Appearances Matter

Appearances matter. Period.

In the movie Hancock starring Will Smith, Ray (Jason Bateman) informs Hancock (Smith) that he needs to put on a uniform. Of course, Hancock objects to the idea. Ray explains that a uniform represents purpose. Wearing a uniform was not just a practical joke employers started implementing to make their employees look silly (except for maybe Hot Dog on a Stick). Uniforms are the appearance of the company, and the company wants to communicate a message instantaneously with that appearance.

So whether you want to believe it or not, communication takes place by what you choose to wear. If it didn't, then why do we dress certain ways for certain events? I bet everyone knows the answer to these questions:

To a job interview, men wear a: _______________
To their prom, men wear a: ___________________
To their prom, women wear a: ________________
Lawyers wear: _____________________________
Doctors wear: _____________________________
Policemen wear: ___________________________
Firemen wear: _____________________________
Professional sports teams wear: _______________

See how we know most if not all the answers to these questions? It's because in these industries or events, people want to communicate messages. Each message is different. Policemen communicate that they are here to protect and serve you, to fight crime. Firemen wear a uniform not only to protect them, but to say that they are trained and willing to risk their lives to save yours. Lawyers want to convey that they are professionals who know how to handle your case. How much business would a firm do if they all wore t-shirts around their office and polos to court? Not as much.

It's not just clothing, either. Appearance has to do with everything: how you cut your hair, whether or not you shave, whether you use glasses or contacts, etc. Everyone accepts the fact that body language says a lot about you. Well, appearance works the same way. In both instances you're communicating a message to others. So don't get upset when people don't hire you for a job because you came in wearing shorts, a t-shirt, and sandals. "Oh, but they shouldn't judge me... I can do the job, I'm qualified, they shouldn't judge me based on what I wear." No, YOU told them that this is what you deem your level of professionalism to be. You think either so much of yourself or so little of them that you fully expected to obtain a job position based on your unknown qualities, at least to the employer, already expecting them to ignore the fact that you're not willing to convey the message to them that you will do your best for that company. You couldn't even dress your best for the interview!

I bet when you go out on a date, you look a little bit nicer, don't you? Why is that? Because (guys) you don't want to communicate to your date that you're a slob, that you don't know how to dress (although that may be communicated anyway), and that you're not willing to look nice just for her benefit. Granted, a lot of guys don't actually do this very well, but women are fine enough creatures to overlook certain things (not everything). Don't believe me? Show up, without informing her, to her house on prom night in sweat pants and a wife beater. Look at her face when she opens the door. Better yet, look at her parents faces when they first see you. Hopefully you're not dating a girl whose dad is a drunken gun owner.

Ladies? If you go out on a date showing the guy everything he wanted to see later that night anyway, don't be surprised if he only talks to you in the future when he wants a booty call. That's what you told him on your date; it's not really his fault. You communicated the idea that you're easy, and you're not willing to make him wait for something that's worth the waiting. One sign of maturity is that you're willing to delay pleasure. When it comes to dating, sometimes guys need help with that. Guys don't want to marry the hooker; they don't bring her home to meet their parents. So give him a small preview on your date, but don't let him see the whole movie. Plus, you can probably get some more free dinners and drinks out of him first, anyway.


I'm not really a fan of art, but I think fashion can be thought of as human art. You get to live in it. You get to show your creative side. I don't really have one of those, but I do appreciate those who try to share that with others, like Lady Gaga. She looks crazy and weird and dresses beyond absurd at times, but she does that with a purpose. She wants you to see her art, her creativity, her idea of what fashion can look like.

For a really cool explanation on fashion and why that matters, watch the Devil Wears Prada and listen to Meryl Streeps lecture to Anne Hathaway as well as Stanley Tucci's comments to her. Changed my view on fashion.

I used to think people shouldn't judge me by what I wear. I was wrong. In fact, people aren't judging me by what I wear: I'm telling them! So really, people just internalize what you already tell them by your appearance. Make sure you communicate the right message to them, especially for a job interview, especially in this economy.