Everyday people are constantly attempting to understand the problem of stereotyping and the habit of judging each other. It's sad to say it, but appearances do matter. Of course, personality is the most important part of each person but the problem is, is its not so easy to see. Clothes do play a big part of defining a person's appearance. That is why it is so important to choose your attire wisely in certain situations you may be in. For example, if I had an interview for a bank job, I would never go in wearing torn jeans and a messy t-shirt. It gives off the impression that I'm unprofessional and a big slob. Of course if I'm just hanging out with a couple of friends, that outfit might seem cool or in fashion to them. The clothes you wear and where you wear them do send out different messages to different people.
What you wear can create a big impact on one's opinion of you. It sets off a general message to the public and sometimes it may be the wrong message. I'm a hostess at a restaurant and one day these two police officers in uniform came in to talk to my manager. Later on that night they came in again but in casual outfits. I greeted them like all the other customers and went on working. They stood in front of me for a few minutes until they finally asked me, "do you not recognize us?" I was so shocked how because of a change of clothes, I didn't realize who they were. Police uniforms are a great example on clothing setting the wrong message. To many, if you see someone in a police uniform you try to act more cautious around them because of the fear of getting into trouble. However, not all police officers are by the book, mean, enforcers. Some of them do let you slide every once in awhile because they understand that everyone does make mistakes every now and then. But because of their outfit, the general public automatically assumes that if there are police around, then they're probably trying to give out tickets.
Like what you wear at interviews or just hanging out with friends, the rhetoric of your clothes differs in certain situations. Take for example, at church and your senior prom. You wouldn't wear your prom dress to Sunday church, nor would you wear your Sunday dress to prom. In each social setting you try to send a certain message with what you have on. At prom, it would probably be trying to be the most glamorous or stunning. At church, it would probably be the most defined and humble.
Although "judging a book by its cover" is never the best thing to do when first meeting someone, it is actually the easiest thing to do. What you wear does automatically define you. You could be sending a good or bad message through your clothes, but that opinion is in the hands of others.
