28 Part 1 Apparel and Fashion Conformity Conformity means following or obeying some set standard or authority. People choose to conform in order to feel accepted. Peer pressure can lead to conformity. Peer pressure is the social pressure a person feels to adopt a type of behavior, dress, or attitude in order to have acceptance in a group. For instance, you probably prefer to wear the clothing styles that other teens are wearing. You want to fi t in with what is in style this year. Jeans are popular choices for teens. When you wear them, you feel like you are a part of the group—that you are accepted. Attraction In your teen years, you are more aware of the opposite sex. Your desire to attract the attention of someone you would like to date may infl uence what you choose to wear. When you were younger, you probably didn’t care as much about your clothing and appearance. You had other things on your mind. Now, you may spend a lot of your time planning what you are going to wear to school tomorrow or to the game Friday night. You may be trying to attract someone’s interest. Esteem In addition to love and acceptance, Maslow stated that people have a need for esteem. This is a need for respect, admiration, recognition, and social approval by others. It is also a need for self-esteem—feeling good about your- self as a person. If you have self-esteem, you have a feeling of self-worth. You feel important. Clothes can play a role in fulfi lling this need. Self-Adornment Throughout history, people have practiced self-adornment, or decoration of their bodies. They have followed certain practices to make themselves beau- tiful according to the customs of their culture. The beliefs and social customs of 1-3 The hard hat, bright color, and refl ective bands on this worker’s clothing help keep him safe while on the job. (A) The protective clothing of this medical researcher is discarded after each use. (B) A & B Shutterstock