Effect of Garment Style on the Perception of Personal Traits

The personal traits formed by perceivers of a stranger clothed in two sets of polar garment styles, daring-conservative and dressy-casual, were investigated in this study. The relationship between clothing interest ratings of subject and personal trait ratings of each garment style was also explored. The cues conveyed by four garment styles on the judgment of 18 personal traits evaluated on 1-7 semantic differential ratings revealed that a stranger dressed in conservative and casual styles was perceived to be more self-controlled, understanding, and reliable, whereas a person dressed in daring style was regarded as more attractive and individualistic than a person clothed in other clothing styles. On the other hand, a stranger clothed in dressy style conveyed social unease and dependency on others. Significant positive correlations were found between the clothing interest ratings of subjects and several personal traits of daring garment style, while significant negative correlations were disclosed between the former and attractive and popular traits of conservative and casual styles. These findings seem to indicate that first impression conveyed by different clothing styles was also influenced by the clothing interest of perceivers.