What is an Outfit?
An Outfit is a coordinated assembly of clothing, footwear, and accessories to convey either a classic fashion style or the wearer’s personal style.
Outfit is a term laden with cultural symbolism and aesthetic considerations. Unlike isolated articles of clothing or purely functional garments, outfits embody a convergence of aesthetics, functionality, and social meanings. [1]
As such, an outfit is a curated blend of clothes, footwear, and accessories according to strict aesthetic considerations and functional imperatives to convey social stratification and group identity.
Aesthetic and Social Meaning
Outfits incorporate aesthetic elements such as motifs, palettes, forms, and fabrics into visuals that communicate layers of social status, group belonging, and even functional considerations.
For example, a Preppy style outfit consisting of a Navy blazer, boat shoes, and a rep tie communicates classical values, tradition, and heritage.
On the other hand, a Boho-style outfit comprising flowy clothes in ethnic patterns, a fedora hat with feathers, and sandals radiates exuberance and free-spiritedness.
Outfits also communicate through the choice of colours; for example, a minimalist outfit in a monochromatic palette echoes simplicity and restraint.
On the contrary, a maximalist ensemble with bright colours, elaborate motifs, and a cornucopia of textures evokes opulence and grandeur.
Functionality
Functionality also plays a critical role in the conceptualisation of an outfit.
Clothes, footwear, and accessories must not only harmonise aesthetically but also serve the practical needs of the wearer.
The Difference Between Outfit and Attire?
While “attire” is construed as formal and occasion-specific, “outfits” encompass formal and casual ensembles depicting various fashion styles.
In comparison, “clothing” and “garments” lack the curatorial intent imbued in an “outfit.” [2]
For instance, one might have an assortment of clothes in the wardrobe.
However, only carefully curating these clothes, coordinated for their aesthetic and functional coherence, can result in an Outfit ready for a gallery opening event.
Bibliography
[1] Thompson, C.J. and Haytko, D.L. (1997) ‘Speaking of fashion: Consumers’ uses of fashion discourses and the appropriation of countervailing cultural meanings‘, Journal of Consumer Research, 24(1), pp. 15–42.
[2] Gibbins, K. and Schneider, A. (1980) ‘Meaning of garments: Relation between impression of an outfit and the message carried by its component garments‘, Perceptual and Motor Skills, 51(1), pp. 287–291.
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