Style vs. substance. How do you dress to be taken seriously?

I am interested in perspectives from men and women of any race and in any profession, but I'll share my own thoughts to give an idea of where I am going with the question:





As a black man, I do not leave the house without shaving. I only wear jeans for doing yardwork and other chores. I only wear running shoes for exercise. I always dress in public more conservatively and more formally than my white male colleagues. The reason: it makes a difference in how the police treat me, whether old women clutch their purses, whether women cross the street to avoid me at night, whether I am followed when I am shopping, whether I receive good service, etc.





But I have also been in two fields (academia and IT) where dressing up can actually be perceived as LESS serious, as a sign that one lacks substance and is too concerned with fashion.





My general solution is that for daily wear, I go with khakis and a button down oxford (always pressed but no necktie) and a tweed sport coat.

Style vs. substance. How do you dress to be taken seriously?
I over-dress just like you do. I'm a plus-sized person and a lot of people think of fat people as fat slobs, so I try to look put together at all times. I never wear sneakers unless I'm exercising, and I don't own a pair of jeans. Casual dress for me is a pair of knit pants (that look more like slacks than sweats) with a pair of flats and a NICE tshirt. Usually one with embellishment at the neckline, but not sequins. UUgghh. I almost always wear makeup, even if I'm just running to the store.





ps. I'm a preschool teacher, so this works for me in the classroom too. I have to dress comfortably, since I'm running around and on the floor. I have to wear things I can wash, 'cause red paint just doesn't come out of everything! But I also need to be presentable. I used to wear skirts with sweater sets a lot, now I wear more slacks or knit pants.
Reply:feels added pressure, because of the "fat slob" stereotype to never dress in a way that could possibly be judged "slovenly" because for many it's like confirming their prejudices about her professionalism. Report It

Reply:Gnu,


I do casual all the time. No one follows a little granny. I am sorry for that extra precaution you must take.


When I taught, it was upgraded casual. I don't remember how long it has been since I wore a skirt.


In the house, I rarely change out of the sweats. I've gotten less classy over the years. I never was a fashionista; always had my own style.


They had better take me seriously or I'll give them a kick in the shins.


C. :)
Reply:I'm supposed to be working in PR and Marketing (I'll save my gripes for another day) and I dress professionally everyday but, at the same time, I have a great deal of flexibility because my office is so small. Basically, I wear what I want to wear with little thought to the way that I will be perceived by others. As long as it fits the occasion (like wouldn't wear jeans to work, etc), I don't really care what anyone else thinks.





I'm sorry that you feel like you have to care about others opinions.
Reply:Firstly, I am well-groomed always. Hair cut, manicure, pedicure, on a regular basis. I've taken care of my teeth, and hence have a nice set of pearly whites - which I feel is part of being well-groomed.





I do not hold a job, so a particular 'uniform' does not pertain to me.





However, I always like to be taken seriously at doctor's appointments, business affairs, and other what not appointments.





My style is classic tailored. But I soften the look so as not to put forth severity. I'll wear nice slacks or a skirt, a blazer, and a blouse in a pastel or unexpected color. Good shoes are a must, as is a handbag.





Jewelery will be gold, but not overdone.





I am most comfortable in this apparel. I feel confident; and, therefore, exude confidence. I am taken seriously.
Reply:Hey Gnu! You are right about people's perceptions. As a professional woman I would not be caught dead in anything 'pretty' or 'cute'. To do so would mean the instant death of my career. I dress in blacks, navy's, browns etc. Classic cuts on the clothes -no fancy sleeves or bell bottoms. My own personal style is slightly more casual and once I have settled into an environment I loosen up on the formality. At home, I'm jeans and a t-shirt / tank top.





It's funny how in a world where sexism and racism are so taboo we still have to play these psychological games. It very much is a game of knowing and understanding your audience and company.
Reply:In my line of work I'm taken seriously naked. I am busiest when I am rock hard.
Reply:to be taken seriously, i make sure to dress in something that fits me well, but doesnt show too much skin. i generally apply that across the board. It prevents professors, customers and coworkers from talking to my chest (Im a 38 I cup, so they are kinda distracting unless they'er covered) and prevents me from being accused of flirtatious behavior (which has happened in the past)
Reply:Really interesting question.





