First impressions are always rough; there is an intense stigma to completely enthuse and create a glowing image of yourself. Initially, what comes to mind is the movie "Meet the Parents" when the father makes hasty judgments about his daughter's boyfriend. In many instances, first impressions are overanalyzed; however, it is necessary to give serious attention to one's first impressions.

An imperative factor of first impressions is how one chooses to dress and present their appearance to the public sphere. One's choice of clothing for certain occasions sets a specific tone and communicates a particular message to others. People will establish a perception of others derived from their physical appearance and the manner in which they carry themselves. Therefore, people need to understand the importance of nonverbal behaviors and the communication consequences of their choices in appearance. Particularly, how one dresses for a professional setting, such as an interview, can ultimately lead to one's success or failure. If one understands the implications of their appearance, they can better equip themselves to make a lasting impression.

So, what does appearance communicate?

How one dresses can often lead to reasonable assumptions pertaining toward their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. Therefore, in a professional setting, an employer could gather significant intellect about their employees by simply observing their wardrobe. The same rules apply during an interview. Interviews are the ultimate first impression, hence how you dress could be critical to the perception the interviewer holds.

Dressing professionally can often prove difficult if someone is unaware of the proper business culture and attire. For example, college students often have the freedom of expression within their classrooms. However, once graduated, the setting is completely transformed where they're expected to act appropriately in their newly found work environment. For example, wearing professional clothes such as appropriate length skirts or dresses, blazers, and more formal attire would prove acceptable. These appearances of professionalism present a message that communicates motivation, maturity, and intelligence. While it is a subtle indication of one's personality traits, your appearance reveals a lot to others. This being said, interviewers place a heavy weight on appearance considering they must make a critical decision in a minimal amount of time.

Your wardrobe communicates specific perceptions to the public. It is important to cater your appearance to the event. Especially in a professional setting, your appearance could be a factor that affects your success with a company. Dress to impress!