I’ve been listening to a podcast: Tea with Twiggy. For those of you who were too young to know or too old to remember- Twiggy was the “it” girl of the 1960/70’s. She represented the new look of the mod age- the face of 1966 and was on the cover of Vogue magazine over a dozen times. She went on to become a screen and stage actress and singer. During the pandemic she started a podcast, “Tea with Twiggy” where she talks to her friends- most are well known from stage, screen, modeling and song.

She interviewed Charles Gordon-Lennox, 11th Earl of Richmond who owns the estate Goodwood house and sponsors the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The festival is an annual motor car event with modern and vintage motor cars. In addition, they have a large vintage/second hand clothing market. Many who attend the festival dress up in vintage clothing. According to the earl- he has noticed that when the crowds that are dressed up in the vintage clothing congregate, they are better behaved and more kind with one another. There is a spirit of civility that prevails.

I find that fascinating. There is the view that what we wear, determines how we behave and think. There are some studies to suggest that formal attire encourages creativity and abstract thought, increases critical thinking and problem-solving skills. There is also some thought that depending on what we are wearing, we switch “roles” in our thinking and behavior. For instance, one will most likely take advice from a doctor wearing a medical coat more than if she were wearing a bathing suit. And the one wearing the uniform-firefighter for instance, probably acts differently around his buddies than when dressed for the public.

There has always been the adage- dress for success. Certainly we wear different clothes depending upon our moods or activities. We know that specific colors or styles make us feel more comfortable or more confident. Clothing is an individual expression.

But I like the idea that being dressed up, elevates the nature of a crowd. Perhaps we need more of that in this world. Not that we have to go back to the strict nature of “formal”clothing from bygone eras- which was very constricting to women, but that we think about being appropriately and dressed for any occasion.

I know that when I was in school, I always did better on examinations if I dressed up. Not anything super formal but not pajamas or sweat pants.

Years ago our son was in Europe for study-abroad. In flying home at semester’s end, he had more things in his luggage than when he flew over. Consequently he couldn’t pack the suit he had bought in Vienna (all the students were required to attend at least 1 ball during the Viennese winter season) so he wore it home. When we picked him up we almost didn’t recognize him- he was the best dressed passenger. Later he said that he almost got put into first-class when the flight attendants saw him.

What about you? Have you ever been treated differently because of what you were wearing? Does certain clothing evoke different behavior from you? Do you wear different attire depending on the activity?

Of course, clothes do not make the man or woman but if it changes the way we carry ourselves with civility, manners and politeness, it is not such a bad thing.

Oh would it only be so easy to be civil in this world- just dress the part.