Appearances - do they matter?

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!

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

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.

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?

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!

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

If you are Dom no worries ??

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.

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!

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 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 ??)

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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,

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 !

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”

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!

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 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.

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.

Granny23 'Speak to the man'!

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'.