Do you ever ask yourself if it matters how you dress? What about the way you are arranging your hair? Yes, I know it sounds like some superficial crap, but there is some psychological background here.
I’m going to say yes, it matters, but not because we are all some shallow superficial people, but because looks determines the desire to know that person in a deeper way. Also, the way you look determines your own opinion about yourself. Here is what Dr. David J. Schwartz says about the importance of how people look:
“Looking like an important person helps you perceiving yourself like one. The way you look speaks about yourself. Make sure that this will make you be more optimistic and more confident. The way you look speaks about yourself to the others. Make sure it sends the following message: ‘Here is an important, intelligent, prosper and trustworthy person!’”
As you can see, this is not about biological looks. This is mostly about the way we dress. If we dress like a politician, we’re going to feel like a very important person ant this will boost our self-confidence and we’ll feel that we can do everything we set our mind to. But if we dress like a normal person, we’ll feel just like another person from the crowd. We’ll feel that there is nothing we can do to stand out and that we don’t matter because we’re not different from the other people.
Just think about this: if you take a buss full of 20 people from whom 19 are casual dressed and one is in a suit, he/she will automatically have your attention and you’ll think that he/she is a successful person, right?
The way we dress also tells to the others the opinion about ourselves. If we chose our clothes carefully and everything matches, we’ll appear as a person who takes care of herself and this is a sign of a high level of self-confidence and a high self-esteem. But if we dress sloppy, this will send a signal that we don’t care about ourselves and this is a sign of low self-confidence and a low self-esteem.
Bottom line, the way we dress is our business card for the world, but for ourselves too. Based on this, other people might decide if they are going to take interest in us or not. Also, based on that, our self-confidence can take a boost or not. Of course, the way we dress is not the end of an interaction, but it might be the beginning.
I could really get in to this topic, but I won’t. I will say that yes it matters. I believe there is a difference between confidence, modesty, and setting a bad example.
Yes, I agree
So much to get into with this one 🤦🏾♂️
For me, the way I dress is a classic way to Fake It Till You Make It. I always feel more successful if I wear nice clothes and do my hair and makeup. I don’t always, but when I need that little boost of confidence, I will go all out.
This article is absolutely true . I totally accept with you. My Prof used to tell all this students about the value of dressing . Your blog reminded of him to me
That’s great! Thank you very much for reading!
Thank you bogdon
As the saying goes: appearance is 9/10’s of the law.
Yes and No
Yes, unfortunately, we are visual creatures. We’ve been conditioned to interact, judge, help and/or impact others lives simply based on how they’re dressed.
(That was my outer layer speaking)
No, because “clothing” has taking on numerous topography and function over the years. We started dressing ourselves to stay warm, then we dressed ourselves to show unison, and later on to distinguish ourselves.
So why we’ve become so fascinated with this ever-changing trend.
As long as we’re comfortable and what we wear does not interfere with the well being of others, we should be ok.
(Says my inner layer)
Ah! That’s what I was going to say.
You can still say it 😊
I like dress that is comfortable to me irrespective of how others dress up or ask me to. It’s like costume of Batman that is bulletproof but must be lightweight i.e. comfortable, howsoever unstylish it looks.
Well well well. In 2011 after I passed my CPA Exam, I was to purchase a one a half bedroom apartment in Brooklyn. Two days before the closing, the deal feel through. I took the $10,000 closing cash, went on a vacation in South Beach, and a subsequent shopping spree in NYC: Cole Haan Shoes, A pair of Tom Ford Dress Shoes, a pair of Classic Black Farragamos, a tweed/wool suit which I had altered to fit my body perfectly, French Cuff Dress Shirts, Gucci Sunglasses, a Tommy Hilfiger (very cheaply priced/made) Blue Pin Striped Suit; along with other casual/cool hang out clothing and shoes that I purchased or already had: Paul Smith Sneakers, John Varvartos Leather boots, Chuck Taylors, Sports Jackets etc.
The purpose was, AS YOU SAID, TO LOOK IMPORTANT, CONFIDENT, TRUST WORTHY AS A CPA trying to build my own firm.
