Fashion Psychology - MIchael Solomon - Consumer Behavior & Marketing Expert (2024)

Fashion Psychology - MIchael Solomon - Consumer Behavior & Marketing Expert (1)

Fashion psychology is commonly defined as the study of the impact of clothing choices on the way in which we perceive and judge each other. However, the term fashion psychology is a bit misleading, as the field actually looks well beyond clothing’s impact on the individual. And, its focus transcends clothing to also consider the impact of many other products that express self-identity and are influenced by the same forces that drive change in the apparel industry, such as home furnishings, cosmetics, and even automobiles.

Fashion Psychology - MIchael Solomon - Consumer Behavior & Marketing Expert (2)

Fashion psychology is very important to marketers who need to understand the factors that make it likely a product will be adopted by a group of consumers, and who need to predict how long that product will continue to stay in fashion. So, part of fashion psychology focuses on changes in acceptance over time. For example, a classic is a fashion with an extremely long acceptance cycle that is adopted by a fairly large group. In contrast, a fad is a short-lived fashion. Relatively few people adopt a fad product, but it can spread quickly. Adopters may all belong to a common subculture, and the fad “trickles across” members but rarely breaks out of that specific group.

Let’s distinguish among some confusing terms in fashion psychology. Fashion is the process of social diffusion by which some group(s) of consumers adopts a new style. In contrast, a fashion (or style) is a particular combination of attributes (say, stovepipe jeans that women wear with a tunic top). To be in fashion means that some reference group positively evaluates this combination (i.e., Vogue endorses this look as “in” for this season). Thus, the term Danish Modern refers to particular characteristics of furniture design (i.e., a fashion in interior design); it does not necessarily imply that Danish Modern is a fashion that consumers currently desire.

Fashion is a complex process that operates on many levels. For this reason, there are many perspectives on the origin and diffusion of fashion.

Psychological Models of Fashion

Many psychological factors help explain what motivates us to be fashionable. These include conformity, desires for variety seeking, the need to express personal creativity, and sexual attraction. For example, many consumers seem to have a need for uniqueness: They want to be different (though not necessarily too different!). As a result, people may conform to the basic outlines of a fashion, but still improvise to make a personal statement within these general guidelines.

One of the earliest theories of fashion psychology argued that “shifting erogenous zones” (sexually arousing areas of the body) accounted for fashion changes, and that different zones become the object of interest because they reflect societal trends. For example, it was common for Renaissance-era women to drape their abdomens in fabrics to give a swollen appearance; successful childbearing was a priority in the disease-ridden 14th and 15th centuries.

Numerous studies have looked at how variations in clothing influence observers’ responses. For example, one study found that men tended to leavehigher tipsfor waitresses who wore red tops. The “dress for success” phenomenon illustrates the widespread belief that appearance directly impacts the way people are treated.

Fashion Psychology - MIchael Solomon - Consumer Behavior & Marketing Expert (3)

Other fashion psychology researchers focus on the role of clothing in mate selection; According to signaling theory, a male peaco*ck will display his vibrant fan of feathers in a ritual to attract a female with whom to mate. Some researchers argue that clothing gives us a similar ability to distinguish ourselves from a crowd in an effort to find a mate.

A separate, albeit smaller, body of work in fashion psychology points to the important role that clothing and other expressive products play in shaping self-concept – “you are what you wear.” In one study researchers asked respondents to wear a lab coat, which people associate with attentiveness and precise work. They found that subjects who wore the lab coat displayed enhanced performance on tasks that required them to pay close attention. But they also introduced a twist: When respondents were told the garment was in fact a painter’s coat rather than a doctor’s lab coat, the effects went away. In other words, the respondents interpreted the symbolic meaning of the clothing and then altered their behavior accordingly.The expression “clothes make the man” expresses this process.

Economic Models of Fashion

Economists approach fashion in terms of the model of supply and demand. Items in limited supply have high value, whereas our desire decreases for readily available products. Rare items command respect and prestige. However, other factorsalso influence the demand curve for fashion-related products. These include a prestige–exclusivity effect where high prices still create high demand, and a snob effect, whereby lower prices actually reduce demand (“If it’s that cheap, it can’t be any good”).

