Dress to impress (yourself)
A few days ago a friend of mine sent me the link to this article on the FT (also featured on the Irish Times) which was commenting on a post in one of the NYTimes blogs. This post generated a lot of discussion because of the suggestion on what to wear when you know you’re going to be fired. In their opinion it should be something that makes you look professional and (still) employable but clearly not your favourite outfit for it would be forever linked to bitter memories.
The FT journalist, after a funny introduction about socks’ etiquette, ends up agreeing with the colleagues at the NYT that in rough times un-essentials become more important. Dressing up and looking the part lifts the spirit, she says.
Why am I telling you this? Not (only) to suggest you keep shopping even in the middle of the worst ever economic downturn, but because while at first I thought it did not apply to me (I was never corporate material, I’m a public employee so (nearly) impossible to be laid off, and in academia people tend to think that what one wears on the job is not very important), I then thought about myself right after giving birth… when nothing fit me, when showering seemed an impossible task, when my hair was anything but glossy and smooth, and everything seemed complicated. I didn’t even want to be photographed with my son, I looked awful. Then I decided to buy some decent clothes of a larger size (so that I could ditch the pregnancy trousers) and a lovely, colourful handbag and I started feeling normal again.
In a way, the same logic from the article applies to women who have just had a baby: do try to make an effort to look nice even if your baby is the only one seeing you that day. As the journalist says… you are the important person to impress!
-Michela
p.s. look who seems to be using knee socks!
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We were just talking about this too and I didn’t even see that NYT article.
Last week my husband got his hair cut and asked his barber how business was. The guy, who works out of a space in between CBS and The Grove here in LA, said he was in a recession proof business. Even when times are tough he said, people want to look good because it makes them feel good.
Me? I’m getting my roots done this Tues. I had planned to chop my long hair off, my 6 mo old keeps using it as a hand hold, but my husband told me he liked it long so I’m keeping it for now.
J
Do whatever is necessary to make you feel good about yourself. The only thing that matters is how you think and feel. If dressing up puts you in a higher vibe then do it as much as possible. Don’t let circumstances alone determine what you will wear.
Impress yourself first and others will naturally be impressed with you.
Ryan
When I don’t feel well I tend to dress in my oldest, least attractive clothes! But when I make the effort to dress well and put some make-up on, I immediately feel better. It certainly works, and I agree, just get some new, cute pieces for after-baby. It makes the difference!
I agree, making a bit of effort to look good certainly makes a big difference in ones mood but sometimes it just seems such a “waste of time” when there are a million other things to do that seems more important and before you notice, it is already late afternoon and not much point anymore. I must try harder…
It’s SO important to dress in a way that makes you feel good…no matter what your “position” is. As a stay at home mom, I know how easy it is to fall into the trap of wearing shlumpy clothes because you can. But, let me tell you, I have rediscovered the joy of “dressing up” and it makes all the difference in the world!
The other day, when I was dropping my daughter off at preschool, her teacher said to me, “Do you work somewhere?” And I said, “No.” And she said, “You always look so pulled together.” And I just said, “I just love dressing up,” smiled and walked off.
You don’t have to go all out…a fun pair of earrings or a cute scarf will suffice…as long as YOU feel good that’s all that matters!