Dont judge people by dress code

“Dressing addresses you!” That’s what my friend Ishmael  Dawcter, known as Taku, will always tell me if she sees me wearing  this other small dress of mine with my leggings inside. According to Taku, “If you see a soldier, police officer, nurse and or a prostitute, you already know who they are because of their dress code. 

For Taku, outside the obvious there is nothing.

To justify that Taku always gives me a list of quotations of which most were informed by the Chinese proverb.  Abroad we Judge the dress, at home we judge the man. He also quoted  Susan Sommers, the author of 'Italian Chic and French Chic' and "Although they are only a snapshot of who you are, you have a very small window to get it right," who posited that We are judged on first impressions. These images are imprinted in the brain,"  

For Taku “First impressions can be lasting, and for employees heading into a new culture, a successful transition can mean 'head to toe”  He stated that in business overdressing is bad, pointing to Sommers quotation that  "If you are in competition for the position, the expat who can fit into the new culture well will be the one to triumph.”
 

However, while agree with some of the arguments he brought up, I did differ with his opinions, particularly the idea that people are judged or addressed by how they are dressed. I feel dressing can never be used to justify one’s identity, especially in this and day and age where fashion can be a form of escapism.

It is common among our families, societies, churches, schools and many other institutions that spear head socialisation to judge others based on how they are dressed without knowing anything or much about them. They only judge them according to their physical appearance.  But what of those people who hide their reality by dressing in certain styles.

I think fashion should serve a purpose

I am still really looking for a reason why fashion is necessary. Does it serve any real sense of utility or purpose? Is the question that always comes into my mind. I don’t intend to conclude that fashion serves no purpose and that it wastes a great deal of human effort that is better spent elsewhere. However, I think fashion should serve a purpose and what that purpose is, it lies with an individual, I suppose. Meanwhile, I am still trying to search for the answers. But, I think if you're buying name brand products because you think it makes you cooler, you might want to think again, it might be a waste.

The Apple watch ( www.wired.com)

When I first heard that Apple Inc launched a watch last year, it appeared practical to me from a business viewpoint. Generally, a watch serves the purpose of being able to tell time as far as I know. But now with the ever emerging cell phones, as well as a plethora of other personal devices that are able to tell time, one wonders the functionally usefulness of a watch. For me, anything that doesn't have practical use are all a waste of money, but maybe being a broke college student, who only thinks of a watch when taking an exam, informs my view

In my opinion, the only reason watches such as the $100 or $10 000 Apple watch still exists is fashion appeal.

Sithandekile Sibanda, a bank teller at ZB  Bank notes that : “ watches, are a little bit more of a fashion accessory usually identified amongst professionals, to whom even a 100 bucks dollar watch wouldn’t be that much of  a lot of money,” while looking at her own watch in her wrist.

 

 A number of people that I spoke too were saying they  prefer to wear watches rather than any other piece of jewellery.

There is however, one student from the National University of Science and Technology who cited that if he had all the money in the world, he would buy the Apple watch as he feels it serves a purpose said:

 “When taking an exam, the exam room clock is located in an area that is hard to see from your seat. It is much easier to simply glance down at your watch to determine how much time you have remaining than it is to crane your neck to find the clock or to risk pulling out a cell phone to check the time because this could be seen as cheating.” 

 

When this student was talking, it appeared I am not the only one who thinks of a watch in relation to examinations.
 

Meanwhile, Priscah Mwaramba, 43, maintained that watches are significantly more convenient than phones.

 

Mwaramba said: “With my own watch, I can set a timer on a watch or start a stopwatch significantly faster than I can with my phone, and if I want to be able to constantly monitor the time, then I can do so without having to devote an entire hand to checking the time. I can also wear a watch while running or exercising otherwise, without having to use an armband, and can easily check the time with it as opposed to my phone. It also has a significantly longer battery life than phones which makes it more convenient for those reasons. I can also set alarms easier if I need to do one for a short period of time.” she said.

From the points raised above one cannot ignore the fact that watches are good if they are rightfully used for the purpose they serve and when the right contexts are considered. For example, it makes sense when one is wearing a watch because they are working, as it would be easier for them to just look at their wrist than take out a phone to check the time.

 

However, my concern is on the issue of following trends just because there are devices on the block or for the sake of being fashionable. My fear lies in that fashion can be a form of imprisonment and totally obsession if followed without a purpose.

 

Fashion as a form of imprisonment can be noticeable in people who go to the extent of spending beyond their means on fashion. I am talking about college students maybe like me who have no income at all or little to no reliable income. 

 

NB: I do not write to tell people how to spend their money, every person is free to spend his or her money in whatever way they choose.