It’s Oscar Sunday as I write this and what’s interesting is what and how people have dressed since Golden Globes for various events and awards shows. Grammys, Independent Spirit Awards, Costume Guild, and all the other events/awards that have gone on since the January 1, as you have seen in Celebrity Style Slam, it’s all about self-presentation. Obviously Meryl Streep didn’t care so much about the Golden Globes or her personal statement in her dress, definitely said she didn’t– but she still won the award. What you rock – in hair, makeup, accessories and clothing makes a statement of your personal style– but also reflects on your professionally.
YouBeauty.com Self Image Expert, Heather Quinlan talks about self-presentation in this column entitled: Self-Presentation: Are You Rocking a Tongue Ring or Turtleneck? What are you telling the world with your style choices?
Regardless of how much time and effort you spend on your clothes, accessories, hair and makeup, you send messages to those around you through the way you choose to present yourself. Who is listening to those messages? Anyone who sees you—friends, parents, children, colleagues, bosses, potential bosses, significant others and potential significant others.
Self-presentation is about the view of yourself that you choose to give to others. In addition to purely appearance-related aspects, it also includes body language, facial expressions and behavioral choices. While it wouldn’t be emotionally healthy for anyone to make all their aesthetic choices based purely on others’ reactions, you should be aware of the messages you’re sending, and make active decisions about those messages, in order to avoid accidentally presenting yourself in ways you don’t want.
(image courtesy of Shutterstock and Youbeauty.com)
For example, if you wear the popular Victoria’s Secret Pink brand pants with the logo on your butt, is it because you really like the brand, or because you really like people to look at your butt? While some people will see you and assume the first choice, others will see you and assume the alternative. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wear them if you like them—but you should be aware that you may be viewed a certain way by some people in some situations.If you are aware of the messages you’re sending, you can make active choices about your self-presentation, and avoid accidentally sending messages that you don’t intend to send. Your choices can work for you—personally and professionally—as long as they make sense with your setting, age, body type and personality
When you don’t convey self-confidence, you are unlikely to inspire confidence in others. “Not trying” is not the same as rejecting society’s stereotypical appearance-based judgments. “Not trying” may accidentally tell others that you aren’t self-assured, and don’t value yourself enough to try. In some business and personal contexts, it may accidentally tell others that you don’t value them (or the job or date they may offer) enough to try. Making some effort to present yourself in an intentional way that fits your personality and lifestyle sends a much more positive message, and can also lift your self-esteem and self-confidence. This, in turn, can positively impact other aspects of self-presentation, such as body language, facial expression and behavioral choices (eg, slouching vs. standing up straight, smiling vs. scowling).
Awareness of your self-presentation also provides an opportunity to model these choices for any children in your life. This is the type of modeling where kids learn from watching the behavior of the adults around them, not the type of modeling that happens on the catwalk. What do you want your children (or nieces, nephews, neighborhood kids, students) to learn from you about how they should present themselves?
Self-presentation provides an opportunity for self-expression, “trying-on” different aspects of yourself, and statements of your individuality. Though some contexts demand compliance with rigid rules of style (eg, the military, private school, some business settings), many do not, and allow you to show your personality through your choices.
If you are aware of the messages you’re sending, you can make active choices about your self-presentation, and avoid accidentally sending messages that you don’t intend to send. Your choices can work for you—personally and professionally—as long as they make sense with your setting, age, body type and personality.
There is more to this post from Self Image Expert, Heather Quinlan which can be found on Youbeauty.com here.
Thankyou to Youbeauty.com for the use of the article. Definitely check out this site! There’s a lot going on here that’s worth reading!
Stevie Wilson,
LA-Story.com
What’s in and out in 2012? Find out at Beauty.com!
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