1- “flic clothes we wear in a dream can often depict the facade, or persona, we create for other people. We have certain roles that we adopt in response to other’s reactions. Clothes which others are wearing in our dreams can also set the scene for an acting out of some of the confrontations which take place.
2- Clothes can often act as a protection against being touched. This protection may also be against having the real self violated. Clothes can conceal or reveal. In covering up nudity they conceal our perceived imperfections and, by implication, disguise our sexuality. In revealing certain parts of us our dreams may show in what ways we are v ulnerable. Getting undressed can suggest the shedding of old beliefs and inhibitions. Losing one’s clothes or being naked highlights our vulnerability and fears. Dressing inappropriately, e.g. wearing formal clothes on a casual occasion and vice versa When we find ourselves in this position in a dream, we are conscious of our own difficulty in ‘fitting in’ with other people. It will depend 011 the dream scenario whether we are surprised or distressed. and it is often the emotion that we experience which gives us the correct interpretation. We may be deliberately not conforming to others’ perception of us, or trying to conform too much in adopting a certain role.
The colour of the clothing is often significant (See Also: Colour). Clothes being worn by someone to whom they do not belong There is confusion in the dreamer’s mind as to which roles are appropriate for each character.
A man wearing woman’s clothing The dreamer needs to be more conscious of their feminine side.
A uniform on a woman The dreamer is highlighting the need to be aware of the more disciplined and masculine side of their personality. Changing clothes We are attempting to change our image. Clothes that have been cut short We may be outgrowing former pleasures and need to look to pastures new for our entertainment. Pretty clothes We have much to appreciate in our lives. Clothes belonging to a particular person We are being reminded of that person, even though we are aware that they cannot necessarily be with us.
Various articles of clothing are believed to have certain symbolic meanings:
Coat/Shawl (and especially a cloak) A coat can suggest warmth and love, but also protection. This protection can be either physical or emotional, and particularly in the case of a cloak, can be the spiritual protection of Faith.
A sheepskin coat may emphasise this significance (See Also: Sheep in Animals). Fear of losing the coat can suggest the fear of losing faith and belief.
The coat may be too short, or not thick enough We may be fearful that our love, or the protection we have, is not adequate for our needs.
Gloves - also see individual entry The meaning of gloves can be ambivalent. They can represent covering and protecting oneself, but also ‘showing one’s hand’ and challenging the status quo.
Hat/Cap
A hat is a symbol of wisdom and the intellect and also of protection. It can also signify both spirituality and sexuality, depending 011 the other aspects of the dream.
Pyjamas/Nightclothes
Pyjamas suggest relaxation and hence openness.
Raincoat A raincoat again holds the symbolism of protection, but this time against other people’s emotional onslaught. Very occasionally it may suggest some kind of wish to return to a womb- like state.
Shirt A shirt can suggest appropriate action, but also, as in a hair shirt, grief and pcnitencc.
Shoes
Shoes signify our ability or otherwise to be grounded and in touch with everyday life.
Recognising shoes that we, or others, arc wearing in a dream are strange alerts us to an adjustment that needs to be made to our attitude to life. Lacing up shoes in a dream is supposed to be a well-known symbol of death as are shoes on a table. Tie A tie in can have several significances in dreams.
For some it can represent correctness and good behaviour, and for others, presumably because of its shape, it will signify the phallus.
Underclothes
When we dream of underclothes - whether our own or other people’s we arc considering hidden attitudes to self-image or sexuality.
Veil or veil-like garments (See Also: individual entry) When we, or others, are wearing a veil we are either trying to hide something, or arc only partially accepting knowledge about ourselves or our relationship to others.
3- Clothes can suggest spiritual protection.
For instance, certain types of clothes will highlight roles and status.
[1]Example: I am packing for a holiday, surrounded by a lovely selection of all sorts of clothes. I am matching outfits, shoes, scarves, handbags. It gives me great pleasure. I am wearing an old navy blue dress which is too shon for me. So shon I feel panic because there will not be enough time to change. I am now on the top deck of a bus. I have one battered suitcase and am wearing the same dress, trying vainly to pull it down over my knees. Suitcase bursts open and it is full of old clothes fit for a jumble sale* (Valerie H). Clothes can mean many things, depending upon dream context. In the example the clothes are feelings of pleasure and confidence, and also discomfort and lack of confidence.
In general they indicate the stance or attitudes we use to meet other people or special situations such as work or danger, protection, such as might be given by our feelings of reserve, shyness, anxiety or aggressiveness in fending off sexual or other advances, clothes depict self respect and how we see ourselves in society—the difference between what we want and what we feel others want of us; our clothes, especially when we consider their colour, can also express our emotional condition and moods. Constance Newland gives the example of dressing in violet symbolising being inviolate sexually. Overdressed , unable to get clothes off: too cautious in relationships, difficulty in changing attitudes or self image; self protectiveness; avoiding intimacy.
