Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
247Kviews
30 Hidden Dress Codes Folks Use To Send Signals About Themselves Shared In This Online Group
"Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak," American fashion designer Rachel Zoe once wrote. The way this idea could be interpreted is that clothes and other kinds of fashion pieces we choose to wear send abstract and pretty obscure signals to people around us about who we are as people: our occupation, mood, personality, colors we like, and so on.
Though apparently, some fashion pieces speak exceptionally loudly and the signals they send are far from abstract or obscure. Recently, a redditor asked fellow users to share some hidden dress codes people wear to identify themselves that one has to already know about to notice. And of course, Reddit delivered. Without further ado, Bored Panda invites you to find out about some of the most intriguing secret dress codes people use to send signals about themselves.
This post may include affiliate links.
#2
So this is probably a very spesific Norwegian thing, but the colour of your hat is signalling your availability when hiking in the mountains. Red hat means taken, green means available (and orange means that you're open for a chat). This is important knowledge if you're trying to pull a Norwegian, because hiking is the only (non alcoholic) activity where a Norwegian will ever talk to a stranger. Ever.
#3
Red shirt means you're expendable and aren't coming back from the away mission alive.
#6
If you see someone with a tattooed on wedding ring it's usually because they work with machine tools or electricity where having something metal and or conductive on their hand while working can lead to very bad things.
#7
Its an old sailors tradition to wear a golden earring. (Dont know if its just the netherlands or worldwide) but some of the mainly fishermen towns here have their own specific type of golden earring. So if you see a dutch guy wearing a big golden earring with a detailed design, you know he comes from a fishermen town.
(Golden earring tradition was historically done incase a fishermen would fall overboard, the golden earring could cover the costs of a proper burial)
#8
Hawaiians wear flowers behind left ear to signify married. Right ear to signify single.
#9
Two lighting bolts on a ring mean your great grandfather wasn’t a war hero, thanks Opa...
Jayne Kyra 3 years ago
For those unaware, the lightning bolts refer to the letters SS - Schutzstaffel, which worked directly under Adolf Hitler and were by many considered his private military enforcers. Responsible for killing more than 5 million Jews and millions of other people during WWII.
#10
Sunflower lanyards means the wearer has a hidden disability. Some places like Heathrow train staff to recognise them and offer assistance.
Mariza 3 years ago
I wear one as my disability prevents me from wearing a mask. I had the lanyard already and continue to wear it if I HAVE to go out. I try to send my partner but there are times when I must go somewhere alone. People who wear these to claim exemption who actually could wear a mask make it very difficult those of us who actually can't. I feel it also makes me feel like my disability isn't worth anything
thenamescracked 3 years ago
How can you not wear a mask? Not trying to be rude, genuinely curious. Is it a breathing, or nose problem?
Load More Replies...
Kaneki Ken 3 years ago
I've noticed people wearing these to signify if they are exempt from wearing a face covering ♥︎
Moo Moo Futch 3 years ago
Many people are abusing this. The people who issue them are not doctors or nurses, they aren't medically trained in anyway. Being told what qualifies as mask exempt isn't the same as being able to know if that person really has these conditions. The only conditions that warrant mask exemptions are COPD and cystic fibrosis but also the government advice would say that if you had either you should be shielding as a vulnerable person. My next door neighbours have done nothing but brag about getting their mask exemption even though there is nothing wrong with either and they have been out every single day of the pandemic. I'm disgusted by the way people have abused this feature I really am.
Tammy Hawkins 3 years ago
I have lung issues, use oxygen 24/7 and struggle with the mask, I got a shield. I can say, to anyone, no excuses.
NanniBadcrumble 3 years ago
Recently I've heard of someone buying these lanyards for mere £s on Amazon and dishing them out to family and friends, whether they had a disability or not.
Susan Egan 3 years ago
I think this is a great idea. I wonder how many people would be willing to wear it. My son has epilepsy and it took several years before he was willing to wear medical necklace. It took his doctor agreeing that most people would mistake his seizures as a possible overdose. Possibly giving him medication that could make things worse.
Linda Niemczyk Sent 3 years ago
There is a plastic 'frame' you can purchase at Wish. Com that keeps the mask off your face but still offers full protection. It easily clips on to your mask. It's also reusable. You get 5 to pckg.
