Is dressing badly' a privilege of the rich? If someone in power does it, it's either audacity or irony'

"Aspiration stems from the need to constantly prove that you've earned your place in society. He believes that, therefore, the privileged are those who don't need to use their wardrobe as an ally to prove something, precisely because they have nothing to prove. So, why dress elegantly? he asks. His thesis, in short, is that dressing badly is a privilege."

"Luxury expert Beatriz Carranza agrees, pointing out that consciously breaking the dominant code and dressing badly on purpose requires cultural capital: knowing what you're breaking and why. In that sense, it can become a sophisticated way of communicating status, because you're showing that you don't need to follow the rules to be validated. However, for this behavior to be successful, context is essential."

"Clothes that don't follow conventions, or that are directly perceived as ugly, taking into account the subjective implications of this term, can work against you if you don't have a context to support your choice. On the other hand, if it's worn by someone with power or recognition, it's interpreted as audacity or irony, she adds."

Those from disadvantaged backgrounds strive to dress elegantly because aspiration stems from the need to constantly prove that they have earned their place in society. Privileged people do not need to use their wardrobe to prove anything because they have nothing to prove. Dressing badly can function as a privilege when broken codes are understood. Consciously breaking dress norms requires cultural capital and can communicate status by signaling freedom from rules. Context determines whether nonconformist or convention-defying clothing offends or undermines the wearer. Power or recognition can turn audacious dress into irony rather than a liability.

Read at english.elpais.com