There is something about me that inspires complete strangers to ask me for the time and directions, and the same thing about me inspires them to tell me all manner of embarrassing secrets about themselves. I've also had both men and women tell me sexist jokes about each other! The only way I can counter this behavior is to always make sure that I dress in such a way that precludes overfamiliarity. So, I wear a lot of black. I've found that in almost every situation, If I am wearing a black blazer with black slacks (I usually wear a contrasting blouse beneath), I am treated with more respect. One Hawaiian shirt slip-up and next thing you know, I'm listening to some stranger in the front office telling me about his E. D.
Reply:I am in a professional job position. I tend to dress on the casual side of professional though. I know I would be taken more seriously if I dressed in suits and button down shirts, but I would rather be comfortable. So I wear slacks and sweaters usually. But as a professional (and a full figured female) I am always mindful of the amount of cleavage Im showing. I try not to show any if possible...Im just afraid that will make people think that Im trying to use my sex to get ahead and therefore lose respect for me.
Reply:Well, as a stay-at-home Mom, I can pretty much get away with wearing whatever I want to wear. LOL I have no dress code. When I am around the house doing inside chores, I will either wear some cruddy clothes or my jammies so as not to get grime on my good clothes. When I go out of the house I wear clothes that are modest and feminine, even if I am in my garden. I always want my clothes to be clean, pretty, relatively fashionable (although that is on the bottom of my priority list), and matching, even the accessories have to match! And I like my hair to look good too (I hate it when I forget to fix my hair before leaving the house, and get caught with "mom hair"!).





I feel like I have lots of stereotypes to overcome. As a homemaker, I don't want to go around looking all frumpy and out of shape. As a conservative Christian, I don't want to be seen as shapeless or plain. But I am also a young woman, and it seems like it is expected that I will want to wear skin-tight low rider jeans with tight tops that reveal my cleavage - that is the most common "style" marketed to my demographic, as if all of us want to look trashy. What's a girl like me to wear? LOL I have found that the best kind of outfits are tailored-looking skirts and tops in winter (or sporty, depending on what I'm doing), and floaty peasant skirts and pretty tops in summer. This seems to work - I look and feel feminine, I am relatively stylish (I like classic pieces because they never go out of style!), and I am flattering my assets without displaying them on a platter as it were.
Reply:I work in a male dominated profession (energy engineer), so I am careful not to dress sexy or too trendy. Also, I am young, so I try to be formal and wear things that an older woman would wear.


I am small, so things cannot be too large on me or swallow me up.


The most important thing is to show that you have no desire to be look at in a sexual way - it's still a man's world in my profession!
Reply:Speaking as an ex-truck driver, my usual form of dress was khakis and a collared shirt. Sneakers or hiking boots are necessary for comfort, but they'd better be clean and not looking scuffed or worn out. Always clean-shaven (or well trimmed back when I had a goatee.) Hair tidy and neat when short or pulled back into a ponytail when it was long. As a white male, I assume that I haven't experienced the problems you sometimes encounter, but many people still see truck drivers as part of the unlettered and unwashed. I wanted to distance myself from this stereotype as much as possible, and my clients seemed to appreciate it.





It's a shame how few excuses there are these days for dressing up. Even cruise ships no longer expect (or even encourage) that you to dress for dinner - jeans and a polo shirt are acceptable for the captain's table these days. I've three good suits in my closet (not really all that many, but compared to most truck drivers...), and it seems such a waste - they almost never get used. :-P
Reply:My motto has always been that it is better to be overdressed than to be under-dressed for various occasions.


For the job, I usually wear formal business attire. My last job only required formal wear for certain occasions such as accompanying a client to court. Usually, I was working with younger children and that involved getting dirty with most of the activities I set up for them. I started dressing more casually because I was sick of ruining my professional attire with paint, spit-up, etc. The rest of the time it was business casual. Usually, I try to match the entire to the type of job and take cues from what others are wearing.


My leisure activity wear (shopping, errands) is usually sporty/casual.





I think you're right. People do treat you differently based on how you are dressed. They make snap judgments about your character based on your outward appearance.





Good question. ;)
Reply:What an interesting question Gnu.


I am always designer woman.


Whether it be casual or formal.


Always worked for me.
Reply:I dress in jeans and a top that is both conservative and formfitting. It shows that I don't slum it, nor do I let it all hang out.



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