Fabric Patterns Tell on You

Occasionally we hear a theory, laugh a little and file it under bogus. Then slowly we begin to notice it seems to have some validity. Could it be that Louise Coffey-Webb is correct? This professor of fashion history teaches that fabric pattern choices can give us information about the personality types of the purchaser.

Let's see if the theory holds true for the people we know. Think about those you know who wear animal prints. The cowgirl who wears the snakeskin boots or the woman dress in zebra stripes are a couple that come to mind. These people are labeled as creative leaders who seem to have some connection with Mother Nature. They are willing to take chances and make bold statements.

And what about those ladies who wear floral prints? Typically they are described as a people person with a touch of sophistication. They are approachable and warm in nature. They tend to bring the crowd together.

Those ladies who where solid patterns are a mystery and give nothing away.

People who go with the vertical stripes are said to be ambitious and assertive. They know what they want and they are not afraid to go after it. Pinstripe suits have always been a sign of a powerful person.

Horizontal stripes indicate a no-nonsense and definitive personality type. They believe in the things they can do and take initiative with confidence. They take a broad view of situations.

Polka dots seem to scream fun, full of energy, and happiness. They look very playful. In reality people who wear polka dots have lots of energy, but they are very focused. They are able to multitask and juggle lots of projects at the same time.

So is there any real science to back up these claims or any other personality test? Louise Coffey-Webb explains that "Patterns appeal to us emotionally, bypassing the rational part of our brain, so your favorite can reveal who you are on a deeper level."

Like any other kind of personality tests this seems to note current trends with the person. It was originally taught that the basic personality does not change. More recently psychology tells us that people are able to make great changes in personality and behaviors. These changes are not all moving in a positive direction.

So even if we don't completely agree with the logic and basis of this test, would it be worth our time to dress a little differently for some occasions? Can the pattern one wears help a person land a job or attract different types of people? The jury is still out, but personal observations say that there is at least a little bit of truth in the patterns we choose.