How to Dress to Look More Friendly? — Inside Out Style

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Reader Question: I struggle with the intimidation and unapproachable effect of being a tall, high-contrast, and very classic dramatic personality. I dress in medium to low contrast and softer colors to be approachable and less intimidating, but that makes me feel less. How would you recommend dressing to look more approachable?

How to Dress to Be More Approachable?

Yin and Yang are Key

concept yin and yang Approachability is key, and that’s why you think others might find you more intimidating if you’re very tall or have a high-contrast color or like to wear dramatic style clothing (or a combination of these).

Instead of completely changing your style, see how you can tailor what you’re wearing to help you look more approachable (if that’s what you really want).

Search for Yin elements of design

Yes, a lower contrast value is more yin, but this may not be for you. Why not try instead:

Softer fabrics rather than very stiff or structured fabrics
Curved patterns instead of lines or controls
Colors instead of neutrals
Softer colors than bold colors
Lightweight rather than heavy fabrics
Balancing dark clothes with slightly lighter colors (and going step by step using a medium color too)

Approachability Research

We have a natural desire to connect, be welcomed and accepted at social gatherings or in the office. A 2013 study examined the factors that influence approachability in the field of library science—what makes a librarian appear approachable. Check out the study here – First Impressions and Reference Encounter: The Effect of Emotion and Clothing on Librarian Approachability

Smiling

Regardless of the librarian’s age, race, dress or behavior, his smile had a significant impact on the audience.

Smiling increases approachability for everyone. The researchers found that in the entire study, smiling was the strongest factor in approachability.

Wearing light colors instead of dark colors will make you look more friendly.

Wearing lighter colors instead of dark colors makes you look more approachable, and colors instead of neutrals and an accessory that can start a conversation

I recently had a few professional photos taken and I’m smiling in all of them because I know that smiling is the best accessory you can wear.

dress formality

In the study on librarian accessibility, formal dress developed Accessibility for men, but got worse Accessibility for women.

You increase the yin element in your outfit to increase approachability. Yin elements are softer and less dominant, while Yang elements are stronger and attract attention. For more information on yang and yin elements, read this blog post – How to Tell the Yin and Yang of Clothing?

This may be using soft or lighter fabrics such as wool, cashmere, and chiffon. Less structured clothes with an element of flow and rustling will also look more friendly. You may prefer a round-necked blouse instead of a button-down shirt with a stand-up collar; open placket instead of zipper, or pleated or waterfall hem instead of stepped hem.

Fabrics that are soft to the touch make you look more approachable

The soft wool in this jacket makes it more approachable than a stiffer fabric

You can also add yin elements to your outfits by using flowing, swirling patterns like brocade, flower or shawl instead of straight lines and plain patterns like plaid, stripe or geometric.

Colour

Light colors make you appear more friendly and approachable, while dark colors are perceived as more formal, dominant and authoritative. You don’t want to stray from your color palette, but use the color to your advantage.

In the Librarian survey, blue was the most accessible color and red negatively impacted approachability overall. Brighter colors in your palette express energy and confidence, while matte colors appear more trustworthy and less threatening.

Colors like blue and green are seen as stable, reliable, and reliable, as are some of the neutral hues of brown and tan, so wearing more colors will help you dress friendly.

Reducing the value contrast of your clothes will also add more yin. Using medium value colors is great for passing light to dark value contrast – switching between colors from light to dark (read this to understand more), lowers the overall perceived value contrast.

Accessories

In the experiment, the researchers found that having a name tag increased the approachability of librarians. In some professions, having a name tag can be a convenient way to increase approachability, as a name tag is an indication that you are someone who works in that environment (and that they are not just approaching anyone). However, this will not apply to all professions. You could try wearing something interesting that reveals who you are – a jewel; bright shoes or a graphic T-shirt – anything that adds charm to your outfit and creates a conversation starter.

You don’t have to follow all the suggestions above, just add an element or two to soften your outfits and make you look more personable.

It’s important to make sure you don’t add too many yin elements to undermine your confidence. You still want to be yourself, just in a way that is a little more approachable to other people.