Making the Man

Phyz.org reports that clothing still makes the man, but it may not be the most expensive of fashionable clothing that makes the best status statement.

Harvard University researchers found that students attributed higher status to the more slovenly: “In one study, students were asked to rank the perceived professional status of a professor who was employed at either a local college or a top-tier university and who was either clean-shaven and in a business suit or who had a beard and was wearing a t-shirt. As the researchers predicted, the students attributed significantly more status and competence to the unshaven professor at the top-tier university.”

So long as they appear intentional, sartorial choices that say “I don’t care” actually enhance the wearer. Which probably means that he does care after all.