Creating a niche through dressing

Your appearance speaks volume. Clothing affects first impressions people have of you. The way you dress is the way you are addressed. Often, before you shake hands with anyone, you check out their appearance. We tend to rely on people’s appearances to speak for their personalities.

One’s attire is one of the first things noticed by others and first impressions are long-lasting. Dressing can help improve people’s reactions to you. Society is visually-based and better-dressed people routinely experience better treatment and service than their sloppier counterparts.

Clothing serves as a substitute for character in the eyes of people who don’t know you well enough. Appearance may not mean much to you but, it does to the people who see you every day, making it worth caring about.

Caring for your appearance will make you a more responsible individual. You wind up keeping track of detailssuch as which shoes need to be shined and which clothes need to be ironed. It reinforces mental habits of attention to detail and planning ahead that translate usefully into any career or skill.

It doesn’t matter what kind of job you do or if you’re your own boss — if you’re well dressed, you can step away from work and into a meeting with a client, customer or supervisor without advance preparation. Having the casual, day-to-day presentation to step into any situation and look respectable is a huge advantage in the working world.

When choosing clothes, have in mind when and where you will be wearing them to. For example, you can’t wear gym clothes to the office or wedding ceremony. Different events call for different outfits.

Accessories depend on what you are wearing and your lifestyle. Accessories aren’t limited to jewellery. A cute scarf or belt can look more appealing than a python of necklaces wrapped around you.

When choosing hairstyles, keep yourself updated with current styles. Not all hairstyles suit everyone.

Don’t force yourself to be anything you’re not. It’s very important that your clothes accentuate who you really are. Just make sure that you’re not wildly inappropriate or projecting an image that doesn’t do you justice. It’s good to wear clothes that reflect your interests, but avoid being a walking advertisement for a brand, a sports team or musicians.

Avoid wearing clothes that display offensive or sarcastic statements. You will be more attractive if you project a positive image to the world. Try not to look like you’re wearing a costume or uniform.

You don’t need to have an ideal body to look good in what you’re wearing. Clothes can make a big difference in how your body looks and can give the illusion that you are taller or thinner than you are.

Fit is more than just size. The fit is the most important aspect of any article of clothing. No matter how cool the style is, if it doesn’t fit you, do not wear it. Look at how the clothes you try on make your body look and be flexible when it comes to size. In one store you may be a medium, but in another you may be a large.

Find a good tailor. Often clothes off the rack simply don’t fit, but can be made to fit with simple adjustments.

Colours on your clothes reflect onto your skin, eyes, hair and depending on your particular features, some colours will be more flattering than others. Colours can also improve your mood; and wearing colours that are a bit trendy can help you look current.

Experiment with different colours and find ones that suit you best. A good colour should make your skin look healthy, not pale, blotchy or sickly.

Opt for high quality materials and sturdy construction. You don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money, but always look for quality. Plan to spend more money on more important pieces and less money on trendy items or things you will wear through quickly, such as T-shirts.

Remember, people see you before they hear you; your appearance speaks volume.