Sociological Models of Fashion

The fashion system includes all the people and organizations that create symbolic meanings and transfer those meanings to cultural goods. Although we often equate fashion with clothing, it’s important to keep in mind that fashion processes affect all types of cultural phenomena, including music, art, architecture, and even science (i.e., certain research topics and individual scientists are “hot” at any point in time). Even business practices are subject to the fashion process; they evolve and change depending on which management techniques are in vogue, such as total quality management (TQM), just-in-time inventory control (JIT), or managing by walking around (MBWA).

Trickle-down theory states that two conflicting forces drive fashion change. First, subordinate groups adopt the status symbols of the groups above them as they attempt to climb up the ladder of social mobility. Dominant styles thus originate with the upper classes and trickle down to those below.

Now the second force kicks in: Those people in the superordinate groups keep a wary eye on the ladder below them to be sure followers don’t imitate them. When lower-class consumers mimic their actions, they adopt new fashions to distance themselves from the mainstream. These two processes create a self-perpetuating cycle of change—the machine that drives fashion.

A Medical Model of Fashion

For many years, the lowly Hush Puppy was a shoe for nerds. Suddenly—almost overnight—the shoe became a chic fashion statement even though its manufacturer did nothing to promote this image. Why did this style diffuse through the population so quickly? Meme theory explains this process with a medical metaphor. A meme is an idea or product that enters the consciousness of people over time. Memes spread among consumers in a geometric progression just as a virus starts off small and steadily infects increasing numbers of people until it becomes an epidemic.

Fashion Psychology - MIchael Solomon - Consumer Behavior & Marketing Expert (4)

Fashion psychology also reveals important linkages between clothing styles and underlying social values as well as tribal divisions. Distinctive styles and colors denote gang membership, for example, and these markings extend to other domains like sports apparel. The ongoing controversy about the banning of clothing associated with Islamic terrorism, such as the burkini on French beaches, illustrates how fashion psychology penetrates to crucial issues in society.

Fashion Psychology - MIchael Solomon - Consumer Behavior & Marketing Expert (2024)

FAQs

What is consumer behavior according to Solomon? ›

According to Solomon et al. (2006) , consumer behavior involves procedures where individuals and groups chose, purchase, use, or abundant products, services, ideas, or experiences to satisfy their requirements.

What is fashion consumer psychology? ›

Fashion psychology is commonly defined as the study of the impact of clothing choices on the way in which we perceive and judge each other. However, the term fashion psychology is a bit misleading, as the field actually looks well beyond clothing's impact on the individual.

What does a fashion psychologist do? ›

A fashion psychologist is someone who works with individuals and companies to define and advise on style choices. According to Dawnn Karen, the woman pioneering the field, fashion psychology examines how colour, image, style, and beauty affect human behaviour.

What is fashion consumer behaviour in marketing? ›

Understanding Fashion Consumer Behavior

These fall into the psychological, social, cultural, personal, or economic categories. Established brands have to stay up to date and modify their operations according to these categories in order to appeal to their target market.

What are the 4 theory of consumer behavior? ›

Consumer behavior theory is the study of how people make decisions and what motivates them to buy. The four consumer behavior theories we've covered in this article are The IMBP Model, Social Influence Theory, Personal Factors Theory (PFT), and Environmental Influences on Consumer Behavior (EICT).

What are the 4 consumer behaviors? ›

Experts agree that there are four main types of consumer behavior: complex-buying behavior, dissonance-reducing buying behavior, habitual buying behavior, and variety-seeking buying behavior.

How to study fashion psychology? ›

For anyone interested in the field I would suggest studying some level of psychology and considering working with sustainable brands that consider general wellbeing. Another option is to complete an undergraduate degree or master's degree in fashion psychology at University of the Arts London College of Fashion.

What are the five basic psychological factors that influence fashion demand? ›

Match
  • Boredom (restless and desire for change, demand)
  • Curiosity (interest in change for own sake)
  • Reaction to Convention (reaction to convention: rebellion or adherence)
  • Need for self-assurance (be accepted)
  • Desire for Companionship (seek a mate, get a group and dress a certain way)

What is an example of psychology consumer behavior? ›

Habitual Buying Behavior

They either buy their favorite brand or the one they use regularly – or the one available in the shop or the cheapest one. For example, when a customer buys a loaf of bread, he prefers to buy the brand he knows well without much research or devoting much time to the process.

