Fashion etiquette
There is no doubt that appearances count in today’s world. Behavioural scientists tell us that your evaluation by a stranger takes 30 seconds or less and can be so strong that it could take as much as five years to erase.
Since up to 90 per cent of you is covered by apparel, the clothing you choose makes a significant impact. As the speed of the business world accelerates, the "instant communication" of your appearance increases in importance. With more pressure on time, people are more likely to make fast judgements. The appearance factor extends beyond first impressions. Public speaking experts report that over half of communication is non-verbal. It’s not only what you say, but how you look when you’re saying it.
Even material success is linked to appearance. An experiment involving over 1000 companies showed that employers offered well-presented candidates starting salaries between 8 to 20 per cent higher than poorly presented candidates with identical resumes.