Perceptions of you by others and male fashion.

Bafucin

My student days have become of late more serious. I am undertaking a PHD and there is a chance that in sept 2015 it could be funded and maybe even provide a source of income depending on how this year goes.

I decided earlier this year that I would be kidding myself if I thought that my academic work alone would be all that I was being judged on.

That taken into account I have made changes to myself. The first was to interact more with my supervisors and make sure I take credit for what I am doing.

I even changed my style to appear more professional and put together, For years I was a long haired rocker.I cut my hair and I was wondering what 'style' is appropriate? I noticed that the students who make the little efforts in these things do get noticed positively for it. They get taken more seriously.

Do you take your career into account for your dress sense? I mean during office /college hrs?

I'm still wearing the fedora outside of nine to five.

And any suggestions or tips?

WesternZulu

I'm doing a PhD and to be honest no one could care less what you wear as long as you're getting your work done.

You're thinking way too much about it.

ongarboy

I would say grooming rather than fashion will be more likely to influence other's perceptions of you.

As long as your clothes and footwear are clean, you shower regularly (daily) and keep your hair and/or beard neat along with clean, cut fingernails, I really don't think fashion choices have that much influence. If part of your PhD involves lecturing, giving tutorials, presentations, conducting research etc with external clients, then I would suggest a slightly more smart, casual look on those occasions (chinos, casual trousers with nice semi casual shirts and shoes or maybe Vans/Converse type shoes). Other than that, jeans, shirts and tees or nice pullovers/zip ups should be fine for regular day to day stuff.

As regards your question of taking career into account, the phrase "all style, no substance" comes to mind. Dressing like a catwalk model will only get you so far, your skills and competence in your career choice will be a far bigger influence on people's perception of you.

ancapailldorcha

WesternZulu wrote: »

I'm doing a PhD and to be honest no one could care less what you wear as long as you're getting your work done.

You're thinking way too much about it.

I'm working in an academic environment as well and I'd agree with this. I'd draw the line at sports jerseys, tracksuits and trainers. When I was working in clinical trials, I wore a fairly smart shirt along with black trousers to look smart for the guinea pigs.

OldRio

WesternZulu wrote: »

I'm doing a PhD and to be honest no one could care less what you wear as long as you're getting your work done.

You're thinking way too much about it.

In my experience you will be judged on your appearance in everything you do.
People consciously or unconsciously will be judging you. Therefore the first thing they see will be your appearance. Make the best of it.

Mokuba

100 percent you will be judged on your appearance. Obviously there are other factors but I'd struggle to find a situation where someone wasn't judged on their appearance in some way - even on a subconscious level.

baby and crumble

While when you're doing a phd you don't 'need' to dres in anything other than jeans and a tee, think about who you may be interacting with. Your future employers. Academia is quite casual on a day to day basis but there's no harm in trying something different. It could just be a matter of replacing your jeans with dark straight leg denim or a pair of nice colored chinos, wearing a more fitted plain tee instead of a band or novelty tee and wearing a cardigan or blazer over it instead of a hoody. Not a massive change, but enough to make you stand out and be seen as taking yourself and your career seriously.

Mike747

You will definitely be judged on your clothes. After a certain age, say 25, there is no excuse to be scruffy. You don't even need expensive clothes, just make sure they fit well.

The exception is shoes. Better off paying more for good shoes that look better and will last longer.

lazybones32

Hygiene and clean clothes are (obv.) essential but unless you're being the public face of the company or there are dress rules, wear whatever is comfortable.

My line of work is dependent entirely on quality and how I show up is of little importance. Spongebob has been sported on occasion and I still got paid...

DazMarz

You cannot go wrong with a pair of dark slacks, a shirt and a tie. It's formal, but not as formal as, say, a full suit. It looks impressive, but not overpowering.

constance tench

DazMarz wrote: »

You cannot go wrong with a pair of dark slacks, a shirt and a tie. It's formal, but not as formal as, say, a full suit. It looks impressive, but not overpowering.

