What Can You Tell About a Person from Their Appearance?

The Book and The Cover

Can you judge a book by its cover?

For some people, looks are the most important issue when making a connection with a potential partner.

For others, they look towards signals such as a sense of humor and sensitivity to judge whether a person has potential.

I’ll discuss what your appearance says about you and how you can use this to your advantage.

So What’s It Say?

What does your appearance say about you?

Whether we want to accept it or not, we live in a society in which image is everything. The way we present ourselves, from the clothes that we wear to our hairstyle and even how we smell, are all major players in how someone will perceive us at the first meeting.

Visual signals can give away people’s personality traits, and, if we’re completely honest with ourselves, we’ve all been guilty as charged at some point or other of reinforcing the old adage ‘to judge a book by its cover’ on a more than frequent basis.

This non-verbal communication is just as important as what comes out of our mouths.

In fact more so in a lot of ways, because whether it’s right or wrong, this can set a precedent for how people judge us. Of course, it’s what’s on the inside that matters. However, many of us believe that the way we present ourselves on the outside speaks volumes about exactly that.

Looks matter to everyone, from your love interests to a job interviewer.

It can be a harsh reality of life, but if your clothes are crumpled, your hair disheveled, and shoes scuffed you may be about to bomb at that job interview or maybe not get asked on a second date.

Dress for Success

When it comes to career advancement in the workplace, it should be your skills that make you shine.

Your image can also speak volumes about your work ethic and level of professionalism.

According to one US study, 95% of employers said a jobseeker’s personal appearance affected their opinion of the applicants’ suitability for the job.

A whopping 91% said they believed dress and grooming reflected the applicant’s attitude towards the company and 61% said it had an effect on subsequent promotions.

So, it seems that sending your sharp suit to the dry cleaners, taking iron to your shirts, and thoroughly polishing shoes will win out on any day. I’m a firm believer that what you wear on the outside reflects your personality and aims.

So if put in the effort when dressing for that job interview, your future employer will see that the effort and execution are a reflection of dedication to high-quality work.

The Psychology of Dress

It’s a fact.

As endless ‘makeover’ TV programs testify, changing your image can change your life for the better.

You can use your wardrobe to change how others perceive you – and even how you think about yourself.

This has been referred to as ‘the psychology of dress’ – a powerful tool that can be both empowering and damaging in equal measures.

Choosing the right clothes for a situation (and your age), avoiding any obvious fashion faux pas (guys ‘socks with sandals’ ahem!), and generally taking pride in your appearance will not only create a positive first impression, but it’ll also be a real confidence builder for you, whatever the situation.

Nobody expects you to be packaged into something you’re not, but your appearance is a reflection of your own self-esteem and you should aim to do your personality some justice by portraying yourself in the best light.

I strongly believe that projecting confidence can grow to genuine confidence.

What To Do With The Knowledge

So how can you and I take these facts and lessons into our everyday life?

I don’t think anyone expects you to dress like something you’re not. That doesn’t make sense. Feeling comfortable in your own skin is really important, it means we can be ourselves and not feel alien to our friends, family, and colleagues.

[Tweet “Always feel comfortable in your own skin”]

What is important is making that effort.

My school teachers used to tell me “If you try hard, you have a better chance of succeeding”, and they were right.

Going that little bit further or working a little bit harder at something pays dividends.

This applies to many areas of life, including the way we dress.

Speak Your Mind, With Your Opinion

Nice to see you made it to the end of the post. Here’s what you can do next:

• How have you been judged by your appearance?
• Should you really care what others think?
• Click one of the Share buttons – your friends can then enjoy this article too.

And thanks for reading too – Let us know your thoughts in the comments.