Dressing Well, An Investment In Your Future

“Dressing well is an investment in your future. Dress sharp. Look sharp. Be sharp.”- Rick DePanicis

First impressions are an essential part of any profession and it pays to invest in a well-tailored suit. Studies show that you have only seven seconds to make a first impression and a well-tailored suit makes a statement. The perfect fit, matching shirt, tie, and shoes says something about a person and people notice.

In a study completed at Yale in 2014 that used 128 men between the ages of 18 and 32, researchers had participants partake in mock negotiations of buying and selling. Those dressed poorly (in sweatpants and plastic sandals) averaged a theoretical profit of $680,000, while the group dressed in suits amassed an average profit of $2.1 million. The group dressed neutrally averaged a $1.58 million profit.

Business professional attire has certain requirements, however, you can exceed those requirements without being overdressed. It is also important to remember that you would rather be overdressed than underdressed in any professional situation.

A new CareerBuilder.com survey reports that 41 percent of employers state that people who dress better or more professionally tend to be promoted more often than others in their organization.

Dressing well not only helps you with first impressions it also helps you after that first impression. A paper in August 2015 in “Social Psychological and Personality Science” asked subjects to change into formal or casual clothing before cognitive tests. Wearing formal business attire increased abstract thinking—an important aspect of creativity and long-term strategizing.

Based on several studies dressing well helps cognitive energy which will help in any professional realm.

If there is anything to take away from it is just to be prepared, and that starts with the way you look. If you look good, you’ll feel good and you’ll do good.