How we dress matters
Advent
I have been held spellbound by fashion since my late teens, always pored over magazines as I was. There is something about a well-dressed woman, isn’t there?
The fixation we have with the apparel of princesses as well as all things couture and fashion isn’t a phenomenon for nothing; they have always fascinated little girls. Seems older “girls” too. Royal watchers obsess, best dressed lists are the staple of awards seasons and the well-heeled, versed and dressed among us are revered just a little, wouldn’t you agree?
Dressed for the London office
In my mind’s eye as I write, recollections of an account manager lithely sauntering though our London office years ago pop up. Like an evanescent, seemingly ethereal being gliding by on high heels, she revealed my own inadequacy. I felt so dowdy beside her.
The epitome of well put together, she was clad in her power pantsuit ironed to perfection, while an intoxicating scent, Dior?, permeated the air, and glisteningly healthy hair elevated her look. She appeared strikingly confident and looked like the proverbial million dollars. Whether her work was of the same standard, I do not know.
I have always wondered whether there is a connection between how we dress, how we perceive ourselves and how others perceive us. Does it matter in the bigger scheme of things? After our collective experience during lockdown, we now know the wonder of comfy as a sartorial choice, which took a decidedly comfy bent on the job at the time, didn’t it?
Perks of wearing a tracksuit
As those still privileged to work from home attest, being able to wear a tracksuit during meetings frees up the time to actually prepare and puts less stress on already chock-full schedules. I know from some remote workers that this works perfectly well.
However, I have to point out that when in-person meetings do occur, effort is still exerted to ensure that professionalism is maintained. Is how we dress also not an expression of our respect for each other? I suppose I am referring to dressing appropriately aren’t I?
Garments matter
The Bible, too, has wisdom to espouse, apropos for the topic.
The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.
Genesis 3:21
Since that day in the garden when God clothed Adam and Eve, wearing clothes has been important. Furthermore, various other Scriptures exhort us to be aware of how we present ourselves and caution us to wear the right garments. Some garments are figurative, of course, but it reflects an aspect of what we choose to wear, display, etc. The Scriptures below shed more light.
I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes …
1 Timothy 2:9
From the Scriptures quoted above, it is clear that the Bible has a standard for how we are to present ourselves. It matters to God. Not that we are fashionistas or spend a fortune on clothes but rather that we represent his kingdom as ambassadors. The requirement is not opulence; our clothes simply have to be modest, clean, neat and tailored to suit our bodies.
Looking presentable
Dressing well has always been a bane in my life. Years ago, dashing all over the place and running to fulfil responsibilities, I found myself looking unkempt. Was looking dishevelled a bad look for a Christian? For an employee, solopreneur or small business owner? Was it attractive? Looking haggard never is.
I have since learned that making effort pays off. One never regrets it. I know first-hand that ensuring that my nails are polished sans smudges, my hair clean, my outfit thoughtfully put together – all these things help me to feel secure in my environment.
Free from feelings of inadequacy, it allows me to engage with the people I have surrounded myself in an edifying way. It ensures that my interactions are so much more meaningful. My lived experience has shown me that effort with my appearance matters.
It proves my grandmother 100 per cent right and she was a real stickler for taking the trouble with one’s appearance. She definitely knew a thing or two that I had been oblivious to.
How clothes influence behaviour at work
A Forbes article published in February this year clarified the issue for me.
“The researchers look less at how our clothes make others perceive us but instead at how our clothes make us think about ourselves and behave at work. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the researchers found that when we feel good about how we look, we perform better in our work.
“The results show that when employees felt like they looked good and that their clothing was unique in some way, this resulted in them having higher self-esteem, which itself made them more productive and more likely to hit their goals. A similar boost was found when clothes helped workers to fit in with any office norms, but this boost only emerged when employees interacted regularly with one another.
Corporate attire in sunny South Africa
If I may, I would like to take you along, back onto memory lane, to a different time entirely.
The standards for corporate attire in South Africa (SA) had never been held to as rigid a standard as say London’s city workers. Our former president, Nelson Mandela, had really disrupted formal work attire with what is now known as Madiba shirts.
Strict dress codes for work were being debated and relaxed right, left and centre in the 2000s. I worked for a reputable insurance company that prided itself on providing excellent service to customers. It is one of the things that I value to this day; the work ethic and commitment to excellence.
Unfortunately, a lax attitude seemed to permeate the office, seeping into the very fabric of some employees’ work notably the younger among us. The correlation between work ethic and dress code was starting to become quite clear to me.
Ripped jeans at the office
One day, I was informed about a conversation that a rather sloppily dressed, ripped-jeans clad fellow had with the head of the division. The senior in charge had challenged the gentlemen on how he chose to represent himself at the office.
It raised a specific question in my mind: does one’s general state of attire – formal or overly casual – reflect one’s self-respect and work ethic in some way? This was the backdrop to a trend I had been observing.
Could a devil-may-care attitude about how we presented ourselves to the world be the driver for the same attitude to reflect in our attitude towards work? From the Forbes article above, great when read in its entirety, there definitely seems to be a link.
Impressions informed from your appearance
Whether good or bad, people form an impression about you based on your appearance. The good news is that you have control of that narrative. You can decide how you would like others to perceive you by the way you choose to present yourself to the world. What they do with that perception is their business. And, for some, it is big business.
Dressing well often gives on the edge professionally and personally. There is a reason why the fashion industry is a 1,7 trillion dollar annual gig or why plastic surgeons are inundated with work. People have cottoned on that a favourable impression is important, although as I said before, beauty is skin deep and hollow if the beauty on the outside is not mirrored by inner beauty.
Joy to the world
It is a lot to think about, isn’t it? God cares about how we present ourselves; not that we own the latest statement piece or spend excessively on clothes. No, that is not the point.
Neither is it the price tag nor label of the clothes that make us valuable. It is, in fact, the wearer of the clothes that is valuable to God, who has been bought at a huge cost to Himself. It is how that individual honours God with that body and how they choose to witness for God on this earth that matters.
Just yesterday on X, formerly Twitter, there was a huge fracas about “Christian BBL”. For those unversed with it, it is a Brazilian bottom lift. Once again, the topic of how we dress as Christians took centre stage.
Many commented that the influencer who coined the term, ostensibly a Christian, did not seem to stand out from other Instagram influencers with regard to what she wore drawing her faith into question. The prevailing sentiment of posts I read exhorted us not to “Christianise” worldly practices. Case in point, don’t you think? How we dress matters.
As the season of Advent proceeds, let’s give joy to the world unhindered by poor sartorial choices. Not distracted by fashion hiccups and what we have chosen to wear, let us love with the abandon of people rich in God’s grace and mercy, basking in his love and taking delight in sharing it with the rest of the world.
I am interested to know your thoughts. Please comment and like the post. I would also appreciate it if you would follow me on Pinterest or X, formerly Twitter.
Please note Scripture quoted throughout is taken from the New International Version.
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