WHAT DID ALL OF THAT GET ME! TWO, what I call decent paying clients which met me approximately $1,500 a year COMBINED!
In essence, to the contrary of your post, THE CLOTHES BROUGHT ME ZERO RETURN; seemingly jealously from my co-workers before I quit my job AND NOTHING IN TERMS OF BUILDING A SEMI-SUCCESSFUL-SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP ACCOUNTING FIRM!
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!
Also contrary to your post: WARREN BUFFET, STEVE JOBS, even MARK ZUCKERBURG; ALL BILLIONAIRES who DRESS(ED) NEAT AND CLEAN, NOTHING TO THEIR SELECTION OF DAILY OUTFITS!
It matters how you groom yourself (hair and cleanliness), but clothing, ESPECIALLY IN 2019, DON’T MEAN SHIT!
DON’T WAIST YOUR MONEY ON CLOTHES: SUITS, SHOES, etc. IT WILL NOT BRING YOU SUCCESS, MONEY, NOR WOMEN, especially NOT FRIENDS!
I’d say you have a better shot at success, wearing the SAME CLEAN OUTFIT EVERYDAY, than changing clothing, colors, styles, everyday.
There are so many things involved here but clothes. In your examples (Warren Buffet, Steve Jobs and so on), they already have the confidence needed. They already knew their worth and they went all in on that. Also, it differs from one industry to another. As a programmer, you don’t need fancy clothes, but if you’re holding a presentation to potential customers, it might make a difference. It’s all about the purpose and clothes need to be adjusted based on that. Football players don’t wear fancy clothes while playing because that’s not the case.
This is because the paradigm is shifting. I presume this shift flips every 50-60 years as per average human life span as the next generation expects differently w.r.t. its previous.
I like this comment so much. Personally, as a mom who homeschools I spend most of my time in jeans and a t-shirt. BUT, I get up everyday, shower, put on makeup and fix my hair even though most days I see no one but my kids and hubby b/c it makes me feel ready for the day and gives me the confidence to take on anything. I agree grooming yourself makes more of a difference but then again my husband has always said, dress for the job you want, not the job you have and it worked for him. So, I guess I am in 2 minds after all. 🙂
“Bottom line, the way we dress is our business card for the world, but for ourselves too.” Well said!
I think it matters if it makes you happy. I buy thrift store everything and have some super cute vintage pieces. I feel sassy in my cat eye glasses (those I paid $400 for… a rare treat) and I present to the world the sass I feel inside. So to me it matters!
I think if it matters to you than it matters. My “look” is an extension of self expression and creativity. On a superficial level it does absolutely matter as we judge and judge others on appearance. Right or wrong it is a fact.
Yes, we do that even though we don’t do it on purpose…
I’m pretty laid back when it comes to my personal style – comfort is the main advantage. BUT – if you’ve got a tight connection in an airport, running through the masses in scrubs will magically clear a path for you. (errr, this was not the intent, I knew I had to go directly to work after my flight, and had fibbed about my landing time.) If you find something that makes you feel like the best you there is, wear it.
People use their eyes to evaluate us in an instant. If you want a connection with someone – wear a shirt that showcases your favorite band. You want to be treated to a nicer table at a restaurant? Look like you deserve it. If you want a job, you go in looking like you want the job. Yes, there are some people who have created an almost iconic look and been very successful, but they are the very rare ones who have something to offer than no one else does.
I think clothing is about belonging as well as statement. I think differently about my clothes for the school run than I do about clothes for work. If I was the person on the bus in a suit, I’d probably feel more conspicuous than important. I agree though, about wearing clothes that make you feel good about yourself. When I was depressed, I dragged myself around in whatever clothes I could be bothered to put on and being in public always made me feel worse. I think a part of that was because I looked at myself through the eyes of others and judged what I saw even more harshly.
I honestly borderline despise how much this is sadly true on multiple levels of our society. If it was up to me I would still dress like I did in high school all punk/gothy sporting a non traditional hair color!
Sadly being in my early 30s people begin to judge you for maintaining such an appearance which is just sad. I have since adopted this into a more mature style but this is strictly to maintain some level of respect in certain circumstances.