We present ourselves to the world by the way we dress and wear our hair. Our appearance reveals - and conceals - things about ourselves. Whether we have carefully selected from a full wardrobe or simply grabbed the first thing at hand, our clothing shows the times and places in which we live. In all societies, social status or wealth, ethnic difference and even region are indicated by dress. Group identity can be strengthened by uniforms (formal or informal); occupations are revealed by particular forms of clothing; rites of passage are usually accompanied by special clothes. Styles of dress and hair support ideas of masculinity and femininity, and they may confirm, or challenge, popular gender stereotypes.
How to cite this page
'Appearances', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/living-in-the-20th-century/appearances, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 20-Dec-2012