How much does a fashion psychologist earn in the US? ›

How Much Do Fashion Psychologist Jobs Pay per Year? $39,500 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $111,000 is the 75th percentile.

What field of psychology makes the most money? ›

Psychiatrist positions are by far the highest-paying jobs for psychology majors. The average salary is $217,798, according to PayScale. A psychiatrist should be licensed as a board-certified psychiatrist.

What are the five consumer behavior? ›

In a general scenario, we've got five main factors that determine consumer behavior, i.e these factors regulate if a target customer purchases a product or not. These factors are namely Psychological, Social, Cultural, Personal, and Economic factors.

What are the seven types of consumer behavior? ›

Euromonitor's Survey team developed seven global consumer types from the survey data: the Undaunted Striver, Impulsive Spender, Balanced Optimist, Aspiring Struggler, Conservative Homebody, Independent Skeptic and Secure Traditionalist.

Who buys fast fashion the most? ›

The target audience for fast fashion is consumers aged between 18 and 24, while women and young girls consume fast fashion more than any other demographic group.

What is Big 5 theory of personality in consumer behaviour? ›

Those five traits are: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. This concept supports the belief that our personalities are not consistent from one situation to the next.

What are the 3 basic assumptions of consumer behavior theory? ›

Assumptions concerning consumer behaviour:

Consumers have limited resources ie. There needs and wants are greater than their income. Consumers seek to get maximum utility/satisfaction when buying goods. Consumers will act rationally ie.

What are the 3 stage of consumer behaviour? ›

It is the journey or buying process that consumers go through to become aware of, evaluate, and purchase a new product or service, and it consists of three stages that make up the inbound marketing framework: awareness, consideration, and decision.

What is the dark side of consumer behavior? ›

Consumer Behavior does have a dark side too. In pursuit of selling their offers many a times marketers tend to go overboard and go for Deviant Consumer behavior: Addictive,compulsive,Impulsive behavior.

What influences consumer behavior? ›

Consumer behavior is influenced by many external factors and internal factors such as situational, psychological, environmental, and marketing factors, personal factors, family, and culture.

How do I become a self taught fashion stylist? ›

How to become a fashion designer without a degree
  1. Familiarize yourself with design software. ...
  2. Research other fashion designers. ...
  3. Create new sketches every day. ...
  4. Read books about sewing and craftsmanship. ...
  5. Quiz yourself on fashion terms. ...
  6. Practice making prototype pieces. ...
  7. Attend fashion events. ...
  8. Develop your own collection.
Mar 10, 2023

Is fashion psychology a thing? ›

Fashion psychology encompasses how individuals perceive or judge one another, one's identity or personality, buying motivators and market research on consumer behavior.

Where do I start to study fashion? ›

How to learn about the fashion industry
  • Review trends on social media. ...
  • Sign up for newsletters. ...
  • Read books about the history of fashion. ...
  • Connect with fashion designers in your area. ...
  • Find a mentor who can offer insight. ...
  • Pursue experiential learning opportunities. ...
  • Consider studying fashion formally.
Jun 24, 2022

What are the 3 key influences on fashion? ›

Fashion Designing Basics: Factors Influencing Popular Fashion
  • Fashion Forecast (Colour & Fabric) Deciding the colour, fabric and look for the upcoming season is something that every designer works on. ...
  • Movies & Music. The entertainment world is a major influencer of fashion. ...
  • Fashion Stylist. ...
  • Economy of a Country.
Dec 20, 2017

What is dopamine dressing trend? ›

The thinking behind dopamine dressing is that wearing clothes you love will boost your mood. There aren't studies definitively concluding that everyone releases dopamine when wearing a specific type of clothing, but experts say there's something to this trend.

What are the five forces of fashion? ›

To understand the competitive dynamics of the fashion retail industry, it is useful to conduct a Five Forces Analysis, which takes into account the five key forces that shape the industry: the threat of new entrants, the bargaining power of suppliers, the bargaining power of buyers, the threat of substitute products, ...

