The Seduction Principle at Work: Sorority Formal

This Saturday night I attended my sorority formal and I was struck by the clear distinction between the men's and women's outfits. Obviously, guys wore suits and the girls wore dresses.  I couldn't help but think back to what we spoke about in class in regards to the functions of clothing for men and women.  This social practice of attending a formal created the perfect setting to illustrate Laver's theory of the seduction principle vs. the hierarchical principle in men's and women's clothing.

The seduction principle states that "women's clothes are intended to make the wearer more attractive to the opposite sex because, throughout history and prehistory, men have selected 'partners in life' based on women's attractiveness," (Barnard 57-58).

This could not have been made more clear as I observed the outfit choices of the people who surrounded me at formal.

For the most part, girls chose skin tight, cleavage-bearing dresses and heels.  This is in keeping with Laver's theory.  Girls dress to accentuate their feminine features and attract males with their bodies.

In keeping with men's fashion standards, the guys opted for suits which is a perfect example of the second part of Laver's theory:  the hierarchical principle.

"Men's clothes however, are intended to display and 'enhance social status' because women 'for the greater part of human history' have selected their life partners on the basis of their ability to 'maintain and protect a family," (Barnard 58).

 
Former SU student, Nicholas Ross, sported his favorite Hugo Boss suit.  The male suit is an image of power, stability, and financial viability.  I could not help but think about the difference in these two types of outfits.  What if women were covered virtually from the neck down in a loosely fitting suit not accentuating the female form?

The answer?  None of us probably would have had dates.