Symbols are used to show ideas and meaning from things that don't actually represent their literal definition. In Pygmalion, one's clothes are a very vital symbol because they represent a person's social class and wealth, basically their importance as a person. It goes much deeper than fashion in London Society during this time period. In Act 1, Eliza's clothes are extremely important because they symbolize her extreme poverty. Whereas, Higgins clothes mark him as a gentleman of a higher breeding.