by Quo Elbert

Created on: May 20, 2008

"Hey, Rasta!" the loser in the driver's seat yells. Their superficial remark bounces out of a passing car that's headed in the opposite direction of my walk home. The effortless judgment only manages to go skin deep, and I merely shake my head at the unoriginality of the comment. As I do so, I sense my dreadlocks brush across my shouldersor maybe they don't, because maybe they're pulled back in a relatively conservative ponytail that day. Doesn't matter. Details like that never do. That's the great thing about indulging our natural tendency to judge based on outer appearance: we don't have to bother thinking too hard. So, to make things easier for one another, it's good to be aware of what you can expect so that you can present yourself as true to form.

Putting the obvious aside, such as ethnicity and sex, we'll focus on the things that we actually determine. Hair is surprisingly important when it comes to affecting judgment of one's outer appearance. Long and shaggy indicates carelessness, an irresponsible and non-chalante attitude (despite the fact that this hairstyle takes forever to achieve). This and other non-traditional approaches are considered "do's" in the world of college, arts and creative pursuits. It also works well in high school, unless you're the principal. Once Principal Shaggy trims and tames that stylish mop, the parents find him markedly more credible and capable. Darker hair indicates soberness and sophistication, especially for females. Women with "big" hair are assumed to wear "big" personalities, while sleeker styles indicate a more prudent nature. And, if no style whatsoever is applied, it's assumed that she's creating beautiful music with the guy flaunting the shaggy do.

There are people who are savvy enough to use pre-judgments to their advantage. Such as rappers who dress in preppie clothingthey create their own spotlight by using the striking incongruity between an educated, conservative, white-collar exterior and a seemingly unreserved, urban approach. Colorful clothing indicates creativity or an equally vibrant personality. It can also indicate flightiness and an unrealistic world-view, setting up the perfect opportunity for you to knock their socks off with your explanation of how Einstein's theory or relativity affects our lives, today.

Miss Etiquette would be very disappointed with the horrible posture that most of us exhibit. Which makes someone's erect stance or sitting position stand out. They seem taller, more confident. Who wouldn't follow this person's lead versus the slouch? On the other hand, which one would you rather approach for a day of fun?

It's a matter of life, a matter of fact that physical attributes are markers people use to guess what's beneath the surface; whether or not you fit all their assumptions, these decisions affect how you will be received. The key to knowing what your appearance says to others is knowing your intent. Though your core style will stay the same, your intent may change from scene to scene; from office, to gym, to caf. The smart move is to make an effort to use details that reflect your most applicable attributes. But, don't let who you are on the inside rely as heavily on such fickle opinions. Most importantly, make sure that you groom an inner appearance that attracts the person in the mirror, and then determine how you want that presented.

Proverbs 13:7 One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

Learn more about this author, Quo Elbert.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.