About a week ago, I ran into a girl I knew at the dining hall, and after going through the usual pleasantries she asked me, “Is there a special occasion? You look so nice.” I answered with my standard reply, “No, these are just my regular day clothes.”
This wasn’t the first time I had encountered a question of that sort. For me, a dress or heels are the standard everyday outfit, no matter the occasion.
Dressing in a manner some consider “fancy” makes me feel stylish and confident as I go about my day. There isn’t anything quite like the feeling of power walking across the campus to class in a cute outfit.
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Feeling powerful and confident comes with being comfortable with myself and what I am wearing. Keeping the importance of comfortableness in mind, dressing up may not be for everyone. But it is easier than one expects and with a little bit of effort comes many benefits.
What one wears helps open the door for them to feel good about their appearance, which can set the tone and mood for their entire day. Because even if everything is wrong, at least you look good.
Those internal feelings can project themselves outward. When you look put together, people think you are put together. By dressing up, you portray this image that looks good even if personally you do not feel as great on the inside. I can not even count the number of times I have put on a dress after staying up way later then I should have just because it was easier than trying to put together a full outfit. Dress the way you want to feel, not the way you do feel, Your manner of dress and vibe will surely improve if you do.
In a fake-it-till-you-make-it approach, dressing up for class allows for you to have fun and create a persona you wish to portray. You are presenting yourself to the world through how you dress. While you don’t really know a person until you talk to them, there is no denying that the way you present yourself sends a message. Taking the extra time to dress up gives you the opportunity to have a good first impression with whoever you meet that day.
I get it. As one who enjoys laying in bed till the last minute, it is hard to get up and put effort into getting ready especially the earlier your classes. But, it does not take too much effort to wear something other than your pajamas to class (no matter how comfy that may be).
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You already have your wardrobe full of possible clothing options. Just taking a couple of minutes the night before to figure out what you want to wear sets you up for an easy morning the next day. Even if you are really lazy, remember, it is really all about the basics It does not take much to dress up the classic white t-shirt. This is also where comfort comes in as well because you should buy clothes you feel good and comfortable in that are not just your pajamas.
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Getting dressed up has been rumored to help productivity (or at least that’s what my peers and I feel, we have not quite got research funding to see if it is true or not). It is easy to slouch in lecture and take a nap when you are still wearing clothes you traditionally sleep in. It all really ties back into how you feel about how you look. When you feel you look put together, that may be the motivation to knock off all those things on your checklist. When you feel confident in your appearance, it allows you the confidence to speak out in class and draw that attention to yourself without feeling insecure.
Dressing up for class is not even really “dressing up”, and rather more like taking a little extra time to present yourself in a manner that fits best for your day. It should not be looked at as this very difficult task that is unattainable for the standard college student. With a minimal bit of effort, you can take the couple extra minutes to put on clothes that make you feel comfortable, confident, and productive.