Why You Should Package Yourself (Dress) As A Professional

Have you ever heard the saying; “Wear great clothes. You never know whom you’ll meet!”? Well, you should live by this saying.

You can’t communicate. Everything you do makes some kind of statement. The fact that a lady wears a business suit and not jeans and a tee shirt when she travels sends a message.

The old saying, “You can’t judge a book by its cover” may be true, but book jacket and product packaging designers around the world have created an industry betting that people do judge and purchase products based on how they look. And career counsellors still advise their clients to dress for the job they want – not the job they currently have. Counsellors know that people are evaluated by their appearance, and they want their clients to gain a nonverbal advantage by already “looking the part.”

Clothes make a strong visual statement about how you see yourself. Comfort may aid productivity but, in this era where your looks define you, are flip-flops, sweats, jeans, and flashy or revealing clothing part of how you want to be judged? You might think you are expressing your individuality, but you could also be sending the message that you’re not a serious professional.

Clothing has an effect on both the wearer and the observer. It has been proven that people are more likely to give money (charitable donations, tips) or information to someone if that person is well dressed. And if you ever watch actors in a play go through their first dress rehearsal, you’ll see firsthand the amazing transformation that becomes possible only when people dress for the part.

Experiment with your appearance. Notice how people react to you when you wear certain colours or styles. Then, based on those reactions and your career goals, you can make an informed decision about how you want to “package” yourself.