Illustration Essay

Walking through campus, I don’t habitually discern what students have chosen to adorn themselves in for that particular day. Yet when I widen my eyes to my surroundings, I can start to notice how the clothes that people wear portray labels, give off first impressions, and present judgments about others that may or may not be true. Although these judgments may not be accurate, sometimes a first impression is the only thing that you take from a stranger. How you present yourself, whether it’s your attitude or appearance, is the only thing to go off of. That is why “Clothes make the person” is a controversial statement. So walking to my three classes the next day, I decided to take a closer look around me about what the undergraduates were wearing and decide for myself how their appearances were perceived….
As I walk into my 9am Chemistry 103 lecture, I’m not surprised to see almost 75% of the undergrads sporting the “scrub” look. They are decked out in sweatpants, sweatshirts, ratty t-shirts, and hats to cover up his or her un-washed hair. When I see someone who is wearing scrubs, I judge that they really don’t care about their personal appearance. I think that he or she either stayed up too late the night before, or were just too lazy to shower in the morning and immediately woke up and went to class in their pajamas.
After my Chemistry 103 lecture, I catch sight of a girl sauntering by me in Davies center wearing stilettos, 7 for all Mankind jeans (the ones that cost $200), and a form fitting black sweater. She looks like she just stepped out of the tanning bed, and left her foils on too long when dying her hair blonde (harsh I know). Her clothes give me the impression that she comes from a ritzy family, is way too good to be hanging out with about 90% of the students at UWEC, and only cares about two things-shopping and boys. I mean really, whom is she trying to impress? Her 60-year-old teacher?
Following my run in with the overdressed undergrad, a group of guys are huddled around in a circle as I leave the Davies center. They have shaggy hair and are wearing their pants halfway to their ankles. I noted that all besides one had on a hemp necklace and they all sported oversized crazy sweaters with awkward colors and designs. Their attire gives me the impression that they are nonchalant about school, do drugs, and just don’t really care about anything at all.
My observations lead to only harsh first impressions with the statement “Clothes make the person”. Yet who am I to judge these people? I’m guilty of going to class in sweats many of times. I do get dressed up to go to class, I have bought a $200 pair of jeans (my weakness), and I do get my hair colored blonde (although I’m a brunette at the moment). And sometimes, I wear really weird and not normal clothes. People are so critical about what others wear that they automatically assume that if someone wears a certain thing that they act a certain way and associate with certain people. No one can say that they don’t judge others, because everyone does at some point. I wish I wouldn’t do it, but a first impression of appearance is usually the lone thing to judge off of. The lesson learned here from first impressions is that the clothes do not make the person. They may make a person you are a stranger to, but once you get to know them, the judgments disappear and his or her personality outshines everything else.