There’s something to be said about dressing well. When you dress well, you feel good, and when you feel good, you feel confident. Confidence can go a long way.
It goes without saying that the value of a person has nothing to do with their appearance or the clothes that they wear. According to multiple studies, however, the way a person is perceived and treated is directly influenced by those factors. Research shows that the way you look and carry yourself can heavily influence the level of respect you receive, the extent that people trust you, and your potential career advancement.
One study from the Center for Talent Innovation (CTI) in New York polled 4,000 college-educated professionals and 250 business executives to gather their thoughts on appearance, communication skills, and presence. Of those surveyed, 83% indicated that unkempt attire detracts from a woman’s “executive presence,” and 76% indicated that it detracts from a man’s. (For the purpose of this article, we’re not going to dive into the clear double standard and focus on what you can do ensure your presence isn’t compromised, regardless of your gender.)
If this is stressing you out, don’t worry. We’re here to help with these tips for appearing polished:
Only wear clean clothes
‘Great advice Rinse! Never would have thought of that’… Well, trust us. We’ve seen it. It needs to be said because we’ve all done it. Many people think they can get away with wearing something that only shows a stain in a certain light, or wearing the same pair of pants multiple days in a row. Research shows, people aren’t letting it slide.
Remove wrinkles
“Sloppyness” seems to be the kiss of death in terms of how others perceive you, and nothing can earn you that title like wrinkled clothes. Dress shirts and blouses will come back from the dry cleaner freshly pressed, but it is important to neatly fold or hang your t-shirts and other clothing, as soon as it is out of the dryer-- or commit to ironing. If you’re traveling, most hotels will have an iron in the room, but remember you can always request one from the front desk.
Be respectful of dress codes and suggested attire
If you’re attending a formal event, for the love of dry cleaning, do not wear shorts. If you’re a little rusty on the difference between black tie and black tie optional, or what cocktail attire means for a man, don’t worry -- just read our guide to decoding dress codes.
Although you may not feel like putting the effort in every morning (honestly, who does?), just remember that a polished appearance is not only scientifically-proven to benefit you, it also shows respect for the people around you.
If you are pressed for time or want to pursue hobbies other than ironing, Rinse personally picks up, professionally cleans, and hand delivers your clothing to your door. We offer Dry Cleaning and Launder & Press, Wash & Fold, and Hang Dry services so you never have to do laundry again.
So next time you get dressed, choose clothing that helps you exude confidence and accurately reflects who you are and how you want others to view you. No matter what, remember that who you are is defined by your thoughts, actions, and character-- looking your best is just a tool to help people see that sooner.
