Appearances - do they matter?

Not at all Lucca I agree. Not talking high performance power dressing here but just appropriate work wear. I think that it reflects the way you will approach your job if care is taken with your dress. There is also the perception of others as to the professionalism of your business, profession etc.

You may be ( in for some stick ) Lucca....but not from me.?
Part of being human ( even being part of the animal kingdom actually) means that appearances do matter, whatever anyone says to the contrary.We instantly weigh up, and judge others, it’s part of our survival instincts.
In everyday life, this translates to where another person is in the pecking order, if we can trust them, if they look competent, honest, attractive etc.A book can’t always be judged by it’s cover, but we are hardwired to judge quickly.

Who decides what is appropriate though.

Even Domenic Cummings, he of the “pulled through a hedge backwards” look donned a clean ironed shirt for his press conference at No 10.
(Frankly if he had been my brother Mum would have had to get a record made of “You’re not going out looking like that, are you?”)
Yes appearances convey a message - even if that message is “I don’t give a stuff what you think”.

Oops can’t spell Dominic (must have confused it with demonic )

I find I feel the need to ‘dress to the occasion’. Mostly because in my working life it was expected to be smart and of a certain dress code for work (secretarial and teaching background). Today, people dress more casually and in retirement I definitely don’t dress up. I sometimes feel overdressed but that is just a reflection of my generation I think.

There was a lady on the press conference that made me think of this. Ok nobody has been to the hairdresser etc but she could have brushed her hair! ( But maybe she was channelling Boris.)

Carenza. Of course , but I’m not talking about dressing formally or in a certain way, just making an effort

Agree appearances do matter, after all often it's all strangers know about us. Still if you are not bothered by their opinion, this doesn't apply to you.

As a retired teacher, I too feel like you.
I always made an effort to look professional when working. Parents expected you to look as if you had made an effort.

Just before I retired, my LA introduced a dressing for excellence smart dress code for the whole Authority. It was partly introduced because some teachers were coming to work, dressed inappropriately: denims, fit flops, low cut vests, micro skirts.
Some parents felt that how they dressed, reflected their teaching ability!

What I'm going to say, may get me some stick too and may come across as shallow. It's not intended to be. I'm trying to illustrate what I mean.

I often attend hospital appointments and love to people watch to pass the time in the waiting room.
What I have noticed, on occasions, is that some staff, although not intentionally, treat patients differently, depending on how they look.
A young woman, covered in tattoos, wearing fit flops and tracksuit bottoms, may be treated differently from the elderly, well dressed lady, sitting with her equally well dressed husband, beside her.
I have noticed, on occasions, a less respectful attitude.
I have seen exactly the same thing happen in schools, when parents are having meetings with staff and parents are judged by how they look.
It is wrong!

Before anyone shouts me down, I am not being snobbish, ( I'm actually pretty common! )
I have witnessed this on many an occasion.

Way back in 1962 when I started work in a Bank I was issued with 2 overalls in the House colours, whereas the year older male apprentice came to work in what looked like his father's suit. A few years later as a fully fledged Clerkess I was transferred to another smaller (3 staff) branch and invited to chose my own overall from a catalogue. I refused, bought myself a couple of skirt suits, and thereafter was seen by the customers as fully fledged staff, who could answer their questions, without them asking to 'speak to the man'.

Granny23 'Speak to the man'!

Simply yes, appearances do matter. They influence the way we respond to others. I don't have a problem with people expressing themselves by the way they dress - Reece-Mog at one extreme and the equally awful Lawrence Fox imo at the other
The nature of my work meant I may be in a very formal environment for a few hours, then crawling on the floor with children a bit later. I got very good at having a smart jacket over a plain top paired with trousers that could take floor crawling then go in the wash.
I wouldn't spike my hair or wear big ear rings for those formal places. I felt showing some respect to what I was involved in mattered.

I always feel the need to look my best and the pandemic hasnt changed that. Whether I'm going out or staying in I dress each morning in what I hope is neat and well co-ordinated outfits. Smart-casual, always put my make up on, earrings bracelet, necklace and ring. I dont feel right if I dont. Each to their own but I cant stop myself raising an eyebrow when seeing people at the shops or school gates in their pj's, dressing, gowns, slippers etc. Even one of my daughters will do this.

With 20+ years of working in the public sector and heading quite a large service with 150+ staff, I am surprised at what people consider appropriate work wear.

Our service works with children and despite a carefully developed dress code, we would still get jeans, flip flops, shorts, trainers, mini skirts and all manner of T-shirt’s. Sometimes I had to remind Management Team members too.

My partner is a musician and a teacher, who certainly always goes to school in a tie and jacket.
I don’t like to see musicians on stage casually dressed either.

Now I sound like my grandmother. However, I do think dressing appropriately for work demonstrates respect for service users, colleagues and ones self.

I too think appearances matter and that it is respectful to dress appropriately for the occasion.

My husband still refers to the husband of one of my daughters friends who attended DGD’s Christening in jeans,unbuttoned shirt and no shoes.He looked daft next to everybody else?

My DD’s still ask me what’s the dress code ma whenever we are going anywhere!

When I worked in a school I was often really shocked at what teaching staff deemed appropriate.
I was once told by a teacher that as a TA I looked too smart and was showing them up!

I had a pupil with Tourette’s she was sat with me in the classroom when the teacher entered, the teacher was wearing a skimpy sleeveless sundress, platformed clogs and had all her tattoos on show.
My pupil shouted “F@@@@@g Hell miss you look like you spent the night on a Greek beach and couldn’t get home to change”

How you present yourself matters a lot particularly in the workplace if you're face to face with the general public. It displays a confidence and efficiency toward the person or persons who you come into contact with.

There's no excuse not to have just one special outfit to fit the occasion.

I've never owned a pair of jeans or trainers either !

Well appearances matter to me, I’ve always been the same since young. I like to dress smart casual, even in the lockdown yes, and no one seeing me, have to have hair brushed etc, not full face of make up, but generally will wear some, I dress for myself not other people, I just think it’s respectful to look as if you have made an effort,

When it really comes down to it, though, appearance doesn't matter at all.
It's a social construct, not something that will make any difference to life and death situations, really.

Presentation means a lot. I find myself being more open with and trusting of people who look clean and well groomed. Who have taken the time and trouble to look their best. It shows both self respect and consideration for others. Some people wearing uniforms can look crumpled and be off-putting and give out a negative vibe. But a neatly pressed clean shirt, jacket, trousers/skirt, well groomed hair goes a long way to giving out and gaining confidence

Work wise, I dressed smart for work for many decades. At that time it was expected, even having bare legs (no stockings or tights) was frowned upon (although sexist).
For the last 12 years before retiring I worked in an I.T. company with “brainy people” designing websites for major banks, local authorities and big name customers. The office dress code was zilch and the guys and ladies mostly wore denim and t shirts every day. If visitors were expected we were sent e mails requesting us to “Dress smart, no jeans” on that day.
At weekends then, and everyday since I retired, I wear colours that make me feel good and I think suit my (auburn hair/fair skin) colouring. Some outfits are smart, some are casual depending on what I’m doing.
I do think we judge people by appearances but can later change our minds when we get to know those people better.

Yes I think they do. Hate to see older ladies in mini skirts or cropped tops or sleeveless dresses with massive bingo wings and withered skin. But that’s just me. The people that do wear (inappropriate) clothes are oblivious to it and don’t care a jot about what others think.

Thank the lord for people like that, or we would all be wearing bonnets and liberty bodies.