Why are we slaves to fashion?

Posted Mar 31st 2007 at 3:01PM by Jonathon Morgan (Subscribe to Jonathon Morgan's posts)

Filed under: News

If you're worried that all this obsessing over what other people wear means you're unoriginal, you're probably right. But according to a recent study, that's ok -- it's part of human nature.

Research published in the latest journal Evolution and Human Behavior says imitating others is a basic human characteristic. In fact, it's how we learn. Plus, just because we grow to like something after we've seen it multiple times or it's become popular, we shouldn't feel shallow -- in evolutionary terms, this makes sense: "because," says one researcher, "if something becomes familiar it means it didn't kill you the first time."

According to the study's authors, a few "innovators" -- in the case of fashion, it's usually celebrities -- bring new fashion to the masses, and then we copy it. This, they say, shouldn't be a surprise. The real trick is knowing which new idea (or item of clothing, or whatever) the public will latch on to -- as this is seemingly random.

So the next time you've spent all your money on clothes, after spending hours reading about the latest trends on your favorite style blogs, just remember: it's evolution, it's your nature, and it's beyond your control.

Thus, you never have to feel guilty again.

Source

Tags: evolution, fashion addict, FashionAddict, human nature, HumanNature, shopaholics

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Theophilus Huxtable 4-03-2007 @ 8:14PM

glad to know that we've been calculated to be greedy. i suppose the evolutionary process also requires innovators such as "Product (Red)" so that those who still have feelings of guilt left over can get rid of them by buying clothing AND donating a percentage to a good cause!

Theophilus Huxtable 4-03-2007 @ 8:20PM

glad to know that we've been calculated to be greedy. i suppose the evolutionary process also requires innovators such as "Product (RED)" so that those who still have feelings of guilt left over can buy clothes they don't need AND donate a percentage to a charity!

gloria 4-06-2007 @ 4:22PM

Hey,does this mean that I'm a freak,I do not want what other folks wear,or its not a big issue in my life.I wear what is comfy not what so and so wears or the movie stars or what eve,geez I guess I'm not human!I also hate to shop for cloths for myself,or anyone.Strange?Well I live happy and contented my children all know how Iam so,guess I will live on and be happy.Sorry,style no way not in my life time,no way.

L 4-06-2007 @ 4:25PM

What does this mean for all those people who don't buy within the trend lines? Are they genetic decendents of people who invented fire and the first spear or are they a gentic line doomed to failure because they don't stick to the huddled mass in fear for their very lives?

Maybe, if you follow trends, it means you can't think for yourself.... so, no you don't need to feel guilty about buying clothes but you might want to evolve a backbone.

BILLBURNS24 4-06-2007 @ 5:03PM

YOU CANNOT EVEN TRUST WAL-MART. ANY MORE. NOW HAVE A GREAT DAY. WHEN YOU CAN AFTER LOOSING YOUR PET DOG OR CAT.

gundy 4-06-2007 @ 5:48PM

I could care less @ trends & actually am irritated by anyone who DOES follow them - bunch of sheep. I say, think for yourself - if you LIKE something because YOU like it - then wear it or buy it. But I personally think that groupthink & group behavior when it comes to 'taste' is just an oxymoron. How can you say something is 'your taste' when 97% of the world is wearing it or has it? You can't - it's unoriginal & boring. I'm with the other poster - wear what's comfy. Plus, if you stock your wardrobe with 'classic' clothes you won't ever have to worry about not being 'in style' to begin with because the classics never go out of style!

LaKeisha 4-06-2007 @ 5:57PM

L.....LOL!!!!!!!

Leslie 4-06-2007 @ 6:29PM

That last statement is so NOT TRUE. I, personally, am not a slave to fashion. I do not like to wear what "everyone else is wearing. I strive to maintain my indiviuality and care not what others think about it. Because it is popular is the main reason why I will not purchase it. I don't care to be like everyone else. All I can be is me. Society does not dictate my wardrobe, nor anything else in my life. Therefore, it is not beyond my control

Moose ears 4-06-2007 @ 6:22PM

Ya well guess wat? I LOVE clothes and usually what is put in the stores is what the newest trend is even at Walmart. So, there is no avoiding trends.

WEBGUY 4-06-2007 @ 6:45PM

NEXT THING YOU ARE GOING TO TELL THE MASSES IS THAT EVERTHING THAT WE DO IS ACTUALLY TAUGHT TO US, AND THAT WE ARE ALL LIVING IN SOME MIND CONTROLLED INSTITUTIONALIZED SOCIETY, WHEREIN NO FREE OR ORIGINAL THOUGHT EXISTS.

Monica 4-06-2007 @ 7:12PM

I'm just glad that no1 actually commented on grammer this time
:_DD

Dahlia 4-06-2007 @ 7:20PM

this comment is for Monica (#9)...who's grammar would we be commenting on anyway?

Randy 4-06-2007 @ 7:22PM

Monica,

Did you mean "grammar?"

Randy 4-06-2007 @ 7:29PM

Dahlia (#10),

I think you mean "whose."

Whose is the possessive form of who (or, occasionally, which). It means "belonging to whom or which."

Who's is a contraction of who is or who has. Notice the apostrophe replacing the missing letters.

Incorrect: Who's department do you support?
Correct: Whose department do you support?

Steffy 4-06-2007 @ 7:30PM

I think behind all this pop culture imitation, there's a little originality. We cooperate what we see into our own style.

ELIZA 4-06-2007 @ 7:36PM

How sad..most people "know" what looks good on them, and alot of us use our own minds to decide what to wear. If RED is "in" should people that look awful in this color wear it? That's sad. Just look at the trashy clothing that people like "Britney" wears...they would be right at home "picking up men on the streets." (most of her rags cost a fortune..haha) Ahhh TO BE IN AND ACCEPTED. WHAT A JOKE!

FancyJeansLover 4-06-2007 @ 8:19PM

How are we impressing anyone if we all ook the same? I work on a college campus, and this is not to be man-spirited, but most trends do not work on everyone, yikes! All around me, all of the people are dressed exactly the same. I like Ugg boots around the house, they are really comfy, but if I see one more girl wearing them I'm retiring mine until they go back out of style. And while I'm at it... college girls of America, just because they calendar says April deon't mean we have to start wearing our sudresses, flip-flops, and tube tops, please! It's spring, not summer just yet. Thank you!