Style Matters: Think About How You Present Yourself To Others

A few years ago I did not dress that well. 

I was focused on comfort and conformity. The idea of spending a lot on clothes was preposterous and high key, I attracted the energy I put out with that uniform. At the time I didn’t realize that every choice we make impacts the community we are a part of. 

By no means am I an expert, in fact I am only barely able to put together outfits as I discover what I want my look to be.

When I get it right and my outfit is a hit, I get all kinds of attention when I go out and I love it.

As an artist I’m supposed to dress in a way that signals to the world I’m an artist.

People who matter will understand what you are doing

When I got back from Puerto Rico I met some lady in front of the airport. 

She owned a bar and instantly could tell I was in music. She was having a rough time so our networking was a bit limited as it was real human emotion time. However, this business owner recognized I was in music instantly, based on how I dressed and composed myself.

My clothes served as a uniform that instantly resonated with the position she played in life.

Regardless of the choices you make with your wardrobe, they will communicate aspects of your personality. Even the “I don’t care about fashion” look, is a look. Everyone ends up with a style, only some require more effort to maintain than others. 

In art everything you do is a signal. 

It’s all part of a branding strategy to capture attention anyway

One of your goals as an artist is to make sure you are as unforgettable as possible. 

Clothing choices are an extension of the art. I take some real time to think about what I’ll perform in before I head out to a show these days. For my Porchfest performance I had 3 fits ready to go, shoes and all.

I’m no longer trying to be relatable in how I dress, I’m trying to wear things that reflect how I feel at that moment.

Even wearing a suit blazer in hot weather is a signal that I’m willing to endure discomfort for the sake of the art.  

I also want to stand out in pictures where people tend to dress very similarly. 

I feel like as time goes on and I experiment with my day to day clothes, I’m developing my own style that fits the artistic energy I want to put out.

I still have a lot to learn.

Make your life easier as people will judge anyway

A lot of people have commented on how far my style-game has come.

While to a bunch of people the drip doesn’t matter, to a lot of people who are into underground music, it does. Upgrading your wardrobe is a sign you are elevating in life. Nicer situations require better outfits. 

What people don’t see is that there is a group of folk who will pay attention to how you dress.

It may not even be malicious, recently I was at a show that had EDM upstairs and rap downstairs and this girl felt I was not dressed right for the EDM show. Culture comes with dress codes.

You don’t have to adhere to them, but pretending they don’t exist is simply ignorant. Trying a little harder never hurt anyone.

It’s fun getting compliments for choosing the right combination of clothing items.

Live Long and Prosper Everyone