Appearances - do they matter?

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.

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.

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

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.)

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.

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

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”.

Who decides what is appropriate though.

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.

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.