Clothes Make the Person

08 August 2006
Just around the corner in every woman’s mind - is a lovely dress, a wonderful suit, or entire costume which will make an enchanting new creature of her. ~Wilhela Cushman

Some days back I found myself stuck in traffic when I noticed that everyone, well all the men anyway, were straining their necks trying to look at a girl who was sitting on the backseat of a cycle near me. Curious, I also turned to look too. Now, I am not one of those women who thinks skinny is beautiful. Skinny is just that: skinny. This woman was not skinny. However, she was not fat either. Some men nearby started commenting loudly about her revealing clothes and they weren’t very shy about making their opinions clear.

Sad to say, but it was true. She was wearing something that would be considered quite revealing even on the beaches of Brazil, and the overall look wasn’t all that flattering to her either. I assumed that she must be on her way to a party or something, because I could not think of any other reason why she would be out on the roads in the outrageous attire. She was wearing a micro miniskirt that was so small that it would have graduated to nano miniskirt status if it had been even a millimeter higher and her underwear was also visible from the back. The straps on her shoulders were straining her muscles and it looked like the muscles were winning. She probably heard all the comments being said about her and was urging the guy in front, possibly her boyfriend, to ride through the red light. A good 10 seconds before the light turned green, the cycle raced off, as is common here in Male.

What bothered me about this whole thing was the fact that, despite all the exposure and everything, she could have dressed better. For one thing, if she wanted to wear such revealing clothes, she should not let such comments bother her. Secondly, with such a low skirt, how come she opted for such huge underwear? She could have gone with one of the underwear that is specifically being sold for such skirts and jeans. It’s one thing to dress up, but quite another to dress up in such a way that does not either flatter or enhance your own beauty and show off your best assets. With all the information sources available to us like the TV, magazines and the internet, why not do some type of research or learn about it before strutting off outside in the first piece that someone else looked good in?

It’s not just women who dress up in such outrageous clothes these days. Men are often seen wearing jeans so loose it seems in danger of being left behind without their knowledge while they are walking on the road. Then there are those who feel confident enough about their physique to parade around in see through shirts, despite the fact they could be mistaken for a runaway skeleton from a laboratory. If there were fashion police around, people will be getting arrested left and right! So what is it that is making our society commit all these fashion crimes?

Well, it happens everywhere. Only, in some places, it’s called trends and when it comes to a country like ours where it doesn’t fit in anywhere and isn’t accepted, this is what happens. You get ridiculed for going out looking like an idiot. People need to learn to dress to fit our society, the one we live in. Dressing up like people in Hollywood or someone on a catwalk just don’t actually do it for you here. Everyone needs to learn to dress appropriately wherever they go. Dressing up in a mini with clown like make up at seven in the morning for work is not considered apt attire.

Wearing the veil is now the latest fashion around and almost every other person wears it. However, this is supposed to be worn in a specific way which is not how everyone is doing it. There are people who wear skin tight jeans or bellbottoms with tops that fit just as tight and then wear a veil.

If I am not wrong, isn’t the veil supposed to be worn in a way that the woman’s figure is not apparent? I do not mean wearing a huge black garb from head to toe, but loose fitting clothes would be much more appropriate for a person wearing the veil, don’t you think?

Image is something that can either make or break you. Most attire worn on television is not appropriate for business environments. Don’t be deluded. Remember, first impressions do count mostly despite what you may believe, unless you are able to change it later on with hard work. Here are some tips that might help when dressing up.

When dressing up for work, it is always good for women to dress in crisp, clean, neatly pressed clothes that fit well and is appropriate for a day at work and even for a chance meeting with a CEO. It should not look like something you will wear to a party. Avoid, too tight or baggy clothes, instead opt for casual classic and trendy clothes such as pants, neatly pressed, and a pressed long-sleeved, buttoned solid shirt are safe for both men and women. The most commonly worn kurtha and Pakistani dresses are also appropriate as well. However, it is common to see these with too much embroidery, less is good as far as this goes. Simple designs are more appropriate.

Basically, choose clothes that fit well and remain in place while sitting and/or walking. Less is more. Avoid extremes of style and color. Fit should not be tight. Cleavage is not appropriate for work, and probably not appropriate for anywhere in Maldives, but of course it’s your call. When wearing makeup, keep it conservative and natural looking. A little is usually better than none for a polished look. Nails should be clean and well groomed. Avoid extremes of nail length and polish color, especially in conservative offices. Shoes should be leather or fabric/micro fiber that can be cleaned and for the most conservative look, wear something that covers your toes.

Sandals which are neither extremely dressy nor extremely casual might be appropriate. Make certain you can walk comfortably in your shoes; hobbling around the office in shoes that are pinching your feet does not convey a professional image. Select apparel, fragrances, jewelry, hairstyle, etc. that do not detract from your professional image. Hair should be neat, clean and professionally styled. Avoid styles that cover over more than your forehead or one that you have to brush back. Believe me, if you are dressed in a respectable way, people will tend to respect you and take you more seriously.

Most of the people working in the private offices do not have a set dress code and it is up to the individual to dress appropriately for work. For men, who do have to wear ties, opt for something that does not have Mickey Mouse or such comical stuff on it. Instead, opt for a design that is abstract and simple. Wear dark socks, mid-calf length so no skin is visible when you sit down. Shoes should be in polished condition. Make sure heels are not worn out. No sandals, athletic shoes or hiking boots. Facial hair should be well-groomed if you decide to go for that kind of look.

Know your industry and how conservative it is; observe men in your industry if you are unsure what’s appropriate or are considering changing your look. Wear a conservative watch. If you choose to wear other jewelry, be conservative. Seriously, we have not come into an era where it is acceptable for men to wear earrings at work, so no earrings or piercing with jewellery on it. No odors on clothes; that means don’t walk in smelling of cigarette. It’s common for most people to go out for coffees and come back into the office smelling you’ve eaten a pack of cigarettes. This is something that could most probably annoy or offend the rest of the non-smoking office mates.

If dressing up for a party or such, make sure the message you convey is something that reflects you, in a good way. Meaning, don’t wear revealing clothes unless of course the message you want to give is that you are available and not too picky about who comes looking. You can dress up without wearing revealing clothes. Leave something up to the imagination and dress up appropriately.

Men, wear something that would attract attention in a positive way. This depends on the party and the situation. When choosing something for yourselves, make sure you get the opinion of someone who is trustworthy, like a family member or a close friend. You can’t go wrong there right? They would tell you what’s acceptable and what’s not. Besides that, you can take a look around our society and understand what would be acceptable here, for any occasion.

Whatever you wear let your image be a reflection of the person you are, a respectable person who demands the respect of others. Image is very important.