Can you judge a book by its cover? The impact of clothing style on social interaction and prosocial behaviour

Clothing, as a powerful tool of self-expression and social identity, significantly influences perceptions and interactions with others. This research aims to explore how different clothing styles shape social judgements and engagement in prosocial behaviour. In Study 1 ( n = 57), we examined the stereotypes and prejudices of four common clothing styles (i.e., Bohemian, Classic, Elegant and Sportswear) using a verbal association task. In Study 2, we investigated how bystanders ( n = 488) interacted with and even helped an unknown individual regarding their clothing style. These findings highlight how clothing style serves as a social cue that can significantly impact social interactions, with more formal styles, such as Elegant, leading to increased engagement in social interaction. However, prosocial behaviour did not appear to be influenced by clothing style. This research highlights the complex interplay between clothing, stereotypes and prosocial behaviour.