Around The Bend: dressing for success

I saw one of those makeover shows the other day. I was going to click by until I realized what it was all about. I saw that it was a couple, biker dude and his dudette, being “re-done”. I could feel the excitement and anticipation from the audience. I held my breath as the curtain was pulled back and … guess what, after cutting their hair, hiding their tattoos, and changing their clothes; they looked better and younger before they had the makeover!

Oh yeah, the audience “ahhed” and “ooohhhed”. Why? Because they fit in now, they had been changed into “one of them”. They could sit in the audience and no one would look at them out of the side of their eyes; no one will change seats to avoid being within reaching distance.

Now, I ask you, what fun is that?

That is just the quandary; people are always trying to change a biker to look “un-biker-like”. I understand sometimes and in some places, a certain look is required to develop the “perception of trust” or to “fit-in”. At the same time, I am pretty sure there are bucket loads of people in the world who can tell stories of being ripped off by “un-biker-like” dressed people. Probably more of them than the ones who can tell stories of being ripped off by a biker. I mean, if I were a scammer, I would dress to impress my pigeon, not to intimidate them.

A significant part of the biker experience is based on the attire. Of course, there are those nonverbal elements too. Watch bikers in their natural surrounding as their greet each other; make eye contact, body language and posture. Ah, but the clothes and the grooming and accessories (garnishes I like to call them) make or break the “look”. As I was told repeatedly growing up, “Never underestimate the power of a first impression”. This is of course how I learned to dress according to the “situation” not according to fashion.

I hear some of you out there thinking, “People shouldn’t judge you according to your dress”. Get real and grow up! Of course, people do it and so do you!

Every living breathing person does it even if they don’t admit it. OTHERWISE, WHY HAVE MAKEOVERS! Job interviews would be over the phone. I’m not even going to discuss dating. And yes, those guys who have to hold their pants up to walk are judged. (My question has always been and remains, why do the “alleged” criminals on COPS always wear those pants and then try to run from the police? It just does not seem too bright in my opinion to have to hold your pants up while trying to climb a fence or sprint. I mean, fine, you want to look like your pants are going to fall off, by all means, feel free, but plan ahead. If there’s a possibility you might have to run any distance as if your freedom depended on it, maybe rethink the wardrobe?)

People...

We hope that you enjoyed reading this excerpt from "dressing for success". If you would like to read the entire article and more, you can order a back issue of April / May 2007 where this article was originally published.

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