Table of Contents
- 7 Environmental Factors that Influence our Style Choices
- 1. Cultural Influences
- 2. Urban vs. Rural Fashion
- 3. Architectural Aesthetics
- 4. Climate and Clothing Preferences
- 5. Social Environment and Style
- 6. Availability of Fashion Resources
- 7. Cultural Context of Fashion
- Conclusion
You may have heard people say – Don’t bother about what’s trending, wear what you like and create your unique style. Unfortunately, real life is quite different. Style and location are correlated. People copy celebrities or blindly follow the trends around them. They are happy being sheep in the herd, only a handful would dare to defy the social norms and stand out from the crowd.
Your surrounding environment also has a profound impact on your style choices. Whether you live in a small town, bustling city or village, your environment dictates your style choices. What are the specific factors that influence our style? Do climate and clothing choices have a link? Our blog will talk about many things. Without further ado, let’s jump into it.
7 Environmental Factors that Influence our Style Choices
Don’t let anybody fool you by telling you to wear what you want irrespective of your surroundings. You may get away with it for sometime but sooner or later you will have to deal with weird looks and giggles.
Our social environment, climate, workplace fashion norms and other factors compel you to follow others, whether you like it or not. Unless of course, you are someone who doesn’t care about the world around you. Let’s look at 7 environmental factors influencing our style choices.
Cultural Influences
Your local culture has a strong impact on your style choices. If you grew up in a certain culture, your mannerisms, dressing style and choice of accessories will be similar to that of others in your surroundings. For example, a woman in urban California would wear short skirts, a revealing top and pink earrings and even wrap herself in stylish robes. This attire would change for a woman in Yemen.
Even if the person wants to wear something else, social norms and the fear of being ridiculed would prevent him from being different. Some countries also have laws banning certain clothing. It could put a harmless, enthusiastic individual behind bars.
The cultural influences would be so deeply ingrained within the person that he would wear what others do. Maybe, he would experiment on special occasions like costume theme parties but not in everyday life.
Urban vs. Rural Fashion
There is a striking difference between rural and urban environments that influences people’s style preferences. People in bigger cities have a cosmopolitan crowd with vibrant businesses like movie halls, shopping malls, food courts, and sports arenas.
In these big cities, people follow the trends and even go to the extent of copying their favorite cinema actors and actresses. Jennifer Lopez wore a jungle-green Versace dress in 2000 that became an instant hit with people. Many people searched for it online and insisted on getting one for themselves. Experimentation and trendiness is a common trait among city folks.
On the other hand, rural people wear clothes that feel comfortable and do not hinder their daily work. Life is slow paced in small towns and villages. Not many feel the pressure to impress others. A guy in rural Texas would prefer to wear Wrangler jeans, a cowboy hat, and big boots.
Architectural Aesthetics
The architecture surrounding you can significantly impact your style choices. If you inhabit a city dominated by sleek skyscrapers and modern design, you might find yourself drawn to minimalist and contemporary clothing. Meanwhile, residing in a historically rich area with intricate architecture could lead you to appreciate vintage or classic fashion.
Sometimes the architecture in your vicinity may influence your style choices. Imagine if you live in a city full of towering skyscrapers and plush business districts. You would rather wear formal clothing like a plain white shirt neatly tucked into trousers with boots. Some would even prefer a sharp suit with a tie and formal shoes. Workplace fashion norms can influence people’s style choices.
People living in vibrant cities full of museums and art galleries may wear bright and bold colors, playful prints and patterns, and uncommon accessories that grab attention. Hence, the architecture around us can greatly influence our style preferences.
Climate and Clothing Preferences
If you say that the climate around you does not affect you, you gotta be kidding. Can you wear a thick winter hoodie in Phoenix, Arizona? You’d want to take your clothes off and drink gallons of water. Hot weather demands light-colored and light-feeling clothing because it keeps the body cool.
People in colder climates wear thick clothing to conserve energy and keep themselves warm. Those who live around beaches tend to wear floral print clothing, shorts and sandals for comfort. Forest folk are closer to nature, so they wear clothing to protect themselves from insects while ensuring comfort. So, you see climate and clothing preferences have a strong relationship.
Social Environment and Style
Man is a social animal. They want to fit into society and wear clothing that makes them feel accepted. This behavior is common among youngsters. If a 19-year old gets a new pair of Adidas shoes, his friends may want to buy the same. Similarly, a businessman wearing a Stuart Hughes Diamond Edition suit will attract the attention of others in his circle.
They may buy a similar suit to convey the impression that they belong to the elite class. This is just a generalization though. Some people want to dress modestly but we are not talking about the small minority here. Bottom line, social environment and style are interrelated.
Availability of Fashion Resources
Sometimes people manage with whatever they get. They may like a particular style of clothing but if their city/town does not stock such clothing, they have no choice but to settle for what is available. For instance, Milan is one of four capitals of fashion in the world. People out there stay abreast of the latest fashion trends. The same cannot be said about Adama city in Ethiopia.
Additionally, people’s purchasing power also influences their lifestyle and fashion choices. A working class man may not be able to afford designer suits or luxury brands because it’s out of his reach. He may settle for cheap imitations of the same to feel good about himself.
Cultural Context of Fashion
Festivals, holidays, and local traditions within your environment can dramatically influence your style choices during specific times of the year. Dressing in accordance with cultural celebrations or local customs not only reflects respect for your surroundings but also showcases your adaptability and appreciation for diverse influences.
People love to dress up and enjoy themselves during festive occasions like Mardi Gras, Christmas, weddings, Eid, or the Chinese new year. Funerals also have a dress code. Dressing according to the occasion conveys the impression that you are a part of society and you fit in.
At the same time, it also states that you want to integrate and respect the local traditions.
Conclusion
Fashion and style choices are complex. There is no right or wrong. As discussed above, factors like climate, cultural nuances, age group, and social circle influence people’s style and fashion sense. Even while blending in, people carry themselves differently. Combining certain clothing with specific accessories lends a unique touch to it.
Overall, an individual’s style is unique but it also derives influences from the fashion and setting around him. Some people adapt, some don’t while others become trendsetters. Jump into the world of fashion and you will realize that it’s a never-ending ocean.