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Why We Wear Clothes

Main Core Tie

Fashion Design Studio
Strand 1 Standard 1

Time Frame

1 class periods of 60 minutes each

Group Size


Life Skills

  • Thinking & Reasoning
  • Communication
  • Character
  • Employability


Robin Lewis


Lesson will cover first impressions we make to others about the clothing we wear. It will also cover the 5 reasons why we wear clothing: protection, adornment, identification, modesty, and status.


Background for Teachers

First Impressions are made within seconds.

There are 5 reasons why we wear clothing.

  1. Adornment: Added decoration or ornamentation.
  2. Protection: Clothing that provides physical safeguards to the body, preventing harm from climate and environment.
  3. Identification: Establishing who someone is or what they do.
  4. Modesty: Covering the body according to the code of decency established by society.
  5. Status: One's position or rank in comparison to others.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will identify why we wear clothes (protection, adornment, identification, modesty, status)

Instructional Procedures

What are the new fashions this year? What do you see?

Go over the power point "First Impressions"
Have students take out a scratch piece of paper and write their first impression for each slide.
Discuss the impressions we can make by wearing clothing and how we portray ourselves to others.
Talk about how long it takes to make a first impression.

Pass out the handout "Why we wear clothes" Discuss with students the 5 reasons we wear clothes.

Pass out pictures of clothing from magazines. Have students stand in 5 places in the room to represent the 5 reasons why we wear clothes. Each student will show their picture and explain why they chose that reason.

Students will fill out their back side of their handout by drawing an example or finding a picture of each reason why we wear clothing.

Strategies for Diverse Learners

Students can work with a partner when figuring out what their picture represents.

Assessment Plan



Students will complete the assignments. Teacher will observe the class activity with the magazine pictures.

Created: 05/07/2012
Updated: 02/05/2018