So this is what it feels like!
I think I finally figured out one miniscule portion of the never ending maze of the complex female psyche, and that is.. to dress up and look good.....Call me unkept, call me messy and even call me chin chai... but I've never been the type to care too much about how I looked when I walked out my front door. Put on a shirt, put on a pants, comb my hair, and out the door I go. I've never stopped to wonder if it would go with my shoes, or if that shirt would make me look fat, or if my hair was behaving itself that day... that was of course all the way from adolescence up to my teens... when suddenly, the opposite sex suddenly seems so interesting, and what you wore suddenly represented who you were...
But even then, I did what was minimum in terms of styling and grooming.. Always with the same hair style, always with the T-shirt and jeans... always with the same earthy colours.... My girlfriend would cringe in horror everytime I put on one of my ultra lame 'Visit Kuala Lumpur' t-shirts that I had. In my defence, I got half a dozen for free and they were comfortable to wear! In any case, I was banned by my image consultant (read girlfriend) from wearing any of those shirts, or any shirt deemed too lame or humiliating unless I wanted to walk 10 feet away from her. So those shirts were then resigned to when I was sleeping, or out for jog... in which case, they were OK, since she was not there to bare the embarrassement. Haha... Since then, I have come to rely and trust in the fashion sense of the fairer sex rather than my own..... relying almost completely on my girlfriend and other female friends to judge if what I was wearing was OK.
So, not being a fan of fancy cloths and stuff, I hardly go shopping... But last week, there was an exhibition in town, and I was supposed to man our company booth for 3 days. Instructions from my boss was "Make sure you look neat and professional - Get a proper business suit"... I didnt have a suit.. so I had to buy one, which isn't cheap by the way. So out I went with my trusty image consultant, and came home five hundred bucks poorer, but with a handsome looking black suite and pants to call my own. I wasn't really too excited about spending that kind of money on a suit I will wear bearing a few times a year.. but anyway.. bosses orders.
I know wearing suits are pretty common in western countries.. When I was in Brussels and Germany last year... everyone wore a suite.. and next to them, I looked like a little schoolboy with my little tie and long sleeve shirt. But here in Malaysia.... suits are someting you don when you are about to graduate, you are attending a big interview, or you're about to get married... Its just too hot to be walking around wearing a suit... You'll look smart, but you'll look like a fool at the same time.. unless you are white of course, then its fine because they don't know any better. :p
There I was, standing in front of the mirror, white striped shirt, dark black pants, blue tie and a dark black overcoat... I stared at myself for a full 5 minuts side to side, up to down..... and I looked.... I looked... well..... GOOD!
OK, I'm not the most handsome looking guy in town (or on my street for the matter), but I was looking good for my own standards. Sharp, smart and presentable....I mean... I looked good, and I felt good. I walked more confidently, I talked more confidently... and people seemed to look at me and treat me differently... with a bit more respect almost. Is it true that cloths make the man? Heck, I even felt that I was getting more stares and looks from the opposite sex..... but maybe that just me letting the suit get to my head... too 'perasan' for my own good. :P
So, I finally understood in way, why women bother taking a whole hour trying to choose the perfect outfit... or spending 30 minutes just to put on make up... or selecting the best combination of shoes, handbag and blouse... Dressing well gives you that extra boast of confidence... and I guess in that sense, I can understand and accept that now.
But beware I say. Do not make your appearance the foundation of your confidence.. and do not frown upon those who do not bother to dress up the way you do. If make-up and cloths are the ones that give you your courage to face others, then you are hollow inside and without character. Judge not those who dress simple and care less about their looks, because they just might have the strength of character and confidence that outweights yours.
In the mean time..... I'm going to admire myself in that suit a few more times. Haha... :P
posted by Compulsive Blogger @ 6:56 pm
Comments: 1
