Appearance is something that is often associated with clothes, hairstyles and accessories; something that is just a visual appeal and nothing more. However, appearance goes far beyond that.
As public relation practitioners, we are taught that maintaining a good public image is the key to success when it comes to clients, a lesson that should be taken far beyond the clients.
Maintaining a good personal appearance is very important for the public perception of an individual. We live in a time where people make social judgments on appearance alone. Some may call that prejudice, but it is a reality that can easily be shifted from a negative to a positive.
With first impressions, both on a professional and personal level, the first interaction conducted is through the eyes. Before you meet a person and get to know them, your mind makes an assumption based on what you see, and through conversation, that picture begins to fill and a full opinion is made.
Appearance is the silent description of yourself. It is the image you choose to show to the world that represents you, in the professional world and in your personal life. It can be used to show status, attitude and even creativity.
A good appearance isn’t a difficult task to accomplish. It has nothing to do with beauty or physical features. It is all about visual self-presentation, and the smallest details can make the world of a difference. So here are a few tips that may help.
Grooming is a priority. A haircut, and a clean shave for gentlemen are always ideal, however there is nothing wrong with a well-kept beard. It shows cleanliness and class.
Hairdos for the ladies don’t have to be extravagant, just as long as you stray away from basic. As long as it doesn’t look like you just got out of bed, any hairdo will do Make-up isn’t necessary, but can be complimentary when not overdone.
Any indication that there was thought and time was put into an outfit is already one step forward. Proper color contrast and accessorizing are a great place to start. One small detail that I think stands out the most.
Whether for ladies or gentlemen, a key detail that I find to make a huge difference is tailored clothing. It is inexpensive and can make a huge difference to any outfit.
Don’t be afraid to stand out. Sometimes it is as simple as a color or accessory that really makes you stand out of a crowd, which is not a bad thing.
Aside from the physical appeal, having a good appearance also makes a change in your attitude. It is incredible how confident and better you can feel about yourself when you know you look presentable.
If you would like to read more about the importance of appearance, here are a few articles you can check out.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/subliminal/201206/how-we-are-judged-our-appearance
