: The "I" component of dressing, where individuals use items like bowties or artistic attire to express their unique private self within a public setting. Thematic Focus

: These reflect the achievement of cultural values, such as wealth, beauty, youth, and health.

Rubinstein identifies six distinct categories that define how clothing messages are sent and received in American society:

: Specific types of attire that indicate membership in communities outside the mainstream, such as the Amish or Hasidic Jewish communities.