Don't ever buy these! :cool:

RDM_83 again

baby and crumble wrote: »

While when you're doing a phd you don't 'need' to dres in anything other than jeans and a tee, think about who you may be interacting with. Your future employers. Academia is quite casual on a day to day basis but there's no harm in trying something different. It could just be a matter of replacing your jeans with dark straight leg denim or a pair of nice colored chinos, wearing a more fitted plain tee instead of a band or novelty tee and wearing a cardigan or blazer over it instead of a hoody. Not a massive change, but enough to make you stand out and be seen as taking yourself and your career seriously.

Actually would Academia not be a rather exceptional situation, I know its a bit of a cliche of the rather scruffy genius that doesn't pay attention to how they dress but to my eye at least it does seem to be someway based in fact.
I'm not an academic myself but I have spent quiet a bit of time in universities and it certainly seems to be a thing that people at the top of their field would not be that well dressed unlike say the financial services.

If I saw a researcher wearing a pin stripe power suit I would probably be more likely to think that they are more about the money than the knowledge.
Things like IT seem to have the same thing going on, the real computer guy that actually knows how to program is wearing a metal band t-shirt the IT manager who doesn't is wearing the suit.

These are all massive assumptions but I do think that different cliques have different "uniforms"

FlashR2D2

A heavy metal t-shirt, probably a comic book or record store owner or an individual who works in the video games industry.

A fedora is more suited to careers including actor, writer, or artist. Think J.Depp or Hunter S.Thompson, people accept it. IT and Phd is a bad fit with a fedora, it screams try to hard to be cool with your square career.

It is the career which moulds the man. The Phd reveals your true inner quality.

It was the actor Bill Murray who recently said, 'I knew I was going to be rich and famous, and be able to wear red clothes and not give a damn.” Try doing that as banker, not gonna happen...too weird!

FlashR2D2

DazMarz wrote: »

You cannot go wrong with a pair of dark slacks, a shirt and a tie. It's formal, but not as formal as, say, a full suit. It looks impressive, but not overpowering.

I thinking, teenager at wedding (parents don't want to waste money on jacket) or door to door morman guy.

H3llR4iser

Bafucin wrote: »

My student days have become of late more serious. I am undertaking a PHD and there is a chance that in sept 2015 it could be funded and maybe even provide a source of income depending on how this year goes.

I decided earlier this year that I would be kidding myself if I thought that my academic work alone would be all that I was being judged on.

That taken into account I have made changes to myself. The first was to interact more with my supervisors and make sure I take credit for what I am doing.

I even changed my style to appear more professional and put together, For years I was a long haired rocker.I cut my hair and I was wondering what 'style' is appropriate? I noticed that the students who make the little efforts in these things do get noticed positively for it. They get taken more seriously.

Do you take your career into account for your dress sense? I mean during office /college hrs?

I'm still wearing the fedora outside of nine to five.

And any suggestions or tips?

To be honest, I only have a few very basic pointers:

1. Do not wear the same stuff for multiple consecutive days - even if it's January, there's -5 and you didn't sweat a drop in that shirt/t-shirt, people around WILL notice;

2. Wash your clothes - Again, even if you didn't really sweat, clothes need washing. Few things worse than the smell of dirty clothes coming off people;

3. Do not wear trainers every day- they belong in the gym. Plus, they have a tendency to stink after a few months of ownership and constant use; Ever sat next/in front of somebody and perceived the distinctive smell of sweaty feet, even if everybody had their shoes on? That's what I'm talking about.

4. Keep yourself tidy - some men look better with a bit of a beard or longer hair, nothing wrong with that (I do often sport a beard myself). However, never let them get bushy - essentially to the point where you look like Santa's younger brother. Also, neckbeard - out of the question!

5. Last but most important: wash yourself, take at least one shower a day. The only thing worse than somebody wearing stinky clothes or shoes is if the stink comes from the guy himself.

I know these might sound very, very, very basic rules but believe me, especially in certain fields (cough...IT...cough cough) you would be surprised about how many men seem to completely forget about the basics!

