32 Part 1 Apparel and Fashion How Values Infl uence Dress Your values often infl uence the decisions you make about what you wear. For example, if you value status you might choose clothes with the logo of a popular designer. If this logo is a favorite among your friends, wearing clothes with this logo can give you status within the group. If you value wealth, you may buy expensive clothes to show off your wealth. In contrast, if you value economy, you might prefer to buy clothes that are practical, durable, and easily laundered. You will likely look for classic styles that will not go out of fashion. You may place a higher value on educa- tion, choosing to save money for future educational expenses. If you value entertainment, you may choose to spend more money on movies and concerts and less on clothes. Your values will change throughout your lifetime. What you value as a teen may change during your adult years. Now you may value clothes that are unique and trendy. In the future—as a young, working professional—you may value basic wardrobe pieces suitable for starting a career. As an older adult, you will probably place more value on clothing comfort. Self-Concept The mental picture you have of your- self—of who you are and what you are like—is your self-concept. Your view of yourself is usually personal and private. If you like what you see, you have a positive self-concept. If you do not like what you see, you have a negative self-concept. A positive self-concept is the result of feeling good about yourself and feeling you are a worthwhile person. You enjoy life and like people. You feel you can achieve your goals. Having a positive self-concept generally means you have a good outlook on life, 1-7. Some people do not think highly of them- selves. They have a negative self-concept. They often think about their shortcomings and failures instead of their good qualities. When given a compliment, they shrug it off thinking they are not worthy of affi rma- tion. They may be unsure of themselves and uncomfortable with others. Often, they accept the ideas of others and seldom assess how they really feel. When they make a mistake, they dwell on their failure instead of learning from it. Appearance and Self-Concept The way you dress and your overall appearance can affect your self-con- cept. When wearing a new outfi t, you may feel great all day. You know the 1-7 These girls are dressed for fun, choosing clothes that express their personalities. Shutterstock