This is one of my favorite life observations but don’t misunderstand, I am not the fashion police. However, we have become an increasingly laid back, super casual society. I frequently cross many socio-demographic lines with both my personal and professional life but I always try to properly dress for the occasion. Early in my career, I educated myself with all the propaganda on how to dress for success for upward mobility. I will grant you that some application of logic is necessary, I don’t usually wear business clothes when I’m at the barn or in the art studio but conversely I also don’t wear t-shirts and cutoffs to a business meeting. So when did nonconformity to the social norm or dress code become so widely accepted?
We’ve all seen the Worst of Wal-Mart photos and experienced seeing people in their house shoes or pajama bottoms going into local businesses. I’m so tired of flesh belts and plumbers cracks faux paus that I’m about to start distributing Emily Post’s 1922 edition of ‘Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics and at Home’. Recently I stumbled upon the National Poker Championships on TV, it’s a $20K buy-in invitational game, featuring a record $1.8 million purse, with the winner taking home $750K. So maybe they are trying to reach a younger demographic with tennis shoes, faded jeans and t-shirts but why lower the standard of such a prestigious competition? I miss the romance of the John Gage character played by Robert Redford in Indecent Proposal with his Clark Gable style, class and elegance. That’s how you get me to watch the National Championships! (OK, so he did ‘buy’ Demi Moore in the movie but that’s a different topic of discussion.) Maybe it’s because I grew up watching programs where June Cleaver wore her dress & pearls to clean house or movie classics where the gentlemen and ladies always wore their hats and haberdashery.
Now before you get your knickers in a knot, I don’t want to hear the excuses that I can’t afford those kinds of clothes or I’m not dining with the Queen. You are however, in a public place, sometimes with a group or organization or maybe just representing your business or community. There is no intention of snobbery here but sometimes I wonder if a large percentage of the human population doesn’t think about the non-verbal message they are sending. I’m not into reading tags, brands or labels and I’m about as frugal as they come. Everyone can dress for less for any occasion, with a few modest basics, some accessories and a quick glance in a full length mirror. Stacy and Clinton, from TLC’s What Not To Wear have demonstrated with some tough love for all shapes, sizes, ethnicity's, ages and occupations that dressing for how you want to be perceived immediately builds their confidence.
Everyone is familiar with the saying don’t judge a book by its cover, but if we’re looking to invest in or with that book, you better believe that judgment is going to play a large part in the decision making process. Sloppy dress could mean sloppy service. You disagree? As you are the image of your business or organization, look the part so that nobody has to second-guess your profession or role. So if it takes as little as 8 to 30 seconds for people to form a lasting impression about you, outward appearance is a good place to start. It’s not a perfect world that we live in so, whether it is your career or social life, it's important to remember ‘You only get one chance to make a good first impression’.
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