Look Good, Feel Better
Image Courtesy: Strike Tallahassee
I have this black and white fitted hound’s-tooth skirt that I adore. I usually wear it to interviews, and during every interview, I just know I’m going to nail it and get whatever position it is I’m going for. I even call it my “lucky skirt”. So far it has worked, but there’s no way it can just be luck right? I don’t believe in luck, but I do believe that the fashions we wear to influence our communication and performance.
When we dress in a way that makes us feel happy, confident, and the best version of ourselves, we perform better. I try to wake up a little early for class to plan out what I am going to wear. This not only gives me some extra time to feel alert and awake but also an extra boost of confidence throughout the day while I'm wearing something I love. I feel more willing to talk to my professors for help, run errands instead of putting them off, and meet up with friends, partners or coworkers because I know that I look presentable. Even by making just a little more effort in the morning, it feels like I’m giving the world the most accurate reflection of myself.
Starting your day on the right foot can have a huge impact on yourself concept. From a communication perspective, the self-concept is developed through the way that others interact with you, such as family, friends acquaintances or strangers. When you take an extra 30 minutes in the morning or afternoon to pick your outfit for the day, it makes a good impression on those who get to see you, because it’s not something that people normally do. Plus, you will radiate confidence and good vibes in clothes that make you feel great, making you look extra put together. When people see that and you’re taken more, it can have a majorly positive impact on your own self-concept, which can, in turn, make you feel confident in your own skin.
We don’t always have time to wake up early, pick out an outfit and then get all done up, but I believe it’s really important to experiment with every so often to see how it makes you feel throughout the day. It’s not about sporting the fanciest outfits or nicest brands, but just wearing pieces that you love yourself in, and putting that little bit of extra ‘wow’ factor into your presentation can go a long way.
Some of my tips to get into this habit are picking out your outfits the night before to save yourself sometime in the morning, or picking the two to three days out of your week (preferably the ones where you’re the busiest or will see the most people) to wake up early and dress up. You also don’t need to go all out; you could try leggings with a pretty sweater and cute hairstyle, or a simple romper and sandals to look like you know what you’re doing without even having to try.
Strike Out,
Writer: Calista Flores
Editor: Hali Azpeitia
Graphic: Sophie Li
Tallahassee