I’ve always appreciated a sharply dressed individual. Whether male, female, or nonbinary, the way you dress says a lot about you. For example, a non-athlete wearing a sports jersey portrays their love for athletics as well as their favorite sports team. Similarly, someone wearing a dress with matching earrings portrays an air of thoughtfulness and being detail-oriented.
This is especially true in presentations and public speaking. Even though you only have eight seconds to capture your audience’s attention, you only have one shot at a first impression — an impression that will stay with that person for the foreseeable future and will be the basis of many future interactions.
A personal story
As luck would have it, I’ve never worked for a company that had a formal dress code. In fact, the previous two companies I’ve worked for were relaxed in this department and many employees came into work wearing shorts and t-shirts. I, however, share a different philosophy: Dress to impress, because you never know who will walk through the door.
As a data analyst, I rarely have external reasons for dressing up. If I’m receiving some award, meeting a higher-level manager, or attending a formal presentation, for example, my go-to apparel is not much different than the gentlemen in the accompanying picture. In situations like these, I often don dress pants, a nice button-up shirt, a vest (sans sequins), and a tie. The catch is that I also wear this outfit during my regular 9-5 job, and it has helped me out immensely. In the workplace, I want to be seen as a professional, and I want my first impression to be a positive one. I want my clothing to portray that I care about cleanliness, order, and an attention to detail.
The success of my apparel-centric philosophy was validated on more than one occasion while at my previous employer. In one particular instance, for example, I was standing in the hallway speaking with my Level 1 (direct) manager who was dressed in dirty jeans and an untucked polo. During the conversation, we were approached by a Level 3 manager from a different department. Entering during a pause in the conversation, the Level 3 manager began speaking to me, assuming that, given my apparel, I was the leader of the 9-man research group. Although the situation was a bit awkward, it left me with a sense of pride and confidence.
Dressing like yourself
I firmly believe that the way you dress says a great deal about you and outwardly portrays to others who you are on the inside. Your apparel is the first thing your audience sees when they look at you, and it is the last first impression you will have with them. By the same token, though, the way you dress should also fit the occasion. While there’s nothing wrong with wearing a relaxing pair of jeans and a comfy t-shirt, there’s a non-zero probability that wearing the same outfit to a formal conference dinner could negatively impact your chances of collaborating with others who also chose to attend the event.
Similarly, non-western clothing may better fit your personality than jeans and a blouse. My wife, for instance, was born and raised in India. Since she was young, she has always enjoyed wearing sarees from around the world. Even today, she will wear a saree to her day job, out to nice dinners, and over to our friends’ homes as well. While it may be tempting to dress and look like everybody else, wearing a saree is not her way of “showing off” or “making a statement” — it’s simply something she’s always enjoyed doing. It is the outward manifestation of her personality.
Conclusion
The way a person dresses does not necessarily indicate their wealth, skill level, or overall mindset. It can, however, drastically affect the first impression they give to those around them particularly in job interviews, formal gatherings, or other similar occasions. Your apparel can be a means of showing your allegiance (ex. wearing a sports jersey to watch your favorite team play) or a sign of respect to those around you. In the end, it’s all about knowing your audience and not being a distraction to your own message.
Light travels faster than sound, and that’s true in a professional sense, too — people often make assumptions about you based on your looks before they listen to the message you are trying to convey. In those rare moments when you are given the gift of other people’s time, make sure you leave them with the biggest impact you possibly can.
Present clearly. Present concisely. Present Proper.