Image is everything. A person’s appearance speaks volumes. It’s been said that you can’t judge a book by its cover, but people are hard wired to do it anyway. Humans automatically make opinions and assumptions from visual imagery. People make assumptions about you the first 7 seconds they see you.
You only get one chance to make a first impression. First impressions are very powerful and usually can’t be redacted. It’s good to start off on the right foot with every encounter you have with people. Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. A Presidential candidate must dress like a President in order to get voted in.
People treat you according to the image you portray. Depicting a high-class appearance can open valuable doors and connections before you say a word. People will take your words more seriously when you look like you mean business.
Many people use various tech billionaires who mostly wear T-shirts and jeans in public as an example of dressing down while successful. These billionaires are exceptions to the rule. If you are a famous billionaire, then sure you can wear whatever you want but even most billionaires wear suits when conducting business.
Clothing is the uniform you are presenting to the world. How do you want the world to perceive you? The world should perceive you as healthy, wealthy, trustworthy, intelligent, focused, disciplined and talented. Your life is a business. This doesn’t mean you have to wear a full suit all the time. You can dress “business casual” for more relaxed days. When you search the term “business casual”, you will see numerous examples of classy styles for men and women.
Dress one level higher than everyone else for the occasion. If you’re in a setting where most people have sports jerseys, t-shirts, and jeans, then you may want to wear a polo shirt and chinos. If everyone has polos and chinos, then you might want to wear a full suit or a blazer with chinos. It is always better to be overdressed than underdressed.
Upgrade your shoe collection! I would advise people over 25 years old to have more dress and casual shoes than sneakers.
Ditch the slob style. If you are not within 25 yards of a pool or beach, then you shouldn’t wear flip flops. If you are not at home, then you shouldn’t have on pajamas or a bathrobe. If you want to wear sneakers, then wear some minimal all white or all black ones. Basketball shoes with loud colors are for the under 21 demographic.
How your clothes fit is important! You don’t have to buy the most expensive designer brands to look rich. If your clothes fit you well, then they will look stylish. This takes a little work at first because different brands will fit you differently. You might wear a medium in one brand and wear a large in a different brand. Find 2 or three brands that fit you the best and stick with those. Once you know your size in each brand then you can save time and order online.
Scale back the Athleisure look. Gym clothes are for the gym, lounging at home or manual labor. For the last 30 years many people seem to dress as sloppily as possible. You can get a big sample size of how the general American public dresses when you go to major airports or grocery stores. You’ll see people with shower caps sweatpants, leggings, basketball shorts, flip flops, athletic team jerseys, track suits, pajamas, and even bath robes! People are taking the “athleisure” look too far.
The way you dress affects your mindset and performance. Your body is a temple of God, so dress majestically. Most people put more effort into making sure their car looks better than they do themselves. 90 percent of the people you meet will not see your car, but they will see how you are dressed.
Looking wealthy doesn’t have to break your bank account. Shop during holiday weekends is when most clothing goes on sale up to 50 percent off. There is usually a major holiday every 2 or 3 months. Most of the suits I have where discounted during a holiday weekend.il
Get in shape ASAP. This benefits your health and appearance. When you are in shape, clothes look more customized and expensive. You don’t have to look like a bodybuilder or professional model. You don’t even have to hit the gym. Home workouts, walking, and most importantly healthy eating is sufficient. The better your body, the better clothes will look on you.
Being well dressed isn’t everything but it gives you a head start on success. There is a reason Kings where Royal looking attire, Generals wear crisp uniforms and corporate CEOs where dark tailored suits. Their clothing gives a command presence. People don’t trust the leadership of someone who presents themselves in raggedy garb.
When you look good you feel good and your perform better. Sports and even remote work from home don’t work in pajamas. I think better when writing in casual dress as opposed to writing in lounge wear.
Remember that dressing well isn’t about being noticed, it’s about being respected. Always represent the best version of yourself.