Every morning we wake up and start getting ready for the day before us. Most people take care in deciding what to wear, especially if you’re heading to work. Our physical appearance says a lot about who we are, whether we like it or not. An individual who comes to work with messy hair and wrinkled clothes looks unorganized and lazy, whereas someone who is well put together will be perceived as professional and diligent in their work. These assumptions may be untrue, but nevertheless fashion gives the world an imposing impression of who you are.

The environment you are going into plays a large part in deciding on the proper attire. If you are interviewing for a business position, you probably don’t want to show up in a T shirt and jeans. If you’re going out for a night on the town, wearing a full suit and tie may not give others the impression you want. The formality or casualness in which you dress depend on the situation.

According to an article on lifehacker, “Formal suits aren’t always the way to go. Research shows that people who wear more daring outfits are perceived as more attractive and individual, which could be advantageous in more creative industries. Casual dress can also be more persuasive, depending on your audience. In 2010, a female experimenter reported that students were far more diligent in following her detailed instructions when she was dressed casually (like they were), as opposed to smart and professional…

 

As an example of how simple clothing changes can affect the perceived notions of others, look at the image below:

Do you see how something as simple as hemming the sleeves on her blazer changes this woman’s appearance? In the left image she looks nervous, uncomfortable and less confident. In the right image, with her sleeves altered, she looks friendly, outgoing and confident! Such a simple change but it made a huge difference.

According to another article on Time Management Ninja, there are several ways your attire affects your overall work productivity:

  • “Professional Appearance – People like to work with/do business with people who look professional. It is in our nature as visually driven beings. It can give ease and a sense of trust. It’s hard to be taken seriously if you look like you just rolled out of bed and are wearing what you wore yesterday.
  • Shows Organization – Dressing professionally signals that you have your stuff together and are organized. If your clothes are clean, pressed, and professional, it shows that you went the extra effort to be prepared.
  • Affects Your Reputation – Simply put, your appearance affects your reputation. While we would like to think that everyone is judged solely on their performance, the truth is that you will be judged on your appearance, as well. You don’t need to wear fancy clothes or have an expensive wardrobe. But, you will want to dress professionally for your job or industry.
  • Confidence Builder – When you feel good about your appearance, you feel good about yourself. Confidence can make a marked difference in how you hold yourself and present yourself in front of others.“

 

What are you trying to sell your customers on with your apparel company? Are you presenting them with one particular style or a multitude of options for any occasion? Are your customers making a statement by wearing your products? Take into consideration the design of your business and its products. This affects the types of people you are going to attract with your brand. Understanding your customer base and what they want will help you market your products and may even give you new ideas!

 

Sincerely,

OmniPrint International