We have all heard the age-old quote that “clothes make the man”, famously said by Mark Twain. But what does that mean? Does something as simple and lowly as clothing have such a great impact that it actually affects the persona of an individual? Let’s explore what this quote means, and you can be the judge to decide if you agree.
Self-Image
Dressing the part is a real thing and for good reason. When you dress well, you feel good about yourself, have a better self-image, and actually may be more productive and get more done. And the opposite is true as well, wear a ratty, old piece of clothing and you will feel just like that. We can all agree on this one and have personal examples of how our choice of clothing affected how we felt and performed. For example, a businessman wearing a crisp brand name suit will act with more professionalism than a businessman wearing an old, crumpled suit that hasn’t been dry cleaned in years. The same goes for a nurse in scrubs, if she is wearing a stylish set of Cherokee Infinity scrubs she will feel great by knowing that she looks amazing in her uniform.
So as much as we would like to think of ourselves as deep, thinking individuals, our outer appearance, namely our clothes of choice do have a great impact on how we feel, and in turn perform.
This phenomenon can be helpful for somebody who is lacking confidence in their job. Sometimes, something as simple as getting the right clothes for the job will give that little boost of confidence needed to perform well at the job. This is especially true for someone who is starting out at a new job and isn’t quite comfortable at their new position. Of course, it goes without saying that if someone is truly unskilled for a job, then even the most perfect choice of clothing will not help them succeed.
How We View Others
Our choice of clothing also affects the way others view us as well. If you are looking to give off a good first impression, then take care in choosing the proper clothing for the image you want to portray.
People are often judged based on what they are wearing. As much as we would like to believe otherwise, people naturally just look at the outer appearance of a person to pass judgement on what type the person is. Although, as caring human beings we should always try to view the actual person and judge them based on their character, this fact can be a powerful tool.
Put on a pair of designer jeans and automatically people will look at you differently. It is as simple as that! And we even have research to back this up; recent studies show that we perceive others as more accomplished if the clothing they wear looks expensive.
So, if you are looking to give yourself a boost of self-confidence at your job, or really in any situation, or you want to gain a positive impression from others, take a look at your wardrobe and see if it can use a revamping. Simple, easy, but it just may make a dent in your wallet!
Interesting Related Article: “The Importance of Personal Appearance as a Female Professional“