A lot of people may call me vain and shallow, but always leaving the house looking my best has worked pretty well so far in my life and I don’t plan on stopping.
- I feel more confident when I’m dressed up. Fashion therapy is a real thing, people! When I put on something that I know flatters me, I feel so much better. Throw in bright colors and I’ll have a fabulous day. I’ve never met a woman that left the house in ill-fitting slacks, an old t-shirt, and house shoes and felt great. She may feel comfortable and defiant, but not confident. I always want to feel confident, so I do what I need to do to ensure that’s the case.
- People treat you better when you’re dressed up. I know it’s what’s on the inside that counts, but everyone judges by the outside first. If you walk into a restaurant looking homeless, people are going to treat you like a homeless person. If you walk in looking put-together, then you’ll get much better treatment. Hey, the world’s a harsh place—I’m just doing my part to have a smoother ride.
- I don’t want to make people uncomfortable. You’re standing at the bus stop and here comes a guy or gal in saggy clothes with no underwear on. Uh, WTF? I could never do that—my mama raised me better! Why don’t we all dress in a way that won’t make people uncomfortable? I know the above example is extreme, but the point I’m trying to drive home is that once you step out of your house, you step into a public space. It’s courteous to dress in a way that’s respectful.
- I’d die if I ran into one of my exes underdressed. Yep, this is the shallow part of me, but every woman has one. We’ve all been dumped unceremoniously, and running into an ex is an emotional experience. Whenever I run into an ex or someone that was super mean to me from high school, I want to look my best. It’s my way of saying, “I’m still standing despite the load of crap you shoved onto me.” The last thing you want is to be looking a mess and for them to pile on more hate.
- I want to attract high caliber people into my life. I’m always looking to make more friends—life is just happier with more love in it. Since I’m not in an open relationship, that leaves friendship as my source of extra love. No one sees an underdressed person and says, “Yup, that person would make a great caring friend.” Most of the time, they’d think that person is a mess. Let’s stop blaming people for blowing us off when the way we dress doesn’t communicate our most positive values.
- I don’t want to embarrass my boyfriend. My boyfriend and I spend quite a bit of time together. While I don’t want to be a trophy on his arm, I want him to be proud to introduce me to people. I have no problem presenting my boyfriend to acquaintances we run into. Why? Because he takes care with his appearance, and I want to reciprocate that. I don’t want to let myself go and then wonder why my relationship ended.
- Dressing up keeps things in my relationship fresh. Dressing up isn’t just for the first date or the bedroom, ladies! Looking your best makes you feel better and it reminds your partner of why they’re so damn attracted to you. You don’t have to dress sexy, just in things that flatter you. Yes. Relationships are all about love and acceptance. But getting the spark back, after you’ve lost it, is a tall task. Do yourself a favor and keep that spark alive.
- I’d hate to lose an opportunity by being underdressed. I’m on my grind and I’m always looking to move up. I’d hate to run into a potential business partner underdressed. No one wants to give money to someone who doesn’t look like they can take care of themselves, much less a business. I don’t know about you, but I want to give myself every advantage I can get.
- I want to draw positivity my way. When you put out positivity, positivity finds its way back to you. When I get dressed up, I feel good about myself. That helps me have more positive interactions with other people. They, in turn, send more positivity back to me. It’s a beautiful cycle and I never want it to end. Is dressing up that important? Hell yes! Why wouldn’t you want to feel better about yourself and have other people treat you better? Try it and watch how your week goes.
