Do Your Clothes Make You A Snob?

Surprisingly out of the 2000 people surveyed, 3 out of 4 adults believe snobbery exists in someway or another in their day to day lives.

Our economic system really determines how we identify and judge people, however from the survey it found that that other factors such as who we are friends with, the things we buy and the tasks we do in our spare time all contribute to how others portray us.

Research developer of ICM Nathan Bartlett commented on new-age snobbery saying “it would appear that snobbery is now more about personable and tangible aspects of an individual – the way the look, what they wear and where they choose to shop.”

In other words, first impressions are still that all important factor, we cannot help but to snap-judge others on the way they first present themselves to us. Backing up his research that we, in fact still very much obsessed with class The Great British Class Survey has found that the British public fits into seven social classes, ranging from a ‘precariat’ to ‘elite’.

The seven social classes are as following:

Precariat – The lowest level of social class, due to low economic, cultural and social factors.

Traditional Working Class – A step higher than the precariat social class, this is predominately those of older age that score low on all forms of social, economic and cultural.

Emergent Service Workers – A new class, often young and living in urban areas of the country. This class has a low income however this evens out with higher levels of cultural and social factors.

New Affluent Workers – This class has medium levels of economic, as well as higher levels of social and cultural capitals. Again, affluent workers are normally younger and a very active group of people.

Technical Middle Class – A smaller social class than the other 6, this class is has a high economic capital however have few social contacts, there lack social engagement, as well as cultural engagement.

Established Middle Class – This class have established and high levels of social, economic and cultural capitals however aren’t as high as the ‘Elite’ class.

Elite – The highest and most privileged class in Britain, this class have high levels of all 3 contributing factors, and their high levels of economic capitals set them above the other classes.

Results from BBC’s Great British Class survey of over 160,000

 

So how does this relate to fashion?

Judgement of characters apperance cannot give us a clear determination of what class they fit in due to our lack of knowledge on social and cultural factors. However how one dresses can help give us a slight insight or idea of which of the 7 social classes they fall under.

First impressions are usually made without communication however more in the way in which we present ourselves, our clothes and the silhouettes we choose all contribute. It’s very clear to spot a high end piece among high street pieces, due to the quality of fabrics and the fit. 

A ‘chav’ describes a badly dressed working class person who engages in anti-social behaviour, normally dressed in a two piece sweatsuit and will fall under a lower social class. 

“Sweatpants are a sign of defeat. You lost control of your life so you bought some sweatpants.” Karl Lagerfeld.

However with the rise in demand of higher quality fit and fabrics, craftsmanship and production is slowly making its way back to Britain meaning the cost of garments on the high-street are starting to rise. Not all can afford the highest of quality, however with budget-retailers such as Primark improving their factory working conditions due to recent investigation into their factory working conditions, quality of the high-street is improving. Meaning those first impressions and assumptions between highstreet and highend are making determination of character and where we shop harder.

So does dressing in head to toe high-end make you a snob? Not necessarily, this can just mean you’re keen quality and fit. 

While high-street pieces may mean you’re socially aware and keen on keeping up with the latest trends.