Men and teenage boys, what do your clothes say about you? The article What Your Clothes Say About You: You Are What You Wear discussed what the clothes women wear says about teenage girls and women, but there is a need to discuss mens clothes and the clothing styles men and boys choose to wear and how society in general views you as a person by what you wear and how you groom yourself.
Just like with women and girls, society does judge you by the clothes you wear. Good or bad first impressions are immediately made about you based solely on the clothes you wear and your personal grooming habits, providing important information about you as a person and your attitude toward yourself and your relationships with others; the importance you place on your work or employment; your approximate education level; your income or social status; your level of self-esteem and morals.
Regardless of the fashion trends you personally find appealing, fashionable and appropriate for your age and personality, clothes do say a lot about you! Ask yourself, “what does my clothing, hairstyle and grooming habits say to those around me? What message am I sending to others I come in contact with? Do my clothes and grooming reveal an attitude of indifference or a sense of responsibility, respect or of disrespect, of carelessness (sloppy dressers are often viewed as a careless person) or of dependability, of honesty or of dishonesty?”
Carefully consider the pictures below of men and teenage boys wearing various clothing styles and ask yourself, Who would be judged the most rebellious? Who doesn’t care about his appearance? Who is the most educated or wealthiest? Who would you not want your daughter or sister to bring home to introduce as her new boyfriend? Who presents themselves as trustworthy, respectable, responsible and hardworking? Who is more likely to be taken seriously and hired by a company looking for a qualified, respectable, trustworthy, likeable person to represent their company with customers? Who is the attention seeker?
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What is it about each person that gives you an immediate impression of who they are and what they’re about, since you’ve never met any of them? Just because you have the freedom to choose the clothes you wear doesn’t take away from the fact that what you wear announces loud and clear what your attitude is about yourself and others around you, what is on your mind and whether you have honorable intentions or not. What you wear and how you groom yourself is a mirror-like reflection of who you are as a person inside, otherwise you wouldn’t wear the clothes and hairstyles you choose to wear. What do YOUR clothes and grooming say about you as a person?
You’re likely familiar with societal labels placed on men and women because of the clothes they wear. Some labels include terms like: trendy, emo, gangster, skank, preppy, ghetto, hip-hop, goth, urban, skater and many more. Take a moment to watch this brief and interesting video interview of young men and women talking about clothes men and women wear and how others view them because of their choice of attire and see if you agree or disagree, or at least understand why they feel the way they do.
The point is that your clothes and grooming habits are critical. Your wardrobe sends a clear message to others, that may well determine your chances of being hired for a job, especially when applying in person. Your clothes can change the personal and professional attention you receive, the kind of people you attract as friends, and even the kind of dates you attract. Whatever bait you use determines the type of fish you’ll catch.
If you are meeting a potential date or the family of your significant other, the clothes you wear and how you groom yourself may very well determine if you will be invited back even before you have a chance to speak. Consciously choose clothing, hairstyles and grooming that shows your true personality and authentic self, without having to say a single word.
Remember, you want your clothes to portray you in the most positive light possible, so select appropriate attire with your personal and professional goals in mind. Dressing for the job you want, not the job you have is critical when seeking to dress to impress a potential employer during a job interview.
Your attire should be noticed as being appropriate and well fitting, but it should not take center stage. Be aware that in some industries, customer contact and image presented to the customer is critical. In such industries, your attire will be judged more critically.
Wear appropriate mens clothing that best shows your interests, personality, and individuality instead of wearing clothing that may promote unnecessary and misleading perceptions about who you really are. Don’t simply focus on current fashion trends and styles of the moment, but shop at stores that project the true image you want to send to those you come in contact with.
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14 responses so far ↓
1 wilson (51 comments.) // Oct 16, 2008 at 5:59 am
Well, Lin. I personally loved the casual wears, but not that kind of wears that have some holes here and there on my jeans!
No matter what clothes you’re wearing, just rememeber not to over do it and wear it according to the occasions!
2 Holly @Husband Clothes (6 comments.) // Oct 16, 2008 at 11:55 am
What a thorough post! It’s so important to dress right, be the situation casual or formal.
It’s really embarrassing when men and women go to the extreme in any way–too revealing, too sloppy, but even too dressy.
