I have always believed the phrase “clothes make the (wo)man.” You cannot deny that when you look sharp, you feel special and people treat you accordingly. Dressing up makes you the center of attention, but this term, I learned a little something about dressing down.
A few weeks ago, I was just lazing around the suite with my friends. We were taking a break from our homework by playing cards. After a little while, I felt kind of cold. So I went into my friend’s room and grabbed one of his sweatshirts. The one I chose was gray with horizontal stripes and, quite frankly, fit under the category of a “stoner sweatshirt.” This means that this style of sweatshirt is most commonly associated with those whose heads are…uh…in the clouds. But I didn’t care. I was cold, the sweatshirt made me warm. Whatever.
When we left for dinner, I was too lazy to change, and the Midwest weather was merciful enough to make a sweatshirt sufficient temperature protection. Once my friends and I arrived at the cafeteria, I noticed that the room felt different, more relaxed somehow. When I got in line, the people around me seemed more comfortable with me; less afraid to bump into me and more willing to strike up a conversation. Now, random conversation is not uncommon on the Knox College campus; we pride ourselves on being very friendly, but this time was different. People’s body language around me was so relaxed and welcoming. I must have gotten into three conversations with people I had never met. I attribute part of this experience to that “stoner sweatshirt.” Clothes do affect people’s attitudes towards each other. And, had I been wearing something less associated with…uh…friendliness, perhaps a few of those conversations would not have so easily arisen. So, when you are looking through your closet for something to wear, ask yourself, “would I want to talk to this person?” If the answer is “yes,” then other people will want to talk to you too.
