Anything we must do should be done well. Attire — like it or not — it can have a profound impact on our effectiveness with people and our use of time and money.
In brief, we seek to “Dress like we mean it.” [1]
Dressing well can make us more effective with people by building personal confidence, creating interest, directing peoples’ eyes to our faces, and giving the basic impression of being well dressed (nothing more) [2].
Application of this philosophy involves being well groomed and wearing attire that fits, is well proportioned and harmonious, and is suited to the occasion and respectful of the environments we are in. In these matters sticking with the classic, subtle, and beautiful places one in great company.
Dressing well also helps us value our time and money. Owning higher quality items for the same long-term cost (e.g., $1,000 shoes that last 10 years vs. $100 shoes that last 1 year) results in using our money for a better outcome — higher quality (and often more beautiful) products that require less repair and replacement. A fantastic byproduct of higher quality products is the recuperation of time. Buying a pair of shoes every 10 years takes much less time than buying a pair of shoes every year.
Notes and references
[1] Thanks, Jim Grant
[2] Thanks, Simon Crompton
Last updated: 2018 (v2)
Prior versions: 2015 (v1)