FlashR2D2

H3llR4iser wrote: »

1. Do not wear the same stuff for multiple consecutive days - even if it's January, there's -5 and you didn't sweat a drop in that shirt/t-shirt, people around WILL notice;

2. Wash your clothes - Again, even if you didn't really sweat, clothes need washing. Few things worse than the smell of dirty clothes coming off people;

3. Do not wear trainers every day- they belong in the gym. Plus, they have a tendency to stink after a few months of ownership and constant use; Ever sat next/in front of somebody and perceived the distinctive smell of sweaty feet, even if everybody had their shoes on? That's what I'm talking about.

4. Keep yourself tidy - some men look better with a bit of a beard or longer hair, nothing wrong with that (I do often sport a beard myself). However, never let them get bushy - essentially to the point where you look like Santa's younger brother. Also, neckbeard - out of the question!

5. Last but most important: wash yourself, take at least one shower a day. The only thing worse than somebody wearing stinky clothes or shoes is if the stink comes from the guy himself.

Ok me first, I like this game....

If you don't do any of the above your occupation is a ....hobo, wino, bum, tramp.

H3llR4iser wrote: »

(I do often sport a beard myself).

Your a hippy, new age traveller, circus performer, poet?

H3llR4iser wrote: »

Also, neckbeard - out of the question!

Ummm.......let me guess...... Amish guy, has to be?

DazMarz

Maybe... but I often wear just a shirt, tie and slacks for work...

Please don't tell me I look like a Mormon or a teenager...

FlashR2D2

DazMarz wrote: »

Maybe... but I often wear just a shirt, tie and slacks for work...

Please don't tell me I look like a Mormon or a teenager...

Lol....well if its a black slacks with white shirt all starched crispy, ironed super precisely. You're a Mormon, You got a knapsack to finish it off?

If the slacks n shirt is more ill fitting or baggy. Massive clumsy knot on crooked tie....teenager!

DazMarz

The slacks are black, I'll admit that...

But the shirt colours vary wildly; black, red, blue, pink, purple, yellow... in fact, I rarely wear a white shirt. Usually a solid colour or a blue striped shirt (I love blue striped shirts!). I will admit to carrying a file or a briefcase on occasion... but never a backpack; not since my uni days.

Plus, the slacks are very well fitting, and I know how to tie a tie, thank you.

So YAY!!! It looks like I am neither a Mormon nor a teenager... in fact, quite the opposite; I'm a mid-20's atheist. :cool:

constance tench

DazMarz wrote: »

The slacks are black, I'll admit that...

But the shirt colours vary wildly; black, red, blue, pink, purple, yellow... in fact, I rarely wear a white shirt. Usually a solid colour or a blue striped shirt (I love blue striped shirts!). I will admit to carrying a file or a briefcase on occasion... but never a backpack; not since my uni days.

Plus, the slacks are very well fitting, and I know how to tie a tie, thank you.

So YAY!!! It looks like I am neither a Mormon nor a teenager... in fact, quite the opposite; I'm a mid-20's atheist. :cool:

:eek:

H3llR4iser

FlashR2D2 wrote: »

Ok me first, I like this game....

If you don't do any of the above your occupation is a ....hobo, wino, bum, tramp.



Your a hippy, new age traveller, circus performer, poet?



Ummm.......let me guess...... Amish guy, has to be?

You'd be incredibly surprised, believe me...I've been a software developer for well over a decade and across three different countries; The amount of people (men) I crossed paths with that were a little bit too much into their coding to wash, shave or realize that they could be detected within 5 meters by olfactory means only, is genuinely staggering.

FlashR2D2

H3llR4iser wrote: »

You'd be incredibly surprised, believe me...I've been a software developer for well over a decade and across three different countries; The amount of people (men) I crossed paths with that were a little bit too much into their coding to wash, shave or realize that they could be detected within 5 meters by olfactory means only, is genuinely staggering.

.....I was wondering what the fumes were coming up from the Intel factory.