Get up, Dress up...

Say you’re walking through the grocery store late Saturday night. You’re familiar with these kind of trips. You ran out of something essential that you couldn’t live one more night without. You’re there in your sweats and over sized t-shirt, hair up, makeup off, glasses on. Ready to go back to your night of relaxation as soon as this trip is over. You’re probably there to pick up more salsa to snack on with your chips. The mint chocolate chip ice cream that you can’t go one day without satisfying that craving. And don't forget that pack of toilet paper because you are completely out. 

That’s when it happens. You see someone you know grabbing a gallon of milk right in front of you. Before you can turn around they close the glass door and they see you. You make eye contact and you know it’s too late. You can’t pretend you didn’t see them. And there they are, walking towards you looking as if they just got off of a date; your ex.

We’ve alllllll had this happen to us right? It is the natural karma in the world that makes sure that the ONE TIME you run into an ex, you will look as unappealing as possible. I can’t explain why that is, but it’s true. I know in those situations, all I’m thinking about is, why didn’t I wear my jeans instead of sweat pants? Or why couldn't I have kept my makeup on a little longer.? I’m supposed to look HOT when this scenario plays out.

Another example is when you’ve been sick for a few days. You’ve worn the same pajamas for three days straight, stewing in your own filth, and only leaving the couch to refill on ginger ale and saltines. I feel so crummy and gross by the fourth day that I decide to shower and wear something not so sloppy. Soon enough I feel like eating something more, going for a walk outside, cleaning up my pig sty.

We have all had the situations with how the way we dressed helped us feel better or didn't help at all. So is there a real correlation with how we dress with how we act or feel? If we are truly confident then we will feel confident in every scenario, wearing and looking however we do.Well in an ideal world and for someone with perfect confidence, maybe. But realistically, if we were to show up to a party wearing a bunny costume, we wouldn’t feel too confident. Unless you’re Elle Woods.

We’ve all heard the saying, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”

In an article in the Wall Street Journal titled, “Why Dressing for Success Leads to Success” it says, “Using a number of measures, including simulated business meetings at which subjects wore formal and more casual clothing, the studies offer indications that wearing nicer clothes may raise one’s confidence level, affect how others perceive the wearer, and in some cases even boost the level of one’s abstract thinking, the type in which leaders and executives engage.”

A study was done to test this theory. The study put 128 men ages 18-32 with diverse backgrounds and income levels through a role-play sale negotiation scenario. One group wore business suits and dress shoes, while the other group wore sweatpants, white T-shirts, and plastic sandals. These were the results of the study:

Isn’t that so interesting?? The men wearing the nicer clothes send a signal of “being successful and real confident in whatever you’re doing. While those that were dressed casually tended to back down more easily.

Wow, so the way you dress really does have an impact on the way you feel and act.

An article from the Entrepreneur shares 6 actions to build your self-confidence. One of those was to dress the part. “When you look better, you feel better. If you choose clothing and accessories that fit you well, suit your industry and lifestyle, and make you feel good, this will automatically increase your self-esteem. Look like the part you want to play, or in other words, suit up for success. Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine in your accessories. Bold jewelry or a colorful tie can be a focal point and a good conversation starter.”

So I decided to put this theory to test. I work at the hospital as a surgical technician in the operating room. I start work early in the morning and as soon as I’m there I change into scrubs with my hair in a cap. I tend to use this to my advantage that I can go to work in my pajamas, change into essentially surgical pajamas, and then when I’m done change back into my pajamas and hang out in them at home. This works well for someone who doesn’t want to get up a minute sooner than she’d have to.

But this week I tried to take a different approach. The first day I did my regular routine of hair not done, no makeup on, and pajamas to work. The next day was different. I washed my hair and even shaved my legs the night before. Call it excessive but I was going all in on this experiment. I planned an outfit to wear the night before and made sure to get a good night’s sleep. The next morning, I got out of bed with a bit more pep in my step as I went to get ready. I put makeup on, did my hair into a nice braided back pony tail. I put on my outfit and left for work early.

Now, I usually don’t wear makeup to work so when I did I was pretty conscience of it. I may have imagined this but I felt like I said hello to more people and people acknowledged me more in the halls. Every time I got a glance of myself in the mirror I was taken back by how alert and feminine I looked. Which says a lot when you’re wearing scrubs with your hair up. I noticed that I talked more throughout my cases and felt more confident in uncertain situations. I had a really good day at work!

So do you need makeup, fancy jewelry, or trendy clothes in order to be beautiful? Absolutely not. BUT does getting ready and looking your best have an influence on how you FEEL? Absolutely!

If you’re feeling down, gross, unmotivated, or ugly… I’d say a very simple thing to do is get ready. Whether that’s putting on jeans instead of sweatpants for a day. Or applying some mascara to make your eyes pop, or put on a bracelet that you bought on your last trip. Just doing a simple thing to help you perceive yourself in a better light can change how you feel and how others act towards you.

Why Dressing for Success Leads to Success

6 Actions You can Take Every Day to Build Your Self-Confidence