Communicating Through Objects and Clothing
One of the most significant ways that we communicate with the world is through our appearance. Part of our image comes from our body type and the other parts come from how we adorn ourselves. The expression, "Clothes make the man (or woman)" may be a slight exaggeration, since there are other determining factors, but in a large degree, it is true. Our clothes can be our best friend or our worst enemy.
What we wear can tell people a lot about us before we open our mouth to speak. In fact, many psychologists agree that close to 90 percent of what people remember about an encounter is related to nonverbal communication, a large portion of that being our overall appearance and demeanor. Many studies document the importance of physical attractiveness in initial social contacts. When people first meet, they immediately begin making judgments about each other based on appearances alone. In most cases, people make a decision about a stranger in less time than it takes to blink an eye.
In his book, You Are What You Wear , William Thourlby states: "When you step into a room, decisions will be made solely upon your appearance; so to be successful, and to be sure decisions are favorable, keep in mind that you are what you wear, and dress accordingly ." Generally, people are treated as the social status of their dress indicates, that is to say, poorly dressed people are treated poorly and the well dressed are regarded favorably and treated well. Thourlby goes on to say that, "Of course, clothes will not compensate for weak credentials, poor work records or bad habits, but a person who is dressed appropriately and is well groomed can open doors, where one who is inappropriately dressed and poorly groomed, will never be admitted."
Our dress conveys nonverbal clues about our personality, values, lifestyle, education, background, financial status and credibility. Our mode of dress may also reveal anger, aggressiveness, uncertainty or depression. At times, clothes are the only visible clues to our personalities. Even when other indicators are more apparent; clothing continues to make a statement.
Textures and lines of clothing also transmit silent messages. Soft textures in attire tend to invite human contact and closeness, while crisp textures may indicate that a person wants to be regarded as efficient. Lines of clothing, whether they are strict or flowing, can provide some indication of how rigid one's personality is.
Components of physical appearance include also facial features, hygiene, neatness, hairstyle, skin, jewelry, cosmetics and accessories. The ways people carry cigarettes, pipes, canes, or relate to their belts, suspenders, or glasses also suggest different semiotic meanings. Even smell can affect a person's image. These characteristics convey impressions to others about attractiveness, social class, degree of conformity, intelligence, style, taste, sexuality, and age. A person's skills, the extent to which people view him or her as similar or compatible with themselves, and their confidence in the person's ability to get things done efficiently affect how credible and attractive he or she appears to others.
In modern industrialized societies, clothing is not so rigidly regulated and people have more freedom to choose which messages they wish to convey. Nevertheless, clothing can still provide considerable information about the wearer. For example, when a woman who usually wears blue jeans puts on a frilly, flowered dress, she may be stating that she wants to look more traditionally feminine. A person wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the name of a rock band is probably a fan of that music group and may have attended one of the group's concerts. Clothing metaphors— blue-collar and white-collar workers, for example—are used to distinguish between types of work (factory or office, in this example).
The emotional effect of color is a huge topic by itself and has undergone significant psychological research. Color can also generate a direct emotional response in people. Red for example is considered to be warm, blue is cold and green is neutral. Red will excite, blue will depress and green will relax.
On the whole, our outward appearance and demeanor influence how others will react to us. For effective communication in the classroom, teachers should pay special attention to their appearance for they are, most of the time, the center of the students' attention. The non-verbal messages they send off are essential for successful teaching process.
In short, clothing can be a self-fulfilling self-portrait. As a rule, people who look attractive are considered to be happier, more likable and persuasive, and generally have more successful careers. Teachers should not only learn to interpret the non-verbal messages from their students' appearance, but also should remember that they are transmitting equally revealing messages themselves. By emphasizing the positive aspects of their personality through dress and grooming, they can inspire confidence in their abilities and judgment.
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