[Last modified: October, 31 2024 04:04 PM]
After class on Friday, I decided to sit in the park near the student centre because I had a PT session in the afternoon. My hour-long observation brought me some new perspectives, especially on clothing as a ‘social language’ and the influence of professional culture on personal style.
Firstly, I noticed a young girl sitting on a bench, intently tapping away on her computer. Dressed in a loose-fitting jumper, yoga trousers and a pair of dapper boots, she wears headphones and is immersed in a self-created learning environment. Her outfit, comfortable and casual with a hint of personality, allows her to display a unique identity in this public space. Looking around, there are also several students with computers as well, either alone or in groups, almost all dressed casually, and many with a distinctly personal style. Some wore sporty styles that showed off their energy; others chose fresh literary styles that were quiet and introspective. They all demonstrated the diversity of the students’ identities and personalities. For them, clothing seems to be a kind of ‘social language’ for self-identification, a symbol shared with peers that conveys personality, hobbies, and even a potential sense of belonging to a group.
In stark contrast, a middle-aged man sits alone on a bench, elegantly enjoying his lunch – a simple sandwich. He was dressed in a straight suit and bow tie, his briefcase resting securely at his side, and his overall outfit appeared very formal. I guessed that he might be an employee of a nearby company, using his lunch break to relax in the park for a while. This typical professional attire contrasted sharply with the surrounding students, conveying a sense of ‘professionalism’ and ‘reliability’. Another person who caught my attention was a sanitation worker, dressed in striking orange overalls, sweeping the ground. These scenes made me realise that in a professional environment, clothing not only represents individual identity, but also carries role responsibilities, signalling a collective identity and professional image. Based on these observations, it led to some of my initial thoughts on this research question:
1. Clothing as a social language conveying identity and sense of belonging
Among students, clothing often becomes a ‘social language’ for self-expression and belonging. By choosing loose-fitting sweatshirts or yoga trousers, students not only express their pursuit of comfort, but also their recognition of their individuality and unique identity. They wear a variety of clothes, and there is no significant uniformity among them. Rather, it is the diversity of their personal styles that makes this ‘freedom’ the core of their sense of belonging to the group.
2. Occupational culture guides the evolution of personal style.
However, in a professional environment, clothing and personal style are gradually influenced by workplace culture and norms. For example, the middle-aged man in a suit sends a message of ‘professionalism’, ‘maturity’, and ‘reliability’ with his outfit, and this choice certainly meets the workplace’s need for formality and trust. This choice is certainly in line with the workplace’s need for formality and trust. Professional attire is not just a symbol, it is a reinforcement of the professional role, making it easier for individuals to integrate and identify with the organisation’s culture. In the transition from school to the workplace, there is a tendency to ‘de-personalise’ people’s clothing in order to fit in with their collective identity and professional image. Therefore, workplace culture not only regulates people’s outward appearance, but also profoundly influences their style and self-expression.
3. Balance between maintaining and adapting personal style
In my observations, I also realised that this shift is not absolute. Many people are adapting to the culture of the workplace while still trying to retain a part of themselves in their clothing.
But there are limitations to my observations; after all, clothing style choices are influenced by gender, age, industry and even regional culture. Different professional environments have different tolerances and norms for dressing, and students and professionals have different views on what to wear. I think I need to make a few more observations.