What is the difference between consumer behavior and consumer psychology? ›

Consumer psychology studies the psychological aspects of consumer decision-making. It is an interdisciplinary area that involves the study of human interactions with products, services, and ideas. Consumer behavior psychology is a subset of consumer psychology that focuses on clients' buying decisions.

What is consumer psychology in simple words? ›

Consumer psychology refers to the processes used by clients and customers to select, purchase, use and discard products and services. In the business world, consumer psychology research helps firms improve their products, services and marketing strategies in order to bolster sales.

What is a real life example of consumer behaviour? ›

When a consumer enjoys trying new products and seeks variety in their buying patterns. For example, they might like trying new flavors of tea or enjoying a different fragrance of hand soap each time they make their purchase.

What is the lowest paid psychologist? ›

How Much Does a Psychologist Make? Psychologists made a median salary of $102,900 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $120,240 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $73,910.

What is fashion therapy? ›

Fashion psychology is "the study and treatment of color, beauty, style, image and shape and its effect on human behavior while addressing cultural sensitivities and cultural norms." Karen is a trained therapist whose main focus is styling from the inside out. "Clothing can be used as a therapeutic modality," she says.

What is the lowest salary of psychologist in USA? ›

How much does a Psychologist make in USA? The average psychologist salary in the USA is $96,695 per year or $46.49 per hour. Entry level positions start at $77,998 per year while most experienced workers make up to $131,225 per year. What does a Psychologist do?

How to make 6 figures with a psychology degree? ›

For those psychology majors hoping to earn a top salary after graduation, consider these high-paying jobs you can get with a bachelor's degree in psychology:
  1. Teacher. ...
  2. Mental health technician. ...
  3. Sports coach. ...
  4. Human resources specialist. ...
  5. Career counselor. ...
  6. Parole officer. ...
  7. Marketing specialist. ...
  8. Social services director.
Feb 24, 2023

What is the most popular career in psychology? ›

Clinical psychologist have training in the diagnosis, assessment, treatment and prevention of mental illnesses. This is the largest and most popular employment area in psychology. Clinical psychologists are employed in hospitals, mental health centers, and in private practice.

What is highest paying job in USA? ›

The highest paying jobs in the U.S. are all in medicine, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Chief executives and airline pilots are also among the highest paid professions.

Which fashion degree is best? ›

Best Fashion Schools In The World For 2023
RankFashion SchoolCountry
1Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)United States
2Parsons School of DesignUnited States
3Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & DesignUnited States
4London College of Fashion, University of the Arts LondonUnited Kingdom
62 more rows
Mar 6, 2023

What degree should I get if I like fashion? ›

A bachelor of arts in fashion design is a creative degree that teaches practical skills for fashion product designers and developers. Like a traditional degree, an online bachelor's degree in fashion combines theoretical and practical industry-relevant fashion research.

What degrees can you get if you like fashion? ›

What Degree Should I Choose?
  • Fashion Journalism.
  • Fashion Merchandising.
  • Accessories Design.
  • Fashion Photography.
  • Fashion Management.

What are the two theories of consumer Behaviour? ›

There are two types of theories that explain consumer behavior - the traditional or old theories and modern or contemporary theories. The traditional theorists would believe that consumers behave mechanistically. Their views about consumers may be compared with that of the economic philosophers' views.

How can you benefit from studying consumer behavior? ›

Why it's important to study consumer behaviour
  • identify which products or services people want – and just as importantly, identify which products and services they don't want.
  • effectively shape their marketing strategies and marketing campaigns to help influence consumers' actions.
  • fine-tune their marketing efforts.
May 31, 2022

What are the 5 factors most affecting consumer behavior? ›

A Short Guide to the 5 Factors Influencing Consumer Behaviour
  • Self-Interest. Self-interest is one of the most important driving forces of consumer behavior. ...
  • Difficulty or Barriers. Our second factor is difficulties or barriers. ...
  • Perception. Perception is our third consumer behavior factor. ...
  • Demographics. ...
  • Culture.
Nov 4, 2020

What is dissonance buying behaviour? ›

Dissonance-reducing buying behaviour occurs when the consumer is highly involved but sees little difference between brands. This is likely to be the case with the purchase of a lawn mower or a diamond ring.

