Semiotics and clothes

ever think about how subtle and complex a language clothing is? One piece of clothing means a billion different things in every different context. We negotiate this intensley complex system of signs every day, sometimes conciously, sometimes unconciously. some examples I was thinking about today:

Combat boots worn with a tutu mean something different than combat boots worn with army fatigues. Combat boots worn with a current official military uniform mean something different than combat boots worn with a wife beater. Combat boots worn with a wife beater and a buzz cut and a swastika tattoo means something different than combat boots worn with a wife beater and a fake swastika tattoo at a film costume party as a risqué costume interpretation of Edward Norton’s character in American History X. Dirty combat boots mean something different than pristine combat boots. Combat boots covered in dirt mean something different than combat boots covered in paint stains. Combat boots worn by a twelve year old mean something different than combat boots worn by a fifty year old. Combat boots from the army surplus store mean something different from doc martins which mean something different from combat boots bought at hot topic. Combat boots with rain bow laces mean something different than combat boots with black laces.

more...(and a slightly nsfw picture)

Ray ban sunglasses mean something different than knock off ray ban sunglasses. Ray bans worn with expensive designer clothing means something different than ray bans worn with walmart clothing which mean something different than vintage ray bans worn with thrift store clothing. Ray bans worn by a 70 year old man mean something different than ray bans worn by fifteen year old girls. Pink ray ban sunglasses mean something different than black ray bans. Scratched ray bans means something different than shiny new ray bans.

Extra large star wars t-shirts mean something different than extra small star wars t-shirts. Vintage episode 4 star wars shirts mean something different than walmart episode 1 t-shirts. Star wars t-shirts worn at comicon man something different than the same star wars t-shirt worn to work. Star wars t-shirts worn with a skirt mean something different than star wars t-shirts worn with pants. Star wars t-shirts worn with a blazer and flats mean something different than star wars t-shirts worn with extra large khaki shorts and athletic sandals which means something different than star wars t-shirt over lingerie. Star wars t-shirts worn at a star trek convention in vegas mean something different than a star wars t-shirt at a neighbor’s star wars marathon in their basement which means something different than a star wars t-shirt made out of vintage bed sheets and worn with hipster glasses.