Naked or see-through clothes: example: ‘I am at the doctor’s being examined.
It is always the same. I have all my clothes off and he examines me from the roots of my hair down to my toenails. I am just at the point where I am going to ask him for his diagnosis when he fades away’ (Miss L). Desire to be attractive and noticed, as in the example, where Miss L is enjoying an acceptable form of intimacy; being open about what you really feel; fear of other people seeing what you really feel, think and desire; anxiety about not being adequate socially, lacking ability to conform to social norm.
See Also: nude. Ragged or inappropriate clothes: feelings of inadequacy depressed feelings; rebellion against authority or society. Armour, protective clothing : defences against internal anxieties, past hurts and external intimacy. Other people’s clothes: the social attitudes and responses we have adopted from others. Children’s, teenage clothes in adult’s dream: youthful or immature attitudes or behaviour. Undressing: revealing one’s real character; move towards intimacy. Dirty, untidy clothes: difficult or grubby feelings; one’s inner condition, such as an untidy mind, or grubby feeling values. Worn out or old clothes: attitudes ready to be left behind; old habits no longer useful; feeling worn out, old or tired. Tight clothes: being too restricted in attitude; being tight emotionally. New clothes: change in attitudes; new feeling about self. Someone else’s clothes: could be feelings from that person; their attitudes, memories. Man in woman’s clothes: unacceptability of male role, with its connection with breadwinning, aggression, being cannon fodder in war, homosexual tendency; desire for mother. Woman in male clothes: unacceptability of female role, motherhood, housewife; lesbian tendency; desire for father figure. Clothing inappropnate to dream surroundings: attitudes or behaviour inappropriate to one’s situation. Changing clothes: altering one’s mode of behaviour, role or mood. Idioms: dress to kill; dress up.
[2]To dream that your clothes are dirty and you are trying to clean them means you want to change something about your personality.
To dream that you are constantly changing your clothes represents the need for change and your need to fit into a new situation.
To dream that you can’t find anything to wear indicates anxiousness or nervousness about fitting into some social group or situation - you’re not sure who to be these days.
To dream of putting on or wearing multiple layers of clothing suggests that you are feeling vulnerable and under attack by others.
To dream of wearing the same clothes as someone else could mean you wish you had certain qualities that person possesses. It can also mean you are feeling close to that person.
To dream that your clothes fit too tightly suggests that you feel smothered in a relationship.
To dream that you are shopping for clothes represents your anxieties about trying to fit in.
To dream that your clothes are wet, suggests that you are drenched in emotions. It also signifies spirituality.
To dream that your clothing is torn or ripped, indicates that there is some flaw in your thinking or thought process. Your logic is not making sense. You need to alter your reasoning.
To dream of faded clothing symbolizes lost hopes.
If you dreamed of you or someone else wearing old-fashioned clothing, this suggests that you are letting go of outdated childhood ideas and moving on.
To dream of wearing your clothes inside-out suggests that you need to protect your reputation by cooling down your romantic activities.
A dream about designer or expensive clothing suggests that you are overly concerned with impressing others. This dream symbolizes the act you put on in front of people. Alternatively, it may be an indicator that you are “well suited” for a new role you are taking on.
To dream that you forget to put on an item of clothing, suggests that you are not seeing all sides of a situation. You may be missing important facts, or not understanding a crucial point, that would make things much more clear to you.
To dream about clothes that are too big for you, indicates that you are lacking confidence in some situation. You may have been placed in a role that you don’t feel ready for, or are unsure of what to do next in a relationship. Also see “Dryer” and “Washing Machine.”
[3]Universal Landscape: Personal expression, connected with the persona.
Dreaming Lens: What articles of clothing were in your dream? Were you wearing them? Did they belong to you or to someone else? Were you shopping? Were there many articles of clothing, or just a few? Where were they being kept, or thrown away? What time period were they from? Were they old or new? Were they costumes or street clothes?
Personal Focus: What we choose to wear has enormous implications for how we feel about ourselves and how we would like the world to perceive us. Symbolically, they represent creative personal expression. However, clothes can also represent the ways in which we cover up who we really are and alter what the world sees. Additionally, the clothing we wear at any given time can reveal things about our moods and emotional states that might otherwise go unnoticed.
