“I’m going now, so thank you very much and if you need to forward any mail, I’ll be staying at 23 piss-off avenue, London-W-f***. Thank you and goodbye”.
These are some of the first words spoken by Roscoe, one of the main characters in Channel 4’s latest hit, It’s A Sin. Before this, we don’t know much about his character. We’ve seen him chat to a friend, wearily argue with his father and stare at his sister in shock as she pushes money into his hands – she pleads with him to go before their homophobic family drags him back to Nigeria.
This moment, where he stands in the doorway in a mini-skirt and makes his announcement, is where we meet the true Roscoe. He’s proud of who he is and doesn’t want to hide it, something that’s reflected in his joyful, sometimes audacious, outfits.
We’re going to see what his style reveals about his personality by putting him through The Big 5 Personality Test. The most commonly accepted tool for measuring personality in psychology, this is also referred to as OCEAN (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism). Spoilers ahead.
OPENNESS: High
Roscoe gives a memorable farewell to his family in Episode 1 of It’s A Sin. (Photo: Netflix)
Facets of this trait include being curious and enjoying novelty and variety. From the beginning of the series, it’s evident that Roscoe has these qualities in spades. In the first episode, he runs away from home and leaves his unaccepting family behind, ready to embrace who he is and throw himself into London life. Clearly, he’s open to new experiences.
His outfits and the way he puts looks together – carefully applying blue eyeshadow, layering necklaces, styling artfully studded belts – suggests that he’s high in creativity and imagination, with an appreciation for beauty and art. These are all facets of openness. He’s willing to experiment with fashion and try looks that others wouldn’t. We can see this in his more flamboyant looks, such as his party outfit in episode one – a denim playsuit with a neckline that plunges to his waist.
CONSCIENTOUSNESS: Moderate-Low
Roscoe’s signature look is eclectic, highly accessorized and unpredictable. (Photo: Channel 4)
Roscoe usually takes things as they come, displaying the kind of impulsive behaviour that might score him low on conscientiousness. He wears a miniskirt to confront his family, rents out his bedroom to Colin after a two-minute conversation and – unforgettably – wees in Margaret Thatcher’s tea.
However, his outfits often show a blend of experimentation and familiarity. A vest is one of his style staples but he has them in a variety of incarnations, colors and prints – cropped, zig-zag patterned, thick and red-checked, white and crocheted. He’s flexible but only to a certain extent, often throwing his much-loved leather jacket over the top. Reliability is associated with conscientiousness and Roscoe shows some of this in his fashion, putting him somewhere between moderate and low.
EXTROVERSION: High
Sociable and happy to soak in the limelight - Roscoe’s style and behavior is typically extroverted. (Photo: Channel 4)
Sociable, energetic and outgoing, Roscoe appears strongly extroverted and this is reflected in what he wears. His fashion is rooted in bold colors and fun pairings – and if people notice, then all the better. This taps into another aspect of extroversion, drawing energy from being around other people. The outfit he wears in episode one to tell his family he’s leaving – a patterned orange miniskirt, glittery ochre crop top and tasselled purple scarf tied around his head – is a great example of how “loud” his style is. He always stands out from the crowd, whether he’s in acid-wash jeans and a barely-there top, or experimenting with wigs and makeup.
AGREEABLENESS: Moderate
The cast of It’s A Sin displaying solidarity in their fight against AIDS. (Photo: Channel 4)
A passing look at Roscoe’s style might suggest that he’s fairly low on this trait. He wears what he wants with no concessions to what people think – if he wants to wear eyeshadow and show a lot of skin, he will! He’s unafraid to go against the norm, whether that’s how he dresses or how he behaves, a sure indicator of low agreeableness.
However, he does temporarily change his look on two occasions, moving him from low to moderate. The most notable is when he’s with Stephen Fry’s character, politician Arthur Garett. Briefly willing to compromise his style to fit more into society’s expectations, Roscoe sports white button-down shirts, muted ties and drab grey trousers. It’s a far cry from his usual eye-catching looks.
This doesn’t last long, with a heinous insult from Garett leading to the very memorable scene of Roscoe urinating in tea meant for Margaret Thatcher. This suggests a stubbornness and proclivity for holding grudges that’s indicative of a low agreeableness score.
NEUROTICISM: Moderate-Low
Roscoe’s style takes a dark turn with leather and metal. (Photo: Channel 4)
Roscoe often comes across as confident, optimistic and not entirely serious about anything, suggesting a low neuroticism score. He actively seeks out situations that others would find stressful, such as sneaking his way into an exclusive black-tie event or turning up at the doorstep of a one-night stand uninvited.
His style outwardly appears quite carefree and not at all polished. However, we know that fashion is a lifeline for him to express himself. He cares about what he wears and has an appreciation for the artistry behind it, suggesting a facet of neuroticism known as sensitivity to aesthetic.
Watching the show, you can’t help but be drawn to Roscoe’s cavalier attitude and sharp wit. His style is fun, brave and unapologetically him, qualities that we could perhaps all take inspiration from. Who knows – the next time you’re not feeling sure of yourself, put on an episode and let Roscoe’s spirit enthuse you. Pick a bold colour. Try that graphic eyeliner. Wear the hat you always thought was a bit out-there. It’s what Roscoe would want you to do.
Curious about your own Big 5 personality scores? Take the test on PSYKHE.
We use the ‘Driver’s License’ singer’s sartorial style to infer where she would score on the Big Five Personality test.