Fashion by Function

So you've read my extremely perceptive post about spotting types in the real world. You've closed your laptop and ventured out into the sun for once. But you are an impatient little padawan and listening to people talk just takes too fucking long.

Boy do I have a post for you!

Style is something I pay attention to, and if you want to hone your people-reading skills, you should too.

"But... people are all different! You can't type someone by what clothes they wear! That's just silly!"

Maybe, but that doesn't mean it doesn't help to have a general idea of what each type prefers to wear. How we present ourselves to the world says a lot. Watch and learn.

Se pulls off the sloppy-yet-still-sexy look

Se is about status. It wants to make an impact, to impress. Form over function. Se users gravitate toward brand names and visually appealing clothes. When a Se user wears an item of clothing, it is always a conscious choice. They don't buy "whatever", they don't just "throw stuff on". Even the most slacker ESFP has consciously cultivated her look. Even the sloppiest dressing ESTP will still take the time to make sure his clothing items match visually.

Si wears tried-and-true neutrals

Si goes with what works and what has worked. Nothing flashy or risky. This can go a couple different ways. When paired with Fe, it will go with established, socially acceptable trends. When paired with Te, it will go with what gets the job done, what is the most comfortable (intro-oriented sensing), or what people will expect given the occasion. A young Si user will go with currently acceptable styles; an older Si user will prefer styles associated with their generation.

Fe goes with trendy but safe outfit

Fe, as mentioned, wants to dress in a socially acceptable manner. They will not take too many fashion risks, and if they do, it won't be until they've gotten the seal of approval from people they trust. Like the function itself, Fe users will have an agreeable, uncontroversial taste in clothing. They will be very conscious of how others perceive their style and will choose clothes accordingly.

Fi creates a distinct look all its own

Fi is about self expression and authenticity. They dress how they want, according to their own sense of what looks good. Input from others is rarely asked for. Fi is willing to take risks, but not just for the sake of it - rather because the style resonates with them. When paired with Se, this will lead to some very eye-catching if questionable choices; paired with Ne, it will lead to quirky, random clothing articles. Almost every NFP owns a pair of "wacky" socks.

Te looks polished at all times

Te clothing typically looks clean, professional, and tailored. Equal parts form and function. Nothing extravagant unless the occasion calls for it. Te is similar to Se in that it wants to come off a certain way, but Te has a specific look in mind. It wants to look presentable, put-together, and successful. They often wear a lot of black for this reason. Especially when coupled with Ni, the "dark" function, as I uh, like to call it... as of now.

Ti wears whatever works

Ti goes for function over form. When combined with Se this is a little less so, but still applies. Ti users wear what's practical. They avoid loud, attention-attracting clothes, gravitating toward muted/earthy colors and simple styles. Outfits can be laid-back to a fault.

Ne manages to look low-key but off-beat

Ne likes to try a bit of everything. They don't really have a "look", so to speak. Outfits are mish-mashy and unique. Combined with Ti, they will often like ironic or cult-classic T-shirts, or fashion that is otherwise "funny". Combined with Fi, they will buy whatever looks "different" and speaks to them on an abstract level. Usually nothing attention-grabbing, which is more associated with Se.

Ni creates a dark yet noteworthy look

Ni also has the Intuitive snowflakey-ness in that they want clothes that aren't flashy (inferior Se) but not boring or typical, either. Like the function itself, Ni sees the whole picture by picking a wardrobe that looks good with their skin tone and overall appearance. They gravitate toward black/white and away from bright colors, creating an overall "dark" undertone to their look.

To figure out how a type will dress, look at the styles of their first two functions and combine them, giving more weight to their dominant function.

As with everything, there are always exceptions. Some people have off days. Some people are more interested in fashion. Depressed people will generally look more unkempt. So will poor people and cheap-asses like my deadbeat dad. Too far? ...Nah. Never too far.

Credit to Penguinz (ENFJ) for inspiring this post.