The quality and style of clothing in a dream will provide you with different shades of meaning for your interpretation. Old clothes might represent old ways of being that are resurfacing. New clothes could indicate a desire or need to match your inner growth and shifts with your outer presentation. A costume might illuminate roles you are playing in your life that are false, whereas your own clothes indicate that the issue at hand is with your present sense of Self. Being inappropriately dressed represents your concern about fitting in with others. Wearing too many clothes can sometimes indicate a lack of comfort with your sexuality or body image. Having to deal with many layers of clothing denotes that there are obstacles between where you are and a deeper level of authentic expression. A desire to take clothes off may mean a need to break out of the stereotype you find yourself in; while adding more clothes could mean putting on a few more layers in order to protect yourself from perceived outside harm. No clothes usually reflects feeling very open and, therefore, vulnerable.
[4]Material aspects: The clothes we wear in a dream can often depict the facade, or persona, we create for other people. We have certain roles that we adopt in response to others’ reactions. Clothes which others are wearing in our dreams can also set the scene for an acting out of some of the confrontations which take place. Some common images which have particular relevance are: getting undressed can suggest the shedding of old beliefs and inhibitions whereas losing one’s clothes or being naked highlights our vulnerability and fears. Dressing inappropriately, perhaps wearing formal clothes on a casual occasion and vice versa, shows we are conscious of our own difficulty in ‘fitting in’ with other people. It will depend on the dream scenario whether we are surprised or distressed, and it is often the emotion that we experience which gives us the correct interpretation. We may be deliberately not conforming to others’ perception of us, or trying to conform too much in adopting a certain role.
The colour of the clothing is often significant. Clothes being worn by someone to whom they do not belong indicate there is confusion in the our mind as to which roles are appropriate for each character.
If a man is wearing woman’s clothing it shows that we need to be more conscious of our feminine side.
A uniform on a woman highlights the need to be aware of the more disciplined and masculine side of our personality.
If we are changing clothes we are attempting, or perhaps need to consider how, to change our image. Clothes that have been cut short indicate that we may be outgrowing former pleasures and need to look to pastures new for our entertainment, whereas particularly pretty clothes show we have much to appreciate in our lives.
If we are aware that clothes belonging to a particular person then we are being reminded of that person, even though we are aware that they cannot necessarily be with us.
[5](See Also: Apron, Closet, Costume, Hat, Jewelry, Mask, Shoes, Tie, Veil)
How do the clothes feel? Are they itchy or uncomfortable? If so, this reveals discomfort with yourself or a situation in which you’ve been placed.
Old or tattered clothing indicates self-neglect or feelings of inferiority.
Changing clothes: A transition in status, jobs, relationships, and the like.
A statement of individuality and how you see yourself (e.g., “clothes make the man”).
Rejecting or throwing away out-of-date clothing: New enterprises, loves, characteristics. Forsaking outmoded ways of thinking and living.
Each color of clothing has different oracular value. Yellow indicates financial progress, blue portends success from tenacious efforts, red reveals a timely deliverance from a difficult situation, green is prosperity and happiness, and mixed hues foretell swift changes.
Each item of clothing also has slightly different meaning, much of which is dependent on your perception.
For example, a businessman dreaming about tying his tie again and again might interpret this as too much attention to his appearance at
work instead of the work quality.
Dreaming of tightening your belt probably relates to financial struggles.
Dirty clothing sometimes represents the soiling of someone’s virtues.
Cross-dressing represents a figurative “trying on” of masculine or feminine attributes that you wish to develop. This can also reveal a greater balance of the Yin-Yang energies within you (See Also: Hermaphrodite, Homosexuality).
[6](1) The feelings associated in the dream with the clothes you are wearing may indicate what your feelings are towards yourself, especially in relation to the image you present to the world. For example, if in your dream you feel inadequately clothed, this may mean you feel vulnerable or inadequate, or ashamed (perhaps in certain kinds of situation, which may be shown in the dream).
(2) If you are wearing old and worn-out clothes, this may indicate either anxiety about your attractiveness or feelings of inferiority, or that you need to discard some habitual way of meeting life, some set of (negative) attitudes or beliefs.
(3) If old and tattered clothes are worn in the dream by someone else, this probably means there is some part of you - some capacity or aspect of your potential self - that you are neglecting or keeping locked away in the cellars of your psyche.
If the person wearing the tattered clothes is of the opposite sex, your anima or animus may be in need of attention (for anima / animus).
See Also: Brother/ Sister, Cinderella.
(4) Changing your clothes might indicate a change of lifestyle or of attitude; changing your persona or becoming a new person. (For persona)
[7]Self-expression.
Your perception of the wearer’s self-image or attempt to control other’s impressions (such as kids “dressing older” to be treated as older by others).
A role the person plays (as in a uniform) or would like to play (as in children playing dress up).
