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Or First Impressionism
How important really is what we wear? Is there a cause/effect in how we are treated by the world? Does it make a difference in getting someone to help you in a Department store, or being seated at a good table in a restaurant? Can’t people look through all the superficial and see the real us? Fortunately, guys, we have some scientific evidence to support what you wear does make a difference in how you influence the world around you. Maybe we didn’t want to believe (but suspected) the real reason that guy down the hall who always dressed great, but didn’t know poop is now a vice president! When your credibility is crucial, in situations such as job interviews, court testimony, sales presentations and first dates (or even second and third dates) it is important to made a "good" first impression.
 "You never get a second chance to make a first impression" -- Will Rogers Behavioral scientists tell us that this "first impression" is a
strong one. And the process of sizing you up is on a subconscious/emotional
level of the brain. Your evaluation by a stranger takes 30 seconds or less and
can be so strong that it could take as much as five years to erase. A good example of "how you look being more important than what you say" is the first Kennedy-Nixon presidential debate. Radio listeners thought that Nixon had won while TV watchers gave Kennedy the win. Kennedy looked great, fresh and vigorous while Nixon appeared tired and rumpled. The TV audience gave more credibility to what they saw than what they heard. When I describe someone as an assistant manger at a fast food
restaurant you immediately conjure an image of that person, maybe without much
conscious thought. When I mention a high level executive you get another,
different image in your mind. There is a definite picture of a person with
credibility, authority and power
– a professional image.
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We can do nothing about the first three, but we can work on the next four factors. 4. Bearing This includes height (taller people receive higher starting salaries), head movement (nodding is negative with regard to perception of authority) and body language (smiling is perceived as weakness if over done).
5. Appearance
Since about 90% of you is covered by apparel,
the clothing you choose makes a significant impact. This is such an
important area, and on in which you can effect the greatest impression
we’ll discuss it detail below.
"What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson What you wear makes a difference in how you influence the world. Why not take advantage of this. Since 90% of us is covered with clothing, the clothing you choose makes a significant impact and one area where we can effect the greatest impression! Dressing badly can be taken as contempt for other people or the situation you are in. Clothing is a way to show others that you have respect and consideration for the situation. If you have respect for the theatre, you don’t show up in shorts and a T-shirt to a Broadway play. (The same goes for church, a job interview, etc.). So it’s not a question of being judged. We are judged thousands of times everyday. It’s a question of whether we want to have an affect on that judging or not. Are we ready to see what we can do to present ourselves in the best package to project a credible, professional image? "Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,
Polonius to
Laertes Here are some basic tips, and faux pas to avoid in order to look your best:
2. Shoes are one of the most evaluated elements of men’s wardrobes. Your shoes should be clean, shined, in good repair and appropriate for the occasion. If you are wearing a suit, wear lace-up shoes. Don’t wear the same shoe on consecutive days and keep shoetrees in your shoes when you’re not wearing them.
3.
Trousers
should be long enough
to cover your socks, and socks should cover your shins
even when you cross you legs. Pants are long enough if they have a slight
break in the front. Pleats and cuffs are traditional and functional. Pleats
let you sit down comfortably and cuffs add weight to the bottoms allowing for
proper drape.
7. Ties should reach
your belt line.
This is neither arbitrary nor negotiable. Too short of a tie makes you look like a
rube.
8. Properly
knotted ties have a “dimple” under the knot.
Clips
and tacks are out of date. Single Breasted suits can have one, two, three or more buttons. Two and three button jackets are classic, one or more than three get you into the fashion forward arena, which is more suitable for social events than business. With two button jackets only the top button is fastened. With three button jackets, you can close the middle, or middle and top button. Some suits are made so that the lapels roll to the middle button. On those suits you leave the top button unfastened. Some East Coast hipsters fasten only the top of three buttons! Four or more button jackets may be designed to fasten all the buttons, even the bottom. If the bottom button of a four button can be closed without a noticeable pulling of the fabric, it’s ok to close or leave it open. Double Breasted suits are
the more formal of the two styles and can have four to six buttons with one
or two “to button”. They are often identified by a two-number designation
such as 4/2, 4/1 or 6/2 (also “four to two”). Often only the middle or upper button is secured on a 4/2 or 6/2, but the Duke of Kent started buttoning only his lower button creating a longer diagonal line across his chest giving the wearer a thinner, more dynamic look. Why do men never button the bottom button of your suit, sports jacket, vest or Cardigan sweater? King
Edward VII, “Bertie”, son of Victoria (1841 – 1910, King 1901 - 1910) was so
heavy that he could not get the bottom button fastened on his vest or to be
more historically kind, maybe he just forgot. His subjects taking it as a
fashion statement followed his lead and today most men’s suits, sports
jackets or vests are not designed to button the bottom button. 10. Suit and Sports jackets should fit properly which includes showing ½” of “linen” or shirtsleeve at the jacket sleeve. 11. No pens or pocket protectors in your shirt pocket. Pens go in your suit coat inside pocket, out of sight. Also applies to telephones, etc. worn on the belt. Think about getting a nice briefcase! 12. Hair longer than shoulder length for women and over the ears for men diminishes perception of authority, but increases accessibility. We live in a complex, crowded society where considerate people dress appropriately for various places and occasions. Dressing appropriately is about respect for your fellow humans and our institutions.
"Do the clothes suit you? -- Richard Plourde
Why even be concerned with "fashion"?
-- Coco Chanel (1883-1971), founder of Chanel Men’s
clothing, unlike women’s, is more traditional and less fashion oriented.
It takes several seasons for men’s designers to change even slightly the
width of a necktie.
-- Ralph Lauren, fashion designer So why even bother with fashion? Why not choose acceptable classic clothing items and just stick with those?
“Fashion is a form of
ugliness so intolerable -- Oscar Wilde It’s important to know what the trends are, so you can update your wardrobe periodically with the fashion items IF they fit your own style and body type. You don’t want to still be wearing a light blue member’s only jacket and red polyester Sansabelt pants, do you?
"The only moral one can draw
from history is
-- Carlo Maria Franzero
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