What is an example of dissonance buying behavior? ›

Dissonance-reducing buying behavior

As a rule, they buy goods without much research based on convenience or available budget. An example of dissonance-reducing buying behavior may be purchasing a waffle maker. In this case, a customer won't think much about which model to use, chousing between a few brands available.

Which is the best type of customer? ›

Loyal customers. This should be one of your favorite types of customers, but they may also be expecting an even higher standard of service. Having been a part of your customer base for years, the loyal customer is the joy of the sales department.

What fashion sells the most? ›

10 Best Selling Fashion Products in the US
  • Jeans: Denim jackets:
  • Bucket hats/beanie:
  • Sneakers:
  • Wrap dress:
  • Hair accessories:
  • Trench coats:
  • Jewelry:
  • Hair wigs:

What is the root cause of fast fashion? ›

People used to buy durable and high-quality clothing before the industrial revolution. Globalization and the transfer of clothing production in overseas countries, where labor costs are very low, make fast fashion expand rapidly.

What age group spends the most money on clothes? ›

The 45-54 age group spent the most on women's and girls' clothing in 2021, averaging $995. This age group is more likely to spend more money on clothing than other age groups.

What is consumer behavior according to the definition? ›

Consumer behavior refers to the study of how customers, both individual and organizations, satisfy their needs and wants by choosing, purchasing, using and disposing of goods, ideas and services.

What is consumer behavior according to author? ›

According to Engel, Blackwell, and Mansard, 'consumer behaviour is the actions and decision processes of people who purchase goods and services for personal consumption'.

How is consumer behavior defined? ›

Consumer behavior refers to the acquisition, consumption, and disposal of products, services, time, and ideas by decision-making units.

Who is the father of consumer behavior? ›

Ernest Dichter
BornAugust 14, 1907 Vienna, Austria.
DiedNovember 21, 1991 (aged 84) Peekskill, New York State, United States
EducationLicenciés es lettres, Sorbonne, Paris PhD (psychology), University of Vienna, 1934
Occupation(s)Psychologist, market researcher and author
5 more rows

What are the 4 concepts of marketing? ›

The marketing concept rests on four pillars: target market, customer needs, integrated marketing and profitability.

What is an example of a consumer psychology? ›

Some examples of consumer psychology include topics like: How consumers choose brands. The thoughts and emotions that drive consumer decisions. What motivates people to choose one product over another.

What are the three elements of consumer behavior explain? ›

Consumer behavior is the study of how people make decisions about what they buy, want, need, or act in regards to a product, service, or company. The three factors that affect consumer behavior are psychological, personal, and social.

What are the 5 main factors that influence purchasing decisions? ›

In a general scenario, we've got five main factors that determine consumer behavior, i.e these factors regulate if a target customer purchases a product or not. These factors are namely Psychological, Social, Cultural, Personal, and Economic factors.

Why is consumer psychology important? ›

Importance of Consumer Psychology

Consumer psychology can help companies create more effective marketing campaigns, better product development and design, and more successful customer retention. It also helps marketers understand how consumers respond to different types of marketing messages.

Who is a famous consumer psychologist? ›

Kate Nightingale (aka Kasia Slowikowska)

Which is the oldest theory of consumer Behaviour? ›

Cardinal utility analysis is the oldest theory of demand which provides an explanation of consumer's demand for a product and derives the law of demand which establishes an inverse relationship between price and quantity demanded of a product.

Who was the first consumer psychologist? ›

The roots of consumer psychology began back in the 1940's, with a psychologist named John Watson. It was Watson that first used consumers' emotions to help sell products. Following his advice, Johnson and Johnson's created baby powder ads that played on a mother's attachment to about her baby.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Clemencia Bogisich Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 6324

Rating: 5 / 5 (60 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Clemencia Bogisich Ret

Birthday: 2001-07-17

Address: Suite 794 53887 Geri Spring, West Cristentown, KY 54855

Phone: +5934435460663

Job: Central Hospitality Director

Hobby: Yoga, Electronics, Rafting, Lockpicking, Inline skating, Puzzles, scrapbook

Introduction: My name is Clemencia Bogisich Ret, I am a super, outstanding, graceful, friendly, vast, comfortable, agreeable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.