Another way of looking into how our online vs offline selves differ is the way we look. Specifically: do the clothes we wear show who we are as a person? Relating back to Online Personas, the clothing we wear is usually based off trends and what can be considered "cool" or "trendy" is usually from celebrities, the runway and fashion blogging/websites.
The main reasons behind new clothes revolves usually around the internet - whether we've seen something we like, it's in trend, or we want to be as good looking as a Kardashian. However, because they're celebrities, usually their appearance is tailored around what we want to see them look like - polished, made up and fashionable. Even going out to the gym can be a fashionable experience for them, something that we, as normal human beings, wouldn't even consider.With the introduction of the internet it's made us more self aware about our appearance. When somethings in trend, you can usually tell by the amount of people wearing it - they've seen it from their favourite celebrity, or another friend, or someone of importance to them - this keeps the constant cycle of fashion up to date.
A study done by Simon Bray, titled "Duality" expresses this by photographing two sides to each person (one photograph with their work wear, one with normal every clothing) and the aim is "to see how a viewer responds to the uniform and how it shapes the person" when we see someone, we immediately assume something about them based on how they look and dress, it's always the first thing we take in when we see someone.
I personally feel about the fashion the same as everyone else - it tells someone who you are. I believe most people feel conformed to dress how they are perceived by other people, for example, because you like this certain type of music, you must wear this type of clothing, when that shouldn't be the case. From what we see online is how we think the norm is - even though most of the time the clothing is stylised in a certain way and isn't accurate to real life. Celebrities and Fashion Bloggers are a good example of this, going to style over practicality, as well as clothing that simply isn't affordable. How we feel comfortable in our own clothing is something that effects us emotionally, and the ever growing need to keep up with the trend is a way of showing your personality and traits by not even talking. This is why fashion is so important online - it shows us, an audience, who you are.
I and other people always worry about what other people think of us. Even online, you feel you must look your best in profile pictures, you must be this idealised person. Many people buy clothes simply because they think it's fashionable and gets them some form of justification, even though they may not even like the clothes they buy. It's a long cycle of constant advertising and exposure to these "inspirational" people that spark this purchase.
Ref:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/behind-online-behavior/201609/do-we-control-our-own-purchasing-habits
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-37488811
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/behind-online-behavior/201505/online-personality-disorders
http://asos.com
http://daily.newlook.com/
