Weisel: Dress professionally — even during college

I have a friend who used to wear a suit to high school once or twice a week. On those days he… I have a friend who used to wear a suit to high school once or twice a week. On those days he walked a little taller, sat a little straighter and talked a little clearer. I think that everyone, like my friend, should be more appearance-conscious and dress up on a regular basis for class, especially in college.

Now I realize that above all, college students value sleep. Rolling out of bed in the morning, throwing on some sweats and running to class is the option that allows for the most time spent asleep. But I think the disadvantages of dressing down for class more than justify the extra 10 minutes you’ll spend dressing up.

Unless you’re in a gym class or some sort of extracurricular involving strenuous physical activity, sweats are an unnecessary part of your day-to-day wardrobe. Sure, you’re tired in the morning, but by wearing sweats you’re guaranteeing that you’ll continue to be tired for the rest of the day. It’s so much easier to fall asleep in class if you’re already swaddled in warm, comfy fabric.

But if you dress up for class, you’ll likely be wearing tighter or sturdier clothes that keep you upright and awake. You’ll feel professional and alert, even if you haven’t slept that much the night before. In short, you’ll remain focused and ultimately do better in school. And during a time when we’re looking for any edge we can get, why not try something as simple as dressing professionally?

Another downside to wearing sweats is that it’s unprofessional. Although college is a time to have fun and be yourself, you should be aware of the connections you could make at any time of the day that might help you in your future. You never know if your professor will recommend you for an internship, or if a classmate will find you a job at his place of employment. Should these situations arise, you’ll need to be dressed for the occasion and impress anyone you see, just in case they can help you.

College is a transition period between our immature high school years and the perils of adulthood. But we don’t just learn how to be an adult the day after we graduate. Instead, we need to learn and practice adult behaviors while we’re still in college. One unfortunate aspect of being a grown-up is that you’re expected to look presentable at all times, and to wear business or business casual clothes on a daily basis. If we learn how to properly dress ourselves now, we won’t look like a mess when we have a real job someday.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels unattractive and unpresentable while wearing sweats. In fact, I feel like a bum. When I look in the mirror and see the baggy folds encompassing my body, it looks as if I just gained 50 pounds. When I wear sweats, I don’t feel pretty.

But when I dress up, I feel more confident in myself. I know that I look better, so my mood improves. Dressing up allows me to be myself, express myself through my clothes and feel assured that I’ll be ready and presentable for any situation I encounter. I sit straighter and walk taller and feel like I can conquer the world when I’m wearing nice clothes.

Dressing up is an easy way to give yourself a self-esteem boost. There are so many things that can bring you down throughout the day — from failed tests to mean friends — that the small things you can do for yourself, like dressing nicely, become invaluable.

I’m not saying that you have to go as far as wearing a suit every day, or even every week, but do put care into the clothing you wear. Your appearance matters, both in terms of how you appear to people and how you feel about yourself. Dressing up will earn the respect of your peers and boost your self-esteem.

So when you wake up tomorrow and roll out of bed before class, think twice about pulling on those sweats and running out the door. Take an extra minute and think about what you’re wearing. In the end, you’ll look good and feel good.

Contact Elizabeth at EAW62@pitt.edu.