FlitterBug 3 years ago
This is good to know! I've known several people who may seem like the average person but are actually autistic or can't hear (and don't have service animals) and have some difficulty in various situations. Especially with most places not having clear masks to read lips.
Melanie Mayfield 3 years ago
It drives me CRAZY that I can't read lips through a mask. But that doesn't stop ME from wearing a mask. I just wish people would listen when I tell them I can't hear. They refuse to pull their mask down just for a couple seconds to speak so that I can understand them.
Load More Replies...
Paula Swanson 3 years ago
I didn't know about this...I should get one as my disability is hidden and can surface at the worst times
Blondhorsecrazy 3 years ago
Very awesome. I love Sunflowers & actually purchased a lanyard to use. I no longer use it & after knowing this, I'll refrain from buying another one. I would hate to take any attention for those who rely on this for immediate help/assistance.
Susan Thomas 3 years ago
So is this only in Britain? I've not seen them in the US. But it could be a good thing.
Chris Jones 3 years ago
There are many disabilities that aren't obvious when you just look at someone. Physical and mental.
Load More Replies...
#11
In China, your zodiac year is your unlucky year (so your unlucky year occurs once every 12 years). The way to mitigate the unlucky-ness of the said year, is to wear some form of the color red each day. Doesn’t need to be a complete red outfit, just something that has red as a part of the pattern.
But wearing red everyday is a dead give away for their age (24, 36, 48, 60) in the workplace, thus explaining the phenomenon of the red underwear gift. The red underwear is a way to beat the unluckiness of your zodiac year while blending in.
So some water cooler talk could go like, “Hey, did you notice that has worn red 3/7 days this week? Is she 24 or 36?” Fascinating stuff!
#12
Small stainless steel or iron pinky ring on your dominant hand is an engineer, specifically an engineer whose pledged an ethics oath. Not exactly a secret, but not well known either
Elaine Mattingly 3 years ago
Did not know that. This is turning into the learning channel. Best of both worlds.
#13
Red ball caps have become a signal that they are d***** bags. Fred Durst started it, but MAGA solidified it.
Aj Grimes (them/they) 3 years ago
I thought my dad was wearing a MAGA hat, turns out it was a Salvation Army one.
#14
I used to wonder why certain people in my office would wear the same colors as each other sometimes. Turns out they were listening to a radio station here in NYC that would suggest a color for you to wear that day.
#15
I grew up spending a lot of time in the Great Lakes and overall sailing culture.
The height of manliness is a pink “Mt. Gay” baseball cap. No, I’m not joking.
The caps are given out at major sailing races, since Mt. Gay rum has a sponsorship. The caps are originally red but if you’ve used and had one for a long time, it fades to pink. You want one.
You can also tell, in port, who is a local and who boats, by their dog. Locals like BIG doggos for guarding against animals and pulling sleds (huskies and husky crosses) and sailors like medium sized, water friendly doggos. Don’t like to get very big ones because they’re hard to lift in and out of boats, eat, and poop out more, but don’t like toy dogs either, because they’re not tough enough to stand the weather and the water. Mostly Aussies, small retrievers, and the occasional tough terrier.
Elaine Mattingly 3 years ago
You are a google. Wow. Very informative and interresting. Thank you. Seriously, I try to learn someting new every day and that was refreshing.
#16
If you’re actually rich, you’re not flashing brands. The rich rich of California wear subtly expensive workout or hiking clothes as much as humanly possible. Patagonia, north face, Columbia, etc. Logos are gauche. Also, for women’s jewelry, you’ll see a lot of subtle wealth and minimalism- nothing big or clunky or super sparkly. My experience mostly in LA, Santa Barbara and SF!
#17
I'm Jew(ish). I live in Scotland, and there's not many of us around, but I've been to synagogue and lived in Israel, and I can easily spot a married Orthodox Jewish woman out of a crowd, mostly by her wig, but also her dress style to an extent.
It's such a natural distinction for me that I didn't realise it wasn't immediately obvious to others until I was driving with my friends by Loch Ness and we saw a big gathering, (mostly behind trees) and someone said something along the lines of "I wonder what's going on there" and I replied "looks like an organised Jewish event" because I saw several mothers and their kids by the road and I instantly recognised them as Orthodox Jews. My friends looked at me as if I had a supernatural Jewdar because there weren't any obvious men in sight wearing heavily recognised religious clothing (think kippahs- headcaps, or payot- hair curls, ect.)
