s dress and what it conveys to his interlocutors. It hasn’t been about his knowledge because of the way he looks.
Remember the show about Laws named Suits (2011)? What do we remember first about it? it is Harvey Specter, and Why? Because the character played by Gabriel Macht is (again) well-dressed in a suit and tie and made quite an impressive impact on the screen of his character. If you have watched the show, then you might remember Mike Ross's (played by Patrick J. Adams) styles as the show evolved. With more confidence came more styled suits for Mike Ross.
These references to shows made me remember something. It is the perception of the Devil in the Cinema. In the 50s and so on; Satan was represented in red with horns, and he wore a cape. But when you look into the cinema of nowadays; per se, in The Devil’s Advocate (1997), you can see that the Devil played by Al Paccino is far from that representation. You even are not sure if he is the devil or not because you were stuck with the red-horned creature you have seen in representations.
Another example is a basic that is taught to students when it comes to job interviews. You are asked to wear a suit and a tie, or a long sleeves shirt, flawless black pants, and shiny shoes. Everything about job interviews has been turning around how you look. Few clues have been given about how to introduce yourself, or how to answer the questions. It has been, so far, so much about the way you look that I thought myself that a good suit and tie would make you land a good job. Not even your degree or knowledge. Isn’t it?
A friend of mine told me once He was going to an embassy dressed very well. Then a riot came along to block access to the building. What happened next was funny. The security staff that was blocking the entrance literally assisted him to get into the building. Why? Because my friend was in a suit and tie. They thought he was different from the staff or an important person because of the dress that made him look like it.
I used to wear a suit and tie and one day a client thought I was the manager because of my dress. Besides, in university, I used to dress differently. For many schoolmates, I look like a fashion designer, photographer, and professor. My favorite was when I was told that I look like a PI from a noir movie. All of these dresses convey an identity that does not (really) belong to the person. Clothes, per se, helps you to embody a character you need for a situation
They said that human is influenced by their environment. But dresses are too. Just imagine going to a nightclub in a very formal suit. Better, imagine going to meet your manager in cosplay of your favorite character. We agree, I think, that dresses help us to emphasize our environment. But what about when the dress is not in accordance with our surroundings?
As my father used to tell me, “dress well when you are going out because you never know where you can cross my acquaintance's path” in fact, He was known to be well-dressed every time people would see him either formal, traditional, or casual. So at the end, maybe the dress says more about us than we thought?
