We’ve all heard the saying, “Dress to Impress,” but how much merit do we give the motto?

You might think that it’s no big deal to wear bathroom slippers to class or your boxers to the provision store, but what happens when you need to ask your teachers for letters of recommendation or you run into a future employer in the ATM queue?

We would all like to believe that appearance doesn’t matter and that others won’t judge us for the way that we look, but it does matter and others do judge.

The goal should always be to look our best. Looking more polished will actually boost your confidence and make you happier. Not to mention, if you look put together, others will associate your composure on the outside with your internal composure, which will really help you obtain that letter or score a job interview.

Here are some key steps to help you look and feel more put together

First, before we get into the apparel, it’s important to take care of your health and hygiene – staying active and clean are the simplest steps you can take to make the biggest impact on the way that you feel.

Now, it’s important to dress for our body types – some styles aren’t meant for everyone. It’s equally important to know your actual sizing – anything too big and you can look sloppy, anything too small is too revealing.

Finally, it’s imperative to dress appropriately for the occasion. Would you wear swimming shorts to a Black Tie event? Would you wear jeans to bed? Would you wear a ripped jeans to an interview?