#18
Handkerchief in the back pocket is something the gay leathermen (or women) wear to symbolize they are on the hunt for a "date". Or it was used to symbolize a sexual fetish or --
Right pocket meant you were a top or dominant.
Left pocket meant you were a bottom.
Yes, I've been to some interesting parties.
#19
Horseback riders know that real riding boots have the zippers on the back or outside.
#20
If someone is wearing a belt but have the buckle on either side of their hips instead of the middle it means they spend all day leaning over engine bays of hot rods and don’t want their belt buckle scratching the paintwork.
#21
Anything with pineapple print on clothing while on a cruise means you are swingers
Elaine Mattingly 3 years ago
Are you sure? My Daddy was a pinnapple wearing decon who wore it because I bought it for him because I thought it was beautiful. we thought women were being overly friendly and disrespctfull of my Mom. I have so much to learn.
#22
Military uniforms tell you a lot about the person wearing them beyond their name and rank. You can tell what campaigns they've been involved in, what professional military education courses they've completed, their proficiency with weapons, their occupational specialty and their level of proficiency, how many years they've served, and (at least in the USAF), their MAJCOM, wing, and possibly squadron of assignment.
Another little secret of the military dress code has to do with hats. A person in uniform wearing a hat indoors indicates that they are armed. The weapon may be concealed or carried openly, but it is a fast way to determine who in a room has weapons.
Aragorn II Elessar 3 years ago
Yep. Can tell a whole lot about a military guy by their uniform. But the cover indoors could also mean they forgot to take it off or had their hands full when they came in the door.
#23
Here in Japan tattoos are related to the Yakuza. Meaning, whether you are a Yakuza or not, people with tattoos are not allowed in numerous establishments like public baths, etc. Yakuza don't generally flash their tattoos to the public so they generally use long sleeve shirts. Sometimes when they use short sleeves clothing they would use arm sleeves to cover up the arm tattoos. It's a dead giveaway that this people are, or have been, mafia related.
#24
Head coverings vary among observant Muslim women from different countries. The kind many people think of is the Saudi Arabian style that has become more popular in the last decade or so. A cool one is the different traditional head coverings between Kazakhs (white scarf with a part tied back like a nurses cap), Uighurs (colorful scarf and tied in front or behind the neck), and the Hui (a cap with cloth coming down the sides) — all groups found in China (depending on how you feel about groups leaving to be independent). I think it’s like people from different countries tying knots.
#25
Oftentimes student nurses will wear one color of scrubs to stand out from professionals during clinicals. My color was hazel grey.
#26
Reminds me of when I was in elementary school and we were told not to wear red or black to school because they were associated with certain gangs.
#27
Stagehands wear black. Check for a crescent wrench in the back pocket to confirm.
#28
When I was a teenager a lot of the working-class, multi-generation in the area kids from the very rural West Virginian area I moved to wore these, to my teenage eyes, very funny looking polka dot caps with downward pointing brims.
At the time I just assumed they got them at this store that still had a lot of 70s deadstock and it was a trend because they were cheap and it was the 90s and we were irony poisoned. It was pretty widespread across a few counties though. They were mostly worn by the kids who already had decided they were not going to college, whether by their own choice, or their own circumstances.
They were welders' caps. Welder is an aspirational job in the area, if you plan to stay there after graduation. They were signifying they planned to stay and work in the same field their dads did. It didn't even occur to me what it was all about until some high school reunion.
Jaguarundi 3 years ago
Where I lived, Eastern CT, USA, welders, ironworkers and farriers (horseshoer/blacksmith) wore these caps. Mostly red or blue with white spots.
#29
Silver Crocs = I have multiple bottles of Soda in my fridge
Jorts = I'm stone cold steve Austin
Bandana + Eyebrows = I ride a motorcycle
Bandana + No Eyebrows = I am receiving chemotherapy.
T shirt with ripped off sleeves = my kids will jump on your furniture and my reaction will be inappropriate.
What do you think ?
Johnny 3 years ago
Not long after I started going to college, a rumor got around that you could show your support for gays by wearing jeans on some Wednesday. I, being the naive and slightly homophobic freshman that I was, wore sweatpants that day to show the world how straight I was. Later that day I went to my job in the college lab I worked in and the grad student there who I had a lot of respect for asked me why i was dressed that way. I told him, then he looked at me incredulously and asked "Why don't you support gays? What has a gay person ever done to you? Do you think people would think *you* were gay? Why wouldn't you support someone in a lifestyle choice that has nothing to do with you." I of course had no answers to those questions and started to feel uncomfortable, then he ended with "And this may surprise you but your chemistry TA is my boyfriend". It was a real eye opening experience (one of many in college) for someone raised in a small town. Now I'm strongly in favor of lgbqt+ rights.
