In basic sociology classes, teachers emphasize the concept of impression management through clothing, and students can’t seem to take the message to heart.
They shouldn’t.
Fall means wrapping up — or starting — term papers, sitting through rounds of job interviews for December graduates and steeling ourselves for family get-togethers.
Each of these requires a different set of clothes, and after years of prescribed uniforms and parent-aided church outfits, many students struggle with how to put their best face on to meet the world.
This shouldn’t have to be a concern for anyone. Dressing is difficult, and uniforms are bogus.
Clothes are an outward way to pigeonhole a person when they should be a form of expression or a way to keep oneself warm.
The Office of Multicultural Affairs held a Dress for Success workshop Friday, and together with the online spread from the Office of Career Services, students can learn how to present themselves in a socially acceptable way with minimal effort.
Grooming students to take over as the next generation of fashion-forward, norm-obsessed outfit shamers could do them well in the workplace, but most likely will just result in paychecks that last until the next shopping spree.
There is too much focus on presentation and not enough on preparation.
A firm handshake, the ability to look someone in the eyes and posture can all contribute more to someone’s impressions than the clothes he or she wears.
These are simple skills that don’t require buying into trends.
A typical example comes in the form of a watch. Each one achieves the same basic function, until we consider price.
Amazon.com’s top-20 best-selling watches right now range in price from $1.92 to $80.70, with the highest-priced one ranking as the third-best seller.
It does the exact same as the rest, but looks better.
By continuing to bend to social norms, we’ve accepted these status symbols and, in doing so, turned ourselves into the same thing.
By wearing said watches or not, we subconsciously make statements — acceptable or not — about our stations in life.
Fraternity and sorority members have this level of social acceptability down. Every day, most fraternity members wear collared shirts and shorts that match, and sorority women make sure their necklaces, watches and earrings go together.
A zest for presentation isn’t something to look down upon, but the stigmatizing that arises when someone doesn’t share this interest is.
Going through sorority rush freshman year, I experienced this firsthand. The week-long process included handy guides to acceptable clothing for each round, and my lack of monogrammed Lilly Pulitzer items made me stick out in the crowd.
Not in a good way.
As students, we need to make just the right impression so the right professors will write us the right type of recommendation letters.
Jorts, secondhand sweaters and flip-flops feature in my daily dress, and heading into office hours in all that glory doesn’t bode well for my future.
I’m sure I’m not alone.
We should forgive each other for our mode of dress and use that energy and money to better ourselves through study, travel and hobbies.
If fashion is important to you, embrace it. But don’t expect everyone to purchase Louboutins and power pantsuits to cater to our superiors.
It’s not financially responsible for everyone, and come on — frumpy sweaters are more comfortable anyway.