Back in the day, everybody always looked his or her best in public.
In old photos, even the poorest people of a time like the Great Depression were wearing button-downs and dresses every day. Such was once a time when nice-looking clothing was an everyday standard. These times have come and gone since the cultural revolutions of the mid-century. As a result of these lower societal standards, there is a niche to be filled by those who are willing to take the initiative.
They say we’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover. But let’s face it, it’s easy to do, and it happens all the time. Lots of those times you can form a fairly accurate perception of people based off of how they look and what they are wearing. This is especially true with the wide range of styles and attitudes consistent with today’s culture.
The people who stand out are the ones who put forth a little bit of extra effort in their appearance and do so often. The difference between putting on some nice clothes and grooming yourself well versus looking sloppy could be whether you are at home on a Friday night or out with the cute co-ed from biology. So let’s get started.
Looking nice doesn’t necessarily mean wearing a dress and heels or a button-down, khakis and leather shoes every day to class. Looking nice does require some sort of effort past rolling out of bed, putting on gym shorts and a v-neck and dashing out the door to catch the bus. Not that one cannot do this once in a while, as Tuesdays and Thursdays look rough for everybody.
But take the extra step more often.
It’s not as hard as it may seem, and in the process, one reaps the many benefits.
First it shows a level of maturity. High school kids get up, roll out of bed, and go to class in pajamas like it’s their job. Most college students do the same, but that doesn’t mean it’s OK by real world standards. College students are thought of as grown-ups and should present themselves accordingly. That doesn’t mean wearing suits all the time, but it does mean dressing in something that reflects positively on you.
This is particularly true in regards to first impressions. First impressions are the lasting impressions. They are often hard to change. Get started on the right foot and don’t let laziness ruin your chance at a great first impression on those around you.
Many adults have an easy time passing judgments on young people based off of first impressions. We experience it every day.
Have you ever been in a store where an employee walked right past you without saying anything and assisted an older customer? Didn’t that flip your switch? Well, as uncontrollable as someone else’s actions are, you do have the ability to earn respect from elders by showing respect for yourself. If you are ever going out and looking for service, dress up a little bit and see if you get it.
For example, I noticed a long time ago that young people in airports don’t get much respect or service. I decided I would do a little test on the minds of airline employees everywhere. No matter what the occasion was, I would wear a button-down instead of a t-shirt or a pair of khakis instead of a more comfortable alternative when I would fly by myself.
Employees seriously looked and treated me differently, and it was the way I wanted to be treated. Never mind the fact that I was a teenager and definitely not a platinum flyer, employees were more polite and more serviceable because I didn’t look like a scrubby kid. I stick to that routine to this day whenever I want good service.
Perhaps the most important benefit of a refined appearance is not necessarily to satisfy anybody around you but to feel good about yourself. It’s always nice to impress other people, but dress up a little bit for your own sake. If you feel like you look great, you will probably feel great. Confidence is the key.
But to be confident does not necessarily mean waking up two hours earlier to primp your little self. Nobody needs to overdo it. It’s just not that much harder to put on a polo shirt or a sun dress than it is to throw on the Nike shorts off of the floor.
The extra wince of effort is all it takes to look a little bit more respectable on a campus with too many eyesores as it is, so don’t be one.
— Oliver Casey is a junior in enterprise management. He can be reached at [email protected].