Carrot dude 3 years ago
I was raised with a similar belief, but being on Bored Panda and Pinterest have taught me a lot more open-mindedness. Although I do not agree with some parts of the community, I have realized that my opinion of some person's life is unimportant and that since no one's hurting anyone, why should I care? I am now 100% supportive of people living their lives however they want.
Load More Replies...
Luisa Vasconcelos 3 years ago
If it's winter in Portugal and you are wearing a t-shirt, shorts and and sandals, I will know you are a tourist. If it's spring or autumn in Germany and you see a small black woman still using her winter jacket, it's me.
Lúthien 3 years ago (edited)
If a dog has a colored ribbon on its leash, leave it alone , it could mean several things, but they mostly sum up to ' I don't want strangers to pet me,' (Always ask/ make eye contact with the owner though, even if there is no ribbon)
Destiney Haddox 2 years ago
Great rule of thumb, don't touch or pet a stranger's dog without asking first. And be prepared for them to say no.
Load More Replies...
Meyer Weinstock 3 years ago (edited)
If you're wearing a bow tie, that is not a clip-on, then it shows that you know how to tie a bow tie. (from a bow tie wearer)
Lauren Caswell 3 years ago
If someone is wandering around North Island NZ midwinter in shorts and t shirt, they could well be from the South Island, and likely my hometown (known only ironically as "sunny")! North Island is subtropical and humid (palm trees), South Island is cooler and drier (pine trees).
Zoe Hoesley 3 years ago
I would say, hoodie socks with sandals and beat up sweats means your tired as hell and you regret the previous night.
PANDAS 3 years ago
I have one! sometimes, aces (asexual people) wear black rings on their middle finger to show that they're ace!
A. B. Gilman 3 years ago
I think aromantic people do this with a white ring, though I could be wrong.
Load More Replies...
Patti Vance 3 years ago
that thing of avoiding certain colors while in school is real. my son attended school in central valley of california where there was gang activity. i noticed that i had bought him both red and blue shirts but he never wore them. it was him that told me why. he is now 40 and it has just been in recent years he now wears red as he said it had become habit not to for so long. so glad because he looks good in red!
n i k o 3 years ago
Very interesting & educational thread! I can only think of one, and that is wearing a safety clip on your shirt means you are in support of minorities and refuges. Oh and of course wearing a thin blue line means they support the 'blue lives matter' movement. Okay, last one. A red string around someone's wrist is a sign for protection and luck in Kabbalah (a form of Judaism). :)
Monica Pryts 2 years ago
The ER staff is supposed to use trauma shears? Then why did they expect me to undress myself while I was suffering from a broken hip?
Vicki Wolf 3 years ago
As to the military hats on indoors, only Military Police are allowed to wear their caps indoors. Yes they are armed.
MistyCat 3 years ago
Pansexuals in my school wear a pink, yellow and blue bracelet on their left wrist. Gays wear rainbow, lesbians, wear their flag colors, etc, etc, etc. They only take it off when they shower or sleep. As a very LGBT school, the heterosexuals have no idea of our secret code. If you are an ally, however, you wear a pale pink and blue bracelet on your RIGHT wrist, to signify you know the code.
sylvanticx 3 years ago
on TV if someone has a red tie they are Republican, blue tie means Democrat, striped tie means trying to be neutral.
Stannous Flouride 3 years ago
Early on, skateboarders wore baggy clothes so that they could wear pads and other protective gear underneath them.
Tamera Gardner 3 years ago
Many years ago when nurses still wore all white, each nursing school had their own distinct style of nursing cap. I still have mine from 1982. Our cap was pretty normal but some schools’ caps were very strange looking.,
Robert Kerr 3 years ago
Interesting article. Didn't care for the political commentary though. We already have more than enough on Facebook.
