Americus times-recorder., 1919-11-03
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CLOTHES.

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CLOTHES.
In these days of strife forebodings and disbe
hefs, it is mentally refreshing to think of some o
the lighter and more pleasant things of life. JUS
now the readers of the New York Evening Sun are
carrying on an interesting discussion on the psy
chology of changing ones clothes. 1t originated
with letter to the editor from a man who regu
larry changes his business suit when he comes home
evenings and noting the comfort it always brings
inquiries the reasons And number of readers
have attempted to give him the answer Says one
II axe an athlete who is about to compete in
test Of strength or endurance Those familiar
with such men know the effect produced by the
NEE changing from his regular clothes to his
track suit He is man, has twice as much
pep, endurance and vgor because of the change
The clothing itself has little to do with it, except
for the fact perhaps in the athletes that it is
lighter, but it is matter of psychology-a change
from one thing to another, something new and
therefore something which seems refreshing and
because it seems so, actually is refreshing.
Also call to mind in any of the profes-
sions, in art lines, for instance, where change OF
clothing is necessary for the mans work. When
persons in such vocations change to their work
III
to succeed and are refreshed
And so it it with this man. Each evening
after work when he changes his clothes he is re-
minded of what lies ahead-dinner the hreside
quiet evening, a good book, or his wife, if she ex-
lists. He is therefore refreshed just is the ath-
lete the soldier or sailor when he changs his cloth
ing
. n Another reader writes:
in reply to the inquirer, may | say that in
changing into another suit upon coming home from
work a man experiences not only mental rest,
put also physical rest For example: In his busi-
ness clothes a man naturally must keep clean and
tidy in order to present the best appearance posi-
bic. He is on the constant lookout to keep neat
Perhaps he is not altogether conscious of this, but
nevertheless it causes mental strain. 1t may be
that his clothes do not afford him free and easy
motion
a. Upon changing his garb he is released from
BART at least of the mental strain because he does
moi need to be so careful of his attire. Also il
may be that an old suit gives freer play to the
,scies and causes break in the mOnotony oi
airing one suit continuously.
And then this exp lanation:
This business man has, in his thinking re-
ed CLONES TO MS Work SO dSIElcly CCAio
sa1sly that when he and thinks OF the clothes
has worn during the day, he is conscious at the
time of his work and the fatigue it has caused
oten he dvests himself of his working clothes and
them out of his sight he divests himself at the
ne time of the depressing consciousness OF his
k and with it the sense of fatigue.
The activities of the mind invariably affect
Sensations and movements of the body. As {
a1l thinketh so is he. The sense OF refreshnaen
Eeels is not so much positive sensation caused
lhe change Of clothes, as it is a negative sensa
b resulting from the removal of clothing anc
.e consequent expelling of thoughts, which wer
aonnected with his work and reminded him of hi
fatiuue. When he no longer thinks about worl
and nneasiness he ceases in measure, to be wear!
and is thus refreshed
And so it goes. The experience of the write
of the first letter is the experience of many men.
Clothes very largely make the man. A man il
raas has difficult time getting anywhere in tn
vvoria perhaps as much because of restrictions pu
xspon him unconsciously by his own mental stat
nader such conditions as for any other reason.
Good clothes help to make for good front
54nnovant spirits 1t is easily possible to be eZ
easl.nt in the matter of clothing but it is just a
lnb go too far in the matter OF clothin