I had a drink with a friend last night and she was telling me about her work colleague who has been up for promotion 6 years in a row and she didn’t get it, even though she is totally capable. So why is that? My friend thinks it’s her style – she has outdated clothing style and doesn’t seem to care about her looks.
But is it REALLY that important to look modern and look your best? Surely intelligence and knowledge should come first? This is something I’ve been pondering on for a long time. So, I’ve done quite a bit of digging, and one of the reasons I found, is that on a very basic level, judging people by appearance means putting them quickly into categories, like deciding whether an animal is a dog or a cat. In ancestral times, it was important to avoid people who looked angry and dominant, so quick stereotyping was of life-and-death importance, and humans developed the ability to gauge other people within seconds.
To summarise, it’s deeply ingrained in our old brains, so even though our modern brain realises we can survive alone, we are wired to pay attention to the looks and put each other into categories. And what does an outdated wardrobe say about us? It might say that our ideas are outdated too, and we might not be taken as seriously.
@ Toast
It’s OK to follow trends cause it’s human – we like to feel that we belong to a group and can identify with a certain culture. Clothes don’t just protect you from the cold, the way you dress is also a part of your identity and your story.
So, what does it mean to look modern? Does it mean being a fashion slave? You don’t have to blindly follow the latest clothing trends. Here are the things you can do when making the first steps:
· Look for a famous person whose look you admire and pay attention to the shapes and brands they wear. Try to find celebrities who have similar body shapes to yours – this will help to only concentrate on the trends which work for you.
· Find a couple of work colleagues and friends whose style you like and who look modern; ask them what their favourite brands are.
· Head to those brands’ websites
· Make a Pinterest board and call it “modern style”.
· If you see something with the shape you think might suit you pin it to your Pinterest board.
· After you’ve got about 20-30 pictures on there, see if some of the styles appear more often.
· Buy a few things from what you found and try them on – it’s easier to do in the comfort of your home. Play with getting 2 sizes – sometimes both sizes might fit but will create a different vibe.
Good luck! Let me know how you get on 💛If you need extra help get in touch here.
Image above is the still from my life long fav soviet movie “Slujebniy Roman“ - “Work Romance” by Eldar Ryazanov.