Clothes Really Do Make the Man (2024)

Clothes Really Do Make the Man (1)

Itching for a promotion? Try stepping up your wardrobe. New research from Northwestern University reveals that what you wear could affect how you think and even perform.

Researchers found that students wearing white lab coats performed better on cognitive tests than those who didn't sport any jackets. The phenomenon is called "enclothed cognition," or the influence your clothes can have on the way you think, feel, and behave, says study coauthor Hajo Adam, Ph.D., a management professor at Northwestern.

More from MensHealth.com: Dress Up without Losing Your Cool

"Many pieces of clothing carry a symbolic meaning. For example, the robe of a judge signifies justice, an expensive suit signifies power, and a white lab coat signifies a scientific focus and attentiveness," Adam says. "Our research indicates that wearing clothes exerts influence through this symbolic meaning."

While Mark Twain may have been on to something when he said clothes make the man, enclothed cognition only seems to work if you hold your threads in high esteem. (It's less about your personal level of confidence than the confidence, power, and skill set you associate with particular apparel.) "For example, if someone feels phony wearing a suit, then the symbolic meaning of the suit will carry a negative weight for that person," says Adam.

More from MensHealth.com: Buy the Perfect Suit

Want to make a million bucks? Then start dressing like it. Make these wardrobe upgrades to reap the benefits of enclothed cognition.

At Work: Suit Up
Since people associate wearing a suit and tie with hard work and professional conduct, Adam suggests that "wearing such attire increases performance at work." It's true:You can earn at least 5 percent more than the other guy simply by looking sharp, according to a study in the American Economic Review. Clothes sell confidence, so keep a style kit in your cubicle. Your office-closet musts: A blazer, crisp shirt, matching tie, and gleaming pair of shoes. (Don't forget the right pair of skivvies, too.)

At the Gym: Chuck Your College Sweatshirt
Revamp your gym attire, stat. "If wearing great fitness gear is associated with great athletic performance, we predict it would make people work out harder and maybe even perform better at competitive events," Adam says. Read these 10 ways to look stylish at the gym.

At Home: Ditch Your PJs
Keep things classy even when nobody's looking. If you've got a phone interview for a potential new job, liken it to a theatrical performance, which requires actors to wear a uniform or dress the part of a character, advises Amanda Visek, Ph.D., an assistant exercise science professor at George Washington University. "Dressing the part is more likely to ensure that you're in the appropriate mindset to perform well. Wearing pajamas elicits thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are associated with kicking back and relaxing, not high performance and confidence," she says. (Learn the 4 rules of dressing for a job interview.)

More from MensHealth.com: Spring Style 2012

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FAQs

What is the quote about clothes make the man? ›

Mark Twain Quote: Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society. Mark twain quotes, Fact quotes, Quotes.

Is there truth in saying clothes make the man? ›

The proverb “Clothes make the man” has been around for a long time. It means that the way we dress can influence how others perceive us. There is some truth to the saying. Studies have shown that people do make snap judgments about others based on their appearance.

What does the clothes make a man mean? ›

what one wears is taken by others as an essential signal of status. The proverb is recorded in English from the early 15th century, but an earlier saying in classical Greek is, 'the man is his clothing.

Who said clothes make the man in Hamlet? ›

Pattern recognition is a key tool that enables radiologists to evoke certain diagnoses based on a radiologic appearance. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, Polonius tells his son Laertes to dress well because "apparel oft proclaims the man"; this phrase is now expressed in modern parlance as "the clothes maketh the man".

Who said clothes don't make the man? ›

Clothes and manners do not make the man... Arthur Ashe - Forbes Quotes.

What does the proverb clothes do not make the man mean? ›

You cannot accurately judge a person solely by appearances.

What is the opposite proverb of clothes make a man? ›

Well, maybe. Are there other pairs of proverbs like “Many hands make light work” and “Too many cooks spoil the broth” that seem to express completely opposite meanings? Compare “Clothes don't make the man” and “You can't judge a book by its cover”.

What is the moral lesson of clothes make the man? ›

"Clothes make the man" implies that a person's outward appearance and attire are essential indicators of their social status. The proverb can be misleading and promote a shallow understanding of individuals based solely on their appearance. It can be subjective and can be influenced by cultural and social norms.

Do clothes make a gentleman? ›

Not at all, but it helps convey the type of man you are. And it helps you look more attractive to women and people in general. A man who dresses well sends the message that he takes care of himself. That he wants to look his best.

Who first said clothes make the man? ›

Shakespeare might have written the idea (apparel oft proclaims the man), but we've got to give Mark Twain some serious props for this one. He's the one who said, "Clothes make a man. Naked people have little or no influence on society." Well we certainly hope so, anyway.

Does clothing make the man or woman? ›

Clothes on their own do not make the man, or the woman. There, I've said it. Just wrapping the body in fabric without paying attention to a garment's fit, textures, patterns, attitudes, functions, and colors is like ignoring the person wearing the garments, or like painting a room in the dark.

What is the story about clothes make the man? ›

In the short story "Clothes Make the Man," French writer Henri Duvernois tells the story of a gang of home robbers. Dressed as a policeman, Tango stood guard while the other two thieves broke into the house. If a policeman appeared to be near, no one would suspect that a robbery was in progress.

What does the clothes make the man mean Shakespeare? ›

The phrase "the apparel oft proclaims the man" means that the type of clothes one wears tell a lot about the wearer; showy clothes may suggest that the wearer is a superficial type of person.

What does Ophelia say about Hamlet's clothes? ›

SARAH: Ophelia portrays Hamlet as the conventional distraught lover who's gone mad from love: his jacket's undone, he's hatless, his stockings are unfastened and down around his ankles, and his face is as pale as his white shirt.

What is the symbolism of clothing in Hamlet? ›

Hamlet's Clothing

Hamlet refuses, saying that his clothes only represent a small part of his true grief. Hamlet makes it clear from the beginning that what he wears is a direct insight into his state of mind. Perhaps more accurately, Hamlet uses his clothes to create an impression of his state of mind.

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