Tag: image

A woman like this immediately stands out when she enters the meeting room: she has long, brown hair tied back in a tight plait. She is wearing a pinstripe suit that emphasizes her feminine shapes, a white blouse and a silver brooch. Her high black shoes make her look even taller. Whispering voices can already be heard from a corner of the room, suggesting that she must be the new lawyer. Her professional appearance and the documents under her arm confirm this impression. But when she introduces herself, it becomes clear that she is the new student trainee who still has a lot to learn… This example of a woman shows that clothing often has a major influence on first impressions. However, many women nowadays no longer dare to dress the way they want to. All too often you still hear the opinion that women can either be intelligent or sexy. Swetlana Posdnyschewa, Stylist, image maker and visual brander, explains in an exclusive guest article why now is exactly the right time to bring both characteristics to the outside world. “Clothes make the man” – is that true? A large German bank once started an experiment: While the experienced employees of a branch dressed in jeans and sweaters, trainees were allowed to present themselves in suits and shirts or blouses. After a week, the employees noticed that customers were more likely to turn to the trainees to clarify their financial questions. And although they had not yet completed their training and therefore did not have the knowledge, they were perceived as more competent simply because of their clothing. This is exactly what Swetlana Posdnyshewa experiences in her daily life. When she quickly goes to the supermarket around the corner to get some fish for a delicious dinner, she is perceived and treated completely differently depending on what she is wearing. If she’s in a jogging suit because she’s run off straight after her daily chores, she gets the fish wrapped up and may at best enjoy a “Have a nice day” greeting from the cashier. However, if she has just come from a customer appointment and is wearing appropriate clothing that harmonizes with her make-up, the staff behind the counter would even fillet the fish for her, cut it into bite-sized pieces and suggest a suitable recipe. The environment receives exactly the signals that we send out The perceptions that we present to the outside world and convey to others are precisely the reactions that we receive from our environment.… weiterlesen