Linking Dress and the Public, Private and Secret Self model to coming out

This theoretical article examines how dress and the Public, Private and Secret Self (PPSS) model is linked to the coming-out models of LGBTI individuals, specifically gay men. The PPSS model is a taxonomy for categorizing dress based on social situation (reality, fun/leisure, fantasy) and the level of self-expression (public, private, secret). Coming-out models are developmental stages of expressing one’s sexual orientation, otherwise known as ‘coming out of the closet’. By examining existing academic literature on gay men and comparing coming-out models with the PPSS model, we posit two directions that link the two models.