It’s especially funny to see pairs–one who’s dressed right, and the other who didn’t…That’s usually my situation:) Maybe I’ll forward this post to my husband to prove that clothes are important in making the right impression. he he
3 display booths (65 comments.) // Oct 16, 2008 at 6:03 pm
hi Lin, I used to think that Crocs (shoes) looked goofy, and, well, still do. Two years ago though I got a pair for wearing “just around the house”. But they’re so comfortable that now I wear them out in public also… I guess I don’t care that much about what people think of my “look”. That said, I am smart enough to know that I’d never wear them on a job interview, and my wife told me “no” for the wedding we attended last weekend (I was joking when I suggested them…) ~ Steve (aka display booths)
4 Lin (1127 comments.) // Oct 16, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Wilson and Holly, dressing for the occasion is very important. It’s comical how some men and women over-dress and vice-versa. The sloppy dressers are the ones that are most annoying. I wonder sometimes if they even own a mirror.
Steve, my boss also loves the Crocs but used to say how ugly they are. He wears his throughout the weekend and says Crocs are very comfortable despite their “ugly” appearance. I’ve not felt the desire to buy any Crocs, comfort or not, simply because they really are ugly. I’d rather wear tennis shoes or sandals.
5 display booths (65 comments.) // Oct 17, 2008 at 9:03 am
Hi Lin, If you’re not wearing Crocs yet, don’t. They remind me of coffee. I didn’t start drinking it until my mid 20’s. Life was just fine before coffee, and I didn’t know what I was missing. Now, I’ve got the “java monkey” on my back and have several cups of the stuff everyday. Can’t imagine life without it. I’ve also got the “croc monkey” on my feet, I guess. So yes, just keep saying no to Crocs…
~ Steve (aka display booths, and self-admitted croc-head)
6 You Are What You Wear: What Your Clothes Say About You | Telling It Like It Is // Oct 18, 2008 at 7:28 am
[…] status, and even your level of self-esteem. What story is your clothes telling about you? (Men, What do your clothes say about you […]
7 Cath Lawson (15 comments.) // Oct 18, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Hi Lin - I hope this posts reaches some of those men who walk round topless in the summer. And also the guys who wear the huge medallion chains with their shirt almost unbuttoned to their belly buttons.
8 Armen Shirvanian (3 comments.) // Oct 19, 2008 at 1:50 pm
It is a big deal that one represents himself externally as he would like to be viewed in a professional sense. Sending the wrong message early on makes it difficult to correct as time passes.
9 Lin (1127 comments.) // Oct 19, 2008 at 6:46 pm
LOL Cath, the visual I just got thinking about men running around on the beach without a shirt (especially those with a not-so-attractive body) brings an ugh……….to mind.
And of course the guys who wear those big chunky gold chains as if they’re a Mr. T wannabe makes me laugh. It’s funny how so many men and especially teenage boys think they look so “cool” dressing the way they do.
10 Lin (1127 comments.) // Oct 19, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Armen, men dressing appropriately is definitely a big deal. Clothing styles for men and boys have a lot of variety, and it’s unfortunate so many young men and boys are wearing clothes that sends the wrong message of who they really are.
11 Rudy (14 comments.) // Oct 20, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Depending on the weather, I dress appropriately. I like to be comfortable too, so that’s a must. In the hot summer I like to wear my golf attire. In the winter, I usually wear a vest and light jacket.
Don’t shoot me, but I also like to wear a suit and tie.
12 Lin (1127 comments.) // Oct 20, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Hi Rudy, dressing nicely doesn’t have to mean giving up comfort as well. Golf attire is a heck of a lot nicer than these guys running around with their baggy-saggy clothes and showing their boxers in public. Now that’s rather gross.
Personally, I like a man who knows how to dress nicely even when in casual clothes or jeans. I’m all for a “sharp dressed man”, even if it simply means a nice, pressed shirt and pressed slacks.
13 Girl Person // Dec 14, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Regardles of where I’m going school, work, dance. I always dress dress casual. As a woman. I just love that style. ANd I love guys who dress, dress casual, some prep, and in polo shirts. I’m black, so most don’t expect that of me. But I love it so..too bad.
14 Lin (1127 comments.) // Dec 14, 2008 at 8:25 pm
GP, I really think that if guys were to do a poll of women and girls about the clothes they were, most guys would be shocked to find that most women and girls prefer a guy who dresses well. Not necessarily in suits and ties all the time, but a nice clean appearance as opposed to a sloppy dresser.
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