Appearances - do they matter?

I want to say also that plenty of Staff at my school would have said they were correctly dressed, in that they had dragged on the inevitable black skirt and/or jacket. No matter that these items were at best uninspiring at worst shabby. Far better someone unconventionally dressed but clearly having put some effort in! To me the absolute worst outfit is the floppy grey tracksuit trousers and strappy vest top on out of conditioned bodies !
Sorry I sound bitchy, I think something must have upset me (coronavirus ??)

A well known author worked in a local private school. Day one she wore smart trousers etc. She was told that trousers were not considered appropriate for lady teachers (this was a fair old while ago)and would she please wear a skirt. Next day she turned up in mini skirt with thigh length heeled boots. She was told the trousers were ok after all.

I think we do still look at a way a persons dressed. My mil was always well dressed and she taught me people look at you and make an impression as soon as they look at you. I’m off work at the moment and feel I haven’t let this slide more comfy dressing but still wonder how I’d look if someone knocked at the door ha ha!

Marydoll when my children were at high school and we went to parents' evening, I noticed we had a much better response from the teachers if my husband went in his work suit rather than getting changed as he would have preferred to do.

If you are Dom no worries ??

What about doctors' white coats? They looked really professional. Now in casual clothes we often don't know who's who!

I think it is important to dress smartly for your job. Normally I work as a counsellor in an independent senior school. All the teachers ( except sports) wear a suit (men) and a smart dress/skirt and too often with a jacket or at least smart cardigan and we are expected to wear closed in shoes no feet out! I think it shows respect to visitors and the students and you are respected more as the professional you are.

In my private life I wear smart casual and still think it’s important to be clean, hair tidy and at least a lick of lipstick . ( full makeup for work)

Obviously I’m working from home right now but still dress smart the day I do a teams meeting .

You are judged more if you present as a slob as it tells people you can’t be bothered.

I was surprised at the start of lockdown by several grams saying they were staying I their pyjamas all day. Not for me I’m afraid!

Our clothing signals our choice to belong to one social group or another.

Why do men wearing flip flops, other than on the beach, annoy me so much?

If we have enough money to get what we really want to dress in our choices symbolise our attitudes and even in many cases our religious beliefs.

For instance conventional dressing for aspiring professionals such as business people is suits, to the extent these people may be labelled 'suits'. Employers often prefer compliant employees who demonstrate their compliance by wearing e.g. suits . In the olden days restrained hair styles were also de rigueur.

The bee in my bonnet especially in these days of great hygiene is for clothing to be washable with sleeves that can be pushed up for hand washing. This applies notably to school blazers as unsuited to modern schoolchildren.

PS My attitude to how to dress is the polar opposite to that of Twice As Nice. Particularly I abhor the term 'smart'.

Appearances matter for some people - in some jobs. If, however, you are very well qualified and an expert in your field, it no longer applies and you're free to wear whatever you like!

Exactly Hetty!

They matter immensely, for the benefit of the person who has made the effort. Think about those vital services providing help and advice to cancer patients on beauty/ self care, they provide an invaluable boost in wellbeing. We all feel better when we look a little better.

Just come off a Zoom conference call, and would have felt odd not having a smart top and jacket, plus a bit of lipstick. But the bottom half is old jeans and socks with pink hearts on!

Nanna, I agree the decor of the hospital, including uniforms, gives patients confidence. It was a pity for this reason the old fashioned nurses' uniforms cap and aprons and black stockings were replaced.

Ill people are not the same as parents of school children, and unfprtunately many parents need their children to be taught by a teacher who is according to the parents, unconventional.

If I were a parent of a small child I would distrust a teacher who was dressed in a suit and high heels. I'd prefer a teacher in leggings and crop top and trainers.

B9 but Zoom can show the full picture so your pink socks with hearts on have been seen by all!

Last night’s Downton Abbey had Matthew and Robert both forced to wear black tie instead of white tie for a posh dinner party.

Oh, the horror! The shame! I expect it was the talk of the county!

Betty65, not if you're sitting down behind your desk!

I used to mix things up - just to confuse my students. Either I'd dress very formally or very casually (but always clean and tidy) depending on my mood, hormones and the weather. I must admit that I sometimes do judge by appearances, initially, but I see it as a character fault of mine. (I do wish somebody would give Boris some Frizz Ease.)

Neither of my sons has to wear suit and tie unless meeting a client. However their casual office wear is clean and stylish, that’s the point!

Yes Boris' hair has been terribly frizzy since he came back. Perhaps his hairdresser hasn't been able to visit?

I try to dress appropriately and as if I've made an effort when going to the doctor's as I think a drop in standards can be taken a sign of depression or other problems. In other areas I think that presentation does affect attitudes whether we like it or not.

I always wear a full face of make-up for work and going out socially (obviously not socially at the moment), and I wash and blow-dry my hair every day.

I think it's more to do with making myself feel decent. I wear appropriate clothes for my age (60)without looking frumpy. For instance, I wouldn't show my cleavage as I used to 20 years ago, and I don't show off my bingo wings [ grin]
or too much leg (dresses are knee or calf-length).

Granny23 how well I know the “speak to the man”syndrome. I am still rendered speechless with rage when salesmen and tradesmen refuse to deal with me if DH is present!
But also I do know that appearances matter. I was advised by a hospital nurse friend that I would be taken more seriously if I dressed 'smartly' for a hospital appointment.
Same goes for banks, etc.
Not a snob but a realist...

When my youngest daughter left home we went through all her clothes so throw/charity/take. She kept picking up items and saying "you let me go out in THIS", as if I had a chance of stopping her!!! She was always fully covered, no low tops/short skirts but her taste in clothes was appalling. She's a lot better now she has a proper grown up job with the council, power dressing, tights and high heals.