The right dress - relative but ‘unfit for optical nutrition’ in some occasions and places

We do acknowledge that more extensive changes, requiring more time, money, and effort to effect, may span generations. The rate of change of fashion varies, and so modifies the style in wearing clothes and its accessories within days, or months, especially in small social groups or in communications media-influenced-modern societies. When fashion changes, the message communicated by clothing, changes too- a change that requires serious scrutiny or else social scandal may arise. A good number of young people today, perhaps with a few adults, take this social change in clothing as being modern if not liberal in terms of dress code. They may be liberal and modern, but it is awkward seeing a person in places like funerals, church, hospital, or visiting old parents in the villages, wearing outfits that leave little to the imagination, such as fishnet mini dresses, micro-minis, tight-leggings, extreme ‘balance’ (for men)… and many other provocative clothes. Is that being modern really, or dressing up for the wrong occasion? Why not save it for the right occasion?Dress codes are written and, more often, unwritten rules with regards to clothing. Clothing like other aspects of human physical appearance has a social significance, with different rules and expectations being valid depending on circumstance and occasion. Different societies and cultures have different dress norms, although Western styles are commonly accepted as suitable.The dress code has built in rules or signals indicating the message being given by a persons clothing and how it is worn. This message may include indications of the persons gender, income, occupation and social class - political, ethnic and religious affiliation, attitude and attitude towards comfort, trend, traditions, gender expression, marital status and sexual orientation. If the receivers code of interpretation differs from the senders code of communication, misinterpretation follows and this is where my bone of contention is. In every culture, current fashion governs the manner of consciously constructing, assembling, and wearing clothing to convey a social message-a social message that usually comes with contradiction of the traditionally accepted norms or dressing code. To concretise the point, let us look at one example in terms of sexual display. Modern western culture recognises cues such as sky stilettos, tight and revealing black or red clothing, exaggerated make-up, flashy jewellery and perfume, as being sexually appealing. If a man wears a tightly-cut shirt that is unbuttoned to his sternum, or tight trousers, would be recognised as dressing in a sexually provocative way. Sexual display has its place in culture. However, in some cases, differences across gender in interpretation of sexual display can give rise to victimisation of the subordinate gender. Rwandans should also be conscious of the dress code on certain social occasions and for certain places. Each occasion may require specified dress to maintain modesty by setting a lower limit on provocative body exposition in some occasions and places. Some work places determine and establish dress codes for their workers. Generally, a carefully drafted dress code applied consistently and consciously does not violate any personal freedom. For example, neckties are excluded from business casual dress, unless worn in untraditional ways such as in hotels and restaurant. The acceptability of blue jeans and denim clothing varies – some offices consider them to be sloppy.Social attitudes to clothing have various rules and social conventions, such as keeping the body covered in some places and occasions, not revealing the underwear in public…etc. The backlash against these social norms is a traditional and social form of rebellion, social scandal and self demeaning. As we encourage our children to be in school uniform at school, let us also as adults prudently judge WHAT to WEAR, WHERE and WHEN.The writer is the Vice Rector Academics (Umutara Polytechnic University).

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The right dress - relative but ‘unfit for optical nutrition’ in some occasions and places