Johnny 3 years ago
Not long after I started going to college, a rumor got around that you could show your support for gays by wearing jeans on some Wednesday. I, being the naive and slightly homophobic freshman that I was, wore sweatpants that day to show the world how straight I was. Later that day I went to my job in the college lab I worked in and the grad student there who I had a lot of respect for asked me why i was dressed that way. I told him, then he looked at me incredulously and asked "Why don't you support gays? What has a gay person ever done to you? Do you think people would think *you* were gay? Why wouldn't you support someone in a lifestyle choice that has nothing to do with you." I of course had no answers to those questions and started to feel uncomfortable, then he ended with "And this may surprise you but your chemistry TA is my boyfriend". It was a real eye opening experience (one of many in college) for someone raised in a small town. Now I'm strongly in favor of lgbqt+ rights.
Carrot dude 3 years ago
I was raised with a similar belief, but being on Bored Panda and Pinterest have taught me a lot more open-mindedness. Although I do not agree with some parts of the community, I have realized that my opinion of some person's life is unimportant and that since no one's hurting anyone, why should I care? I am now 100% supportive of people living their lives however they want.
Load More Replies... Luisa Vasconcelos 3 years ago
If it's winter in Portugal and you are wearing a t-shirt, shorts and and sandals, I will know you are a tourist. If it's spring or autumn in Germany and you see a small black woman still using her winter jacket, it's me.
Lúthien 3 years ago (edited)
If a dog has a colored ribbon on its leash, leave it alone , it could mean several things, but they mostly sum up to ' I don't want strangers to pet me,' (Always ask/ make eye contact with the owner though, even if there is no ribbon)
Destiney Haddox 2 years ago
Great rule of thumb, don't touch or pet a stranger's dog without asking first. And be prepared for them to say no.
Load More Replies... Meyer Weinstock 3 years ago (edited)
If you're wearing a bow tie, that is not a clip-on, then it shows that you know how to tie a bow tie. (from a bow tie wearer)
Lauren Caswell 3 years ago
If someone is wandering around North Island NZ midwinter in shorts and t shirt, they could well be from the South Island, and likely my hometown (known only ironically as "sunny")! North Island is subtropical and humid (palm trees), South Island is cooler and drier (pine trees).
Zoe Hoesley 3 years ago
I would say, hoodie socks with sandals and beat up sweats means your tired as hell and you regret the previous night.
PANDAS 3 years ago
I have one! sometimes, aces (asexual people) wear black rings on their middle finger to show that they're ace!
A. B. Gilman 3 years ago
I think aromantic people do this with a white ring, though I could be wrong.
Load More Replies... Patti Vance 3 years ago
that thing of avoiding certain colors while in school is real. my son attended school in central valley of california where there was gang activity. i noticed that i had bought him both red and blue shirts but he never wore them. it was him that told me why. he is now 40 and it has just been in recent years he now wears red as he said it had become habit not to for so long. so glad because he looks good in red!
n i k o 3 years ago
Very interesting & educational thread! I can only think of one, and that is wearing a safety clip on your shirt means you are in support of minorities and refuges. Oh and of course wearing a thin blue line means they support the 'blue lives matter' movement. Okay, last one. A red string around someone's wrist is a sign for protection and luck in Kabbalah (a form of Judaism). :)
Monica Pryts 2 years ago
The ER staff is supposed to use trauma shears? Then why did they expect me to undress myself while I was suffering from a broken hip?
Vicki Wolf 3 years ago
As to the military hats on indoors, only Military Police are allowed to wear their caps indoors. Yes they are armed.
MistyCat 3 years ago
Pansexuals in my school wear a pink, yellow and blue bracelet on their left wrist. Gays wear rainbow, lesbians, wear their flag colors, etc, etc, etc. They only take it off when they shower or sleep. As a very LGBT school, the heterosexuals have no idea of our secret code. If you are an ally, however, you wear a pale pink and blue bracelet on your RIGHT wrist, to signify you know the code.
sylvanticx 3 years ago
on TV if someone has a red tie they are Republican, blue tie means Democrat, striped tie means trying to be neutral.
Stannous Flouride 3 years ago
Early on, skateboarders wore baggy clothes so that they could wear pads and other protective gear underneath them.
Tamera Gardner 3 years ago
Many years ago when nurses still wore all white, each nursing school had their own distinct style of nursing cap. I still have mine from 1982. Our cap was pretty normal but some schools’ caps were very strange looking.,
Robert Kerr 3 years ago
Interesting article. Didn't care for the political commentary though. We already have more than enough on Facebook.
Related on Bored Panda
