Growing up with a professional businesswoman like my mother, dressing for success was something I became aware of at a young age, often hearing the phrase, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”
Waking up at 7 a.m. to the sound of high heels clomping down the hallway leading to a loud knock on my bedroom door was a common occurrence. There stood my mother, fully dressed in designer work attire, always outfitted with matching shoes and handbags, informing me that it was time to wake up for school.
As a child, I didn’t fully comprehend the effort and skill it takes to put together a cohesive outfit that represents your career goals and personality, but I was one of those children lucky enough to have that skill passed down.
In today’s society, there is little question that appearance matters, especially with social media reaffirming the notion with every scroll and like. Online, it’s important to look polished for your followers and future employers who could be reviewing your page.
But what would it look like if we put our best clothes on in our everyday lives, not just to show on social media? As you’re heading to work, church or class, it’s important your attire reflects your career and life goals, especially as a young professional in college preparing to enter the workforce.
According to Princeton University researchers, it only takes a tenth of a second to make a first impression. Yes, you read that correctly. Their study showed judgments based solely on appearance, which are formed around attractiveness, likeability, competence, trustworthiness and even aggressiveness all within the first moments of meeting someone, and those opinions are difficult to change.
To put it plainly, clothing matters. Whether you realize it or not, with every interaction you’re representing yourself through your facial expressions, body language and attire.
TV shows like “What Not to Wear” proved that dressing for success enhances relationships, job opportunities and overall impressions made in daily life. By making some wardrobe and minor appearance changes, the show hosts Stacy London and Clinton Kelley were able to show their participants and viewers that putting effort into your appearance boosts confidence and success.
Showing up to important events in wrinkly, immodest or baggy clothing could send signals that you’re unmotivated and undisciplined. Don’t just change your way of dressing because of how others see you but understand that it changes how you think and perform.
“Enclothed cognition,” a study done by researchers Hajo Adam and Adam D. Galinsky, proved that clothing tied to meaning improves focus and confidence. The researchers ran three experiments with the prediction that wearing a lab coat would improve performance on tasks that required strong attention to detail. Through their experiments, they found that describing the garment from a place of authority — like a doctor’s coat — increased attention and quality of work compared to when they described the garment as a painter’s coat.
I believe this study shows that wearing certain clothing allows the wearer to adopt an identity that naturally influences how someone thinks and behaves. What we wear not only has power over others but also over ourselves.
My mother’s influence on my style and professionalism set me up for success long before I was able to appreciate it. If you’re a young professional searching for a job, spouse or even a better grade, I encourage you to be intentional with your efforts. Dressing for success is not a myth; it’s a science, and it can influence your future.
Riden is the campus news editor for the Liberty Champion.