Clothes and people

Clothes always played a great role in people’s life. The history of clothing is the history of human civilization. Everywhere on the Earth people used dress for several purposes: to protect the human body from the cold, the rain, the frost, the heat; to change man’s physical appearance for the better through artistic means; to reveal a particular social significance and status of a person in the society. Even in the warm countries a minimum of clothing is always present and the main reason is modesty.

Clothing also has its social, cultural and emotional values. From the ancient times clothing has shown variations between poor and rich people, between one country or one region and another. Clothes of poor people in Russia, England, Spain or China as well as in many other countries always differed greatly from clothes of rich people.

There was no uniformity of style in clothes as it is today. Many countries had their national costumes and created their fashions. In the 17^th century France dictated fashion in Europe but in the 18-19^th centuries the influence of the English fashion became stronger and stronger especially in the fashion for men. England gave a birth to the famous tailored costume which is still very popular.

Has anything changed in our century? Today the variations in clothing are disappearing. The fashion became international. But the clothing as it was earlier can tell people very much about a wearer. We usually announce our sex, age, occupation, class and even our mood through what we are wearing.

The influence of clothes on the feeling of a person is very strong. Clothes can make a person feel happy and self-confident or miserable, unhappy and ill at ease.

Clothes we wear

Traditionally people divide clothing into three groups according to the sex and age of the wearer: men’s wear, women’s wear and children’s wear. But nowadays women’s wear is becoming identical in many cases with men’s wear. The names of many articles of clothes are the same in men’s and women’s wear. They are: heavy-weight and light-weight coats, raincoats, two-piece suits, three-piece suits, trousers, shorts, jackets, anoraks, cardigans, pullovers, slipovers, sweaters, vests, shirts, etc. The opposite trend in clothing development is the diversity of types of clothes. For example, women’s dresses unite a multi-purpose dress, a jumper dress, a dress and a vest, a print dress, a dinner dress, an evening dress.

There are a few articles in men’s wear that women didn’t wear. The same situation is in women’s wear. Only dresses, skirts and blouses are the monopoly of women. Today women and children wear kilt, a skirt traditionally worn by men in Scotland.

Any person’s wardrobe must contain basic garments, mixers and accessories for everyday wear and for formal occasions.

Mixers usually include some skirts in different colours and designs - pleated, straight, flared; some kinds of pants and jeans, blouses, two-colour tweed cardigans, sweaters and so on.

The suit (costume) is the most universal type of dress irrespective of age and size and belongs to basic garments. Both men and women can wear it every day and therefore the suit should be convenient and rational. For older women it may be of businesslike character. A costume in clear-cut sporting style with a yoke, large patch pockets and straps is good for young women. As for accessories they usually include handbags, hats, gloves, stockings, tights, scarves, ties, shoes, etc. You may look elegant in well-cut clothes with plain lines and matching accessories.