Read and translate the text. Clothes are one of the very first things we notice when we meet or see people

Clothes are one of the very first things we notice when we meet or see people. In every country clothing is a form of sign language. It gives out messages about our age, gender, nationality, religion, and even about our social status and personal ambitions. The reasons why we choose the clothes we wear are as varied as the clothes themselves.

One very important influence on our choice of dress is a desire to show off our wealth and status in society. If we dress in expensive, smart, and stylish clothing, we give a positive impression to everyone we meet, even if we are not, in fact, rich. Conversely, no one wishes to dress poorly, because it shows private poverty to the public at large.

In many nations, people’s clothing used to be regulated by law, through the monarchy or Church. Only royalty was allowed to wear gorgeous fabrics and extravagant styles. The clothing of the lesser nobility and general public was regulated by what were known as “sumptuary laws”. These laws controlled the consumption of what were considered to be luxury goods – not just in dress, but also in food, drink, and household goods. Their purpose was to keep the powerful few visibly separated from the ordinary citizen, and to ensure that accepted standards of decency were kept to.

Moreover, people’s choice in clothing has always been controlled by a wish to conform to the standards of beauty, whether male or female, that are accepted within their own community. These standards vary greatly from one culture to another and from one generation to another. In Europe in 1900, for instance, it was elegant for a woman to weigh 150 pounds. In 1965, 100 or 110 pounds was the fashionable weight.

Considerations of modesty also affect our clothing choice. Most of us have no wish to scandalize our communities by dressing immodestly or shockingly in public. Rules change completely from one culture to another. Bare-breasted women were the norm in Ancient Egypt and in many parts of Africa and South America. By contrast, in Victorian times, modesty prevailed. People would be deeply shocked at the sight of 1960s girls in mini-skirts or women sunbathing topless on public beaches.

Another interesting aspect of clothing is the changes in style that take place from one generation to another. There often relate to general movements in art and design. Cycles of fashion revolve constantly. Some colors and gimmicks last only a season, but seven years is about the time-span of a major fashion “look” such as mini-skirts or padded shoulders.

Thus, the styles we choose are rarely based entirely on personal taste but follow a set of unwritten rules. In every country these rules stem from a shared sense of social values, which are reflected in a shared style of clothing. These is often a minority of people who reject these values and styles and choose to demonstrate their independence by wearing shocking or unusual dress. Punk clothes are just such an example.

Дата добавления: 2015-07-08