Appearances - do they matter?

Back in the 1970s I was teaching in a primary school and we had the 3 day week. Sometimes the school could get very cold and we ladies asked permission from the head to wear trousers. No female teacher had ever worn trousers to school before. Nor do I think the girl pupils ever did. I sometimes visit a local primary school and had we teachers turned up at school in the 1970s wearing what teachers wear today we would have been sent home! I still have the notion of Sunday clothes for church a few of which I wouldn't usually wear during the week. I've always tried to look smart and make an effort and it made me feel professional and more confidant when I gave talks before I retired.

I think clean, tidy and appropriate are my keywords. I wouldn't go to a parents' evening in tracksuit bottoms, but when I am gardening they are practical. Wash my hair every day, make sure there are no holes/stains on clothes and I am happy. As an aside, when I worked in London at City Hall I used the same hairdresser that Boris sometimes used when he was Mayor of London. He told me that Boris always left the salon looking impeccable, and then he'd see him on the TV later that evening looking like he'd been dragged through a hedge backwards!!!! Deliberate "style message", I think..............

It shouldn’t matter about looks and appearance ...but it does!

EllanVannin

Dress code of female teachers when I was at primary school were thick tweeds, lisle stockings and brogues. Suits for the men and a moth-eaten cap and gown worn by the headmaster, who looked like a character from a Will Hay film.
The PE teacher looked positively skimpy in PE skirt and tee shirt

Ditto! There were no men but the Headmistress wore her gown.

Divided skirts (like culottes) for the gym mistresses.

Business suits are usually required of business people or their minions. GPs have to reassure patients and so they try to not look frightening either too conservative or too adventurous.
Teachers have to please parents who are often conventional people who would not be impressed by a teacher who dressed with imagination and a sense of adventure.

Social norms make a prison house the pity of it is many people don't see it.

When I started teaching in the 70's The head teacher said that women teachers could not wear trousers. The lady staff members refused to wear mini skirts, which was then the fashion, so we took to wearing long(er) skirts. Chauvanism and sexism was not acceptable to us. We soon went back to wearing more practical trousers.

I remember hearing a talk on radio 4 by the late Rabbi Lionel Blue, who often did "Thought for the Day".

He said that for most of his life he had never bothered about his appearance but when he realised that he was looking old and pretty dreadful he started to make much more of an effort because he thought he owed it to everyone else not to look so ghastly.

Dress code of female teachers when I was at primary school were thick tweeds, lisle stockings and brogues. Suits for the men and a moth-eaten cap and gown worn by the headmaster, who looked like a character from a Will Hay film.
The PE teacher looked positively skimpy in PE skirt and tee shirt

I like clothes so it maters to me what I wear and that my hair is tidy and I have some make up on. What others do is up to them.

It’s a sign of your self respect I think - dressing nicely makes you feel better, you project yourself to others as on top of things and confident, and we judge other people who don’t because it’s a sign that they don’t respect themselves.

I live on a narrow boat. I see boaters on boating forums boasting tgat tgey don't iron their clothes as there is no need. Sorry...It doesn't matter what the clothes are or where you bought them from they should be pressed. There is no excuse for not taking pride in your appearance. I iron everything.

In some cases I think things have turned around completely.

A lot of young men and women seem to care more about their appearance than anything else.

The influence seems to come from the likes of 'the Kardashians' and their ilk, who seem to live the most pointless and worthless lives but their influence on a whole generation is phenomenal!

In my work in recruiting I have found that very heavy 'face sculpting' makeup, dazzling white teeth, fantastically styled hair and designer gear can be extremely detrimental as it gives the impression that appearances matter more to the job applicant than their ability to to the job!

I'm also with Pinkcakes. I think it's to do with the self-confidence dressing well (even in jeans and a T) gives me. I wouldn't wear undies that didn't match, although no one can see them, it just feels right. It makes me feel good about myself every day.

I once worked with a professional woman who was one of the the kindest people I knew. She had a Hattie Jacques physique with a very ample bosom. Most days, you could guess what she had for breakfast or lunch as it was often smeared down her front. Most days there was also a smudge of toothpaste. At least she cleaned her teeth!

I do wonder sometimes if the way we present ourselves reflects our personality. For instance saw BJ yesterday giving a TV interview. Shirt rumpled, collar crinckled, tie skew wiff. Same with Dominic Cummings. Kind of goes with the "lets wing it" philosophy.

I think appearance is location specific. At work, I mostly wear professionalish dress. Not completely, because I'm an active teacher and have to be able to move a lot. But pearls, nice, smart dress, opaque tights always and smart shoes (not heels anymore, because I'm older and as I said, active in the classroom).

In my personal life, clean yes. But I don't care other than that. If I'm not somewhere smart, or going out out, I dress comfortably. No make up. And I don't care what other people think.

I try not to judge others, but I do at times.

IMHO people judge you by your appearance and by what you wear. Sometimes this can be important.

Years ago when DH was a lowly Estate Officer for a local authority he always wore a suit plus shirt and tie to work.
One day he went to visit a tenant and their social worker (female) turned up. She was wearing a t-shirt, floor-length skirt and denim bomber jacket.

DH had to be firm with the tenant about his rent arrears. When the social worker reacted by saying he was being unfair the tenant turned on her and said "When Mr X comes to visit me he shows me respect by dressing in a suit but you look like you're on your day off..."!!!

Some things never change!

I think it depends on where you are. In central London, No one seems to notice or care what you're wearing apart from the very conservative banking and legal systems, but go out of London and appearances become an issue! It's wrong though!

Not quite the same I know but when I was a teenager my Dad used to joke that I had to change into my jodhpurs to phone the local riding school to book a lesson! I'm not even sure if this was true or not.

Poppyred
I am one of those who don't care a jot what people wear. Their life their choice

This reminds me of my dear dad, whenever he went to the Drs he would put a shirt tie and jacket on ( bless him). It is obviously a generation thing as my ex father in law does the same.

I think if you show you care about yourself by wearing clean clothes, and brushing your hair then yes, appearances do matter. I have nothing against younger people wearing what they like, but not in a working environment. I have shoes that are comfy but won't wear them outside the house. What are all these makeovers about in any case, but making the best of what you have with a few tweaks.

Sadly true Lovebeige

Many years ago, DH took time out from work ( bank manager ) to accompany DD to a hospital appointment. He was wearing work clothes ie smart suit, shirt and tie, and, as always, highly polished shoes. As DD required surgery, one of the first questions that the consultant asked was, " Do you have private health insurance?" In actual fact, we did, through his job, but we had forgotten all about it. DD did have the surgery in a private hospital, as a result. If DH hadn't ' looked the part ', this probably wouldn't have happened.
PS I think appropriate footwear is important, and I probably do make judgements re this, at times. Hate to see flip flops or mucky shoes worn along with smart clothes. Just a personal opinion.

I remember DS getting a telling off from his music teacher {who was an unconventional individual to say the least) "If I can make the effort to turn up at school on time and properly dressed so can you!" Not certain it had much effect on DS but you can't win them all.