It is said that clothes make the man. Whether this is true or not remains a matter of debate. However, one cannot deny that appearance plays a significant role in how we are perceived by others. People pay attention to how someone looks, and often, unconsciously, we judge them based on what they are wearing. This way of thinking is deeply rooted in our society, and although it may seem superficial, it’s hard to deny. In reality, appearance matters greatly, especially when it comes to first impressions.
Whether we want to admit it or not, clothing has become a crucial factor in shaping opinions about others. It’s an unspoken rule that if you want to make a good first impression, you must look presentable. Of course, many people try to distance themselves from these stereotypes, but the reality shows that we still care about what we wear and how it affects the way we present ourselves.
When did gender differentiation through color start?
At the beginning of the 20th century in Western Europe, gender began to be identified through colors. Before that, pink and blue did not have the significance they do today. It was common to see boys in pink clothing and girls in blue. One French author, Xavier de Maistre, in his book “Journey Around My Room,” published in 1794, wrote that men chose pink and white for their rooms because these colors had a positive effect on their mood.
It’s worth noting that even before 1920, many advice books recommended pink for boys and blue for girls, though these colors were not yet assigned to specific genders as they are today. It wasn’t until 1927 that Time magazine published a color chart suggesting pink for boys and blue for girls. This aligned with the opinions of leading American retailers at the time, who recommended parents dress boys in pink and girls in blue.
Why did this matter?
Clothing colors began to play an important role because they made it easier for parents to choose clothes. Defining colors by gender helped with purchases, especially when it came to siblings. Parents didn’t want boys to wear hand-me-downs in “inappropriate” colors from their sisters, leading to the need for new clothes. This drove sales, and clothing manufacturers began to tailor their offerings according to set color norms for each gender.
What did people do before colors assigned to gender?
Before the invention of cheap chemical dyes, which allowed clothing to be washed in hot water without losing color, most children were dressed in white for everyday wear. White was practical because it was easy to clean. Children also wore random colors on special occasions, but these didn’t carry much significance. Both boys and girls wore dresses, which was the norm at the time.
Why dresses?
Until about the age of seven, gender wasn’t a concern, and the clothes worn by boys and girls were practically identical. Even famous figures like Ernest Hemingway and Franklin D. Roosevelt wore dresses, which were considered neutral in terms of gender. Dresses were practical because they made everyday tasks like changing diapers easier for parents. This also made the potty-training process more flexible and straightforward.
Nowadays, many people would find the idea of boys wearing dresses odd, but in those days, it was simply practical. Pants were complicated to put on, and zippers hadn’t yet been invented, making dresses a more functional choice.
When did this trend start to fade?
The trend of boys wearing dresses began to fade around 1920 when children started to be dressed in one-piece outfits with pants. It was during this period that “child experts” began to worry that dressing girls in pants might ruin their femininity, leading to the further development of gender stereotypes in both clothing and color.
Since then, fashion has evolved many times, and today we have much more freedom in choosing clothing, regardless of gender. However, stereotypes related to fashion, colors assigned to gender and appearance still have a significant impact on our lives, both socially and personally.
