ABSTRACT
How much people care about their clothing is shaped by gendered and racialized rules for dress. Some people, based on the rules of their group, can and, indeed, need to care and show they care. Others, based on their rules, have to act like they don't care, even if they do. Women, in general, are supposed to care about what they wear. The extent to which men can show they care or have to act like they don't care is highly racialized, meaning that men, depending on their racial and ethnic group, can and "should" care to differing degrees. In the Silicon Valley, not caring about people's clothing is a badge of honor, a sign that they have more important things to worry about than what they wear. Caring about clothing can be used by men to create and maintain class boundaries. Caring about clothing comes not only from interest and taste, but also pressure.
