Clothing is language. Behaviour is the word. People make the full stop.

I had a lecture the other day about how "clothing is language" and it really got me thinking about the importance of our own personal style and what it says about our personality. I started to think about subcultures such as Goths and how their "language" is actually very limited. Or is it? Their dress is certainly limited in colour (the main colour scheme obviously being black) but does this make them limited as people? Are they conformists or activists? Are they trapped in their own clothing or are they free? I think the argument is very tricky to answer as they are clearly conforming in a sense as they are adopting a particular style in clothing, hair and make-up...yet by doing this, they are also making a confident political, social and cultural statement about themselves and the culture they are representing. I'm thinking of writing about subjects like this in my dissertation next year so any info/research/ opinions that anyone knows or has are welcomed with open arms!