Protection, such as from being judged or taken advantage of (for example, cold-weather clothing that represents protection from “cold” behavior).
A characteristic associated with the type of clothing (culture, age, or personality type, etc.).
A real-life setting (swimwear representing a real-life event at the beach), mood (a black suit representing solemnity), or timeline (saddle shoes representing the 1950s).
See Also: the specific items of clothing.
See Also: Costume, Nightclothes, Fashionable, Jewelry
[8]The portent of a dream concerning clothes varies greatly with the details.
It is a dream of contrary with respect to quantity, as the more clothes you had in your dream the more urgent is the warning to prepare for difficulties ahead.
However, if you were only partly dressed, or stark naked, money luck is on the way.
On the other hand, the act of putting on clothes in a dream signifies success ahead, whereas undressing is a forecast of reverses.
Shabby or soiled clothes are a warning against business dealings with, or through, friends.
Tight, uncomfortable, or back-to- front clothes suggest a need to protect your reputation by cooling down your sexual activities.
See Also: Colors, Costume, etc.
[9]Clothes symbolise the façade we create for the outside world. They are also the protective layer we wear to keep warm.
• Dreams involving clothes are related to our identities.
The colours and condition of your dream clothes will symbolise how you feel about yourself or how others perceive you.
• Clothes dreams often focus on whether you have the right outfit for the right occasion signifying where you feel you fit or don’t fit in with the people in your life.
• Do you need to change your identity in some way? Are you being noticed for the wrong reasons or perhaps you’re feeling invisible?
[10]Vision + Depth Psychology: Dreaming about clodies reveals how you see yourself. It might also be a sign of your need to hide from others (to disguise yourself). Different clothes have the following meaning:
Undershirt, slip: expresses your innermost, unconscious feelings. Underpants, panties: your sexual needs, desires, and hopes. Shirt or blouse: all feelings, cravings, or passions. Pants or skirt: your erotic desires. Coat: your “facade,” how others react to you.
Shoes: your present situation, where you are at the moment.
[11]To dream of seeing clothes soiled and torn, denotes that deceit will be practised to your harm. Beware of friendly dealings with strangers.
For a woman to dream that her clothing is soiled or torn, her virtue will be dragged in the mire if she is not careful of her associates. Clean new clothes, denotes prosperity.
To dream that you have plenty, or an assortment of clothes, is a doubtful omen; you may want the necessaries of life.
To a young person, this dream denotes unsatisfied hopes and disappointments.
See Also: Apparel.
[12]Psychological / emotional perspective: Clothes often act as a form of protection, particularly against being touched. This protection may also be against having our real self violated. Clothes can also conceal or reveal: in covering up nudity they conceal our perceived imperfections and, by implication, disguise our sexuality.
[13]In dreams, clothes tend to represent the image you are presenting to others or the identity you have assumed at the time. Many cultures describe the three-fold nature of the self as: the person we show to others, the person we believe ourselves to be and the person we truly are. Clothes signify what we allow others to see.
[14]This is a dream of contrary—if you have plenty of clothes in your dream, it is a warning of coming trouble; if you are partly dressed, or naked, then prosperity is coming your way.
To put on Clothes is a fortunate sign, but if you make any error, you must not correct it, or you will spoil your luck.
[15]Clothes can be highly metaphoric in dreams as they can represent the facades or image we wish to impart upon others. In dreams, note should be taken of the clothes we wear around certain people and at certain times as this can often provide insight pertaining to how these people view us and we them.
[16]In a dream each type of clothing has its own significance.
The clothes you wear in your dream are always a statement about your feelings, attitudes and position in life. Consider how the clothes and their color made you feel.
See Also: Pants, Blouse, Bra, Underwear, Dress, Suit, Color.
[17]You wear brilliant clothes: your future looks brilliant • You are washing or dying garment: you’ve made a good life-changing decision • Your garment is torn: your wife is looking for someone else • You wear white garment:
[18]If the clothes are white it symbolizes the righteousness of Christ, Rev. 3:5. If the clothes are spotted or soiled it symbolizes sin in a person’s life, Rev. 3:4. Dirty clothes symbolize dead works, Isa. 64:6
[19]The roles or games you play, attitudes you have.
A costume dream may suggest a past life experience, presented because the lessons you are going through now are the same ones you were confronted with then.
[20]Clothes can suggest spiritual protection.
For instance, certain types of clothes will highlight roles and status.
The priest’s habit or judges robes are two such examples.
[21]To wear smart clothes in a dream presages popularity in both the business and social worlds.
[22]Dreaming that your clothes are soiled is an augury of meeting someone of loose morals.
[23]Being fully clothed would suggest feelings of guilt or prudery.
[24]Outer personality and attitude.
[25]