A few years ago, I wrote an article, Dress to Kill, about the attire donned during the pandemic.
Americans had already maintained an increasingly casual approach to apparel for decades, but the COVID response brought it to a new low. Depression increased. Expectations to wear professional clothes decreased. Some might have said, who cares? No one, including colleagues, managers, and customers, could see you below the waist on Zoom and other virtual platforms.
As I outlined in that article, such a lackadaisical approach bore ramifications.
Sweats or pajamas may have brought initial comfort, but soon, for many, it added more hopelessness.
And guess what?
It still does.
Whether you agree, we are what we wear, and often the external permeates into the internal. Even if it doesn’t, a first impression matters, and if you dress according to your standards only, prepare yourself for consequences.
What prompted me to write on this topic again?
A few months ago, my husband, a voracious Boston Bruins fan, pointed to the T.V. as I plodded through the living room. I saw these elite athletes walking through the corridors of the stadium, dressed in their finest, suits, ties, and collared shirts. They looked superbly attired in more formal digs, and I inquired about the special occasion. My husband informed me the NHL requires them to wear suits and ties.
Why such an expectation?
Because the button-up look appeals to most people, the reason for its effectiveness.
The message?
Respect.
Humph, some individuals exclaim.
In the twenty-first century, I want to express my individuality.
A fair argument, but nobody suggests you clone others.
Jackets, trousers, ties, shirts, dresses, skirts, and shoes come in different colors, materials, and styles. It’s not oppressive to expect a certain uniformity in our society, the United States of America.
Out of deference for the citizenry, Congressional representatives attire themselves within a certain dress code.
For a brief time, that rule relaxed to appease one who preferred a hoodie and gym shorts. Unusual for our times, but, thankfully, bipartisan outcry abolished the ordinance within days.
Even Sam Friedman, the fraudulent billionaire, surrendered his usual outfit of a T-shirt and shorts during court hearings. The disheveled-professor-look diminished, as Mr. Friedman garbed himself in a costume of suit and tie. What made this cavalier young man defect from his casual approach to life?
To make a good impression. Smart move. But, as I highlighted in my last article, many refuse to embrace this notion. Excuses abound, and puleeze, financial restraints don’t cut it.
Ladies, you too need to think twice in your presentation. Recently, I entered a cafe, and the woman who waited on me wore a stained top, and without adding details, appeared unkempt. I cringed, but her gloves and pleasant disposition helped me ignore her appearance. When I returned a week later, I noticed she adopted a neater exterior from head-to-toe. She smiled more, and I wondered, did her external carriage seep into her psyche?
As a therapist, I understand the shiny photo exhibited on social media doesn’t speak a thousand words, and the authentic story lies beneath the layers.
However, it can’t hurt to attempt a more polished manifestation. No guarantees, but possibly a small step to feeling less depressed and more hopeful.
A who-cares-attitude doesn’t bode well for success in certain areas of life.
With such a complacent approach in our layered, complex society, dress to kill. It won’t kill you. In fact, a classy look might surprise others and give you a chance to knock them dead.
Go for it.
