Clothing (also called clothes) is fiber and textile material worn on the body.
The wearing of clothing is mostly restricted to human beings and is a feature of nearly all human societies.
The amount and type of clothing worn depends on physical, social and geographic considerations.
Some clothing types can be gender specific.
Physically, clothing serves many purposes: it can serve as protection from the elements, and can enhance safety during hazardous activities such as hiking and cooking.
It protects the wearer from rough surfaces, rash-causing plants, insect bites, splinters, thorns and prickles by providing a barrier between the skin and the environment.
Clothes can insulate against cold or hot conditions.
Further, they can provide a hygienic barrier, keeping infectious and toxic materials away from the body.
Clothing also provides protection from harmful UV radiation.
Americans are putting less of their paychecks towards clothing purchases.
But that doesn't mean they don't love a new outfit.
Instead, many seem to care less about owning it outright, which has given rise to a new subsector of retail: clothing rental and trade.
Renting clothing isn't an entirely new concept, though it's largely been geared towards formal wear, which has brought success to online players like Rent the Runway and The Black Tux.
Now, a number of companies are finding white space for renting everyday clothing and work wear.
At stores across the country, Americans are spending more on home improvement than clothes, a shift that may be driven by a housing market that is recovering and millennial consumers who are entering their peak years of spending.
Home Depot reported a strong start to 2016, with more consumers visiting its stores and doing more spending, including on big-ticket purchases.