50 Shades of Same Clothing – Innovators and their Signature Attires

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is back at work after his paternity leave. He posted a snap of his wardrobe, decked with identical grey shirts and hoodies. He also jokingly asked his followers for fashion advice. The image has gone viral on Social media, with Fashionistas and Style Gurus going gaga over the young billionaire’s unique wardrobe. Well, it’s not.

What do Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Barack Obama and Homer Simpson all have in common?

They've all worn the same outfit, pretty much every single day. Others include fashion designer Michael Kors, Segway inventor Dean Kamen, and fictional character Pee-wee Herman.Many innovators like Albert Einstein and Johnny Cash were also known for wearing their signature looks too often.

Why, oh why, you ask.

There are both scientific and business perspectives to the same-outfit club. Let us explain.

The Science of it:

You’ll see Obama wears a Blue or Gray suit almost every day. If he ever wears anything else, there is a Social media storm. Why does he do it? Doesn’t he get bored of the same damn suit? He explained it to Michael Lewis, via Vanity Fair:

“You’ll see I wear only gray or blue suits,” Obama said. “I’m trying to pare down decisions. I don’t want to make decisions about what I’m eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make.”

There’s scientific evidence to back that statement. Two Professors who studied decision-making, Kathleen Vohs and Barry Schwartz found that a person has a limited amount of brain power in a day. The more they make decisions, the weaker their decision-making process gets.

"The mere act of thinking about whether you prefer A or B tires you out," Schwartz said. "So if I give you something else that takes discipline, you can't do it -- you'll quit faster. If I have lifted weights in a gym, later trying to lift a 30-pound weight is impossible."

Jobs did a Great Job:

Jobs chose to wear a black turtleneck, blue jeans and white shoes for most of his life at Apple. One of the great marketers ever, he did it to establish himself as a brand.

“It is also great to have a trademark look,” William Arruda, a branding expert, told Forbes. “It makes you memorable and distinctive.”

That also makes sense. It’s hard to imagine Jobs without that black turtleneck or Zuckerberg without his gray shirt. For these people, these signature looks have become an integral part of their overall mystique.

Here is a list of the iconic looks of great innovators across the world:

Image credit: Indiatimes