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Once upon a time, I was a doctor walking down hospital corridors, but you wouldn’t know it if you saw me in my scrubs.
More often than not, even with a stethoscope around my neck, I’d be mistaken for anything but a doctor.
Imagine being a woman of colour in the medical field.
You’ve got the skills, the degree, and the passion.
But, bam, you walk into a room, and because you don’t fit the traditional image of what some people think a doctor looks like, there’s this invisible barrier where, no matter how qualified you are, you’re first judged by your appearance.
Honestly, it started to take a toll on me.
Constantly having to prove myself, to push past those stereotypes—it’s exhausting.
So, I decided to ditch the scrubs for smart casual clothes I felt comfortable and confident in.
Guess what?
The difference was night and day.
For one, I didn’t have to explain who I was most of the time anymore. Even conversations with my senior doctors were smoother—more cordial.
One day, after my colleague tagged along to a radiology request discussion with me, she leaned in and said, ‘Hey, I noticed they were way nicer to you than they’ve ever been to me…’
‘Yeah, I used to have the same problem until I changed my clothes. Try swapping your scrubs for clothes you feel comfortable and confident in,’ I said.
Encouraged by my nudge, she tried it.
Guess what?
She too came back with stories of how differently she was treated by everyone around.
Was I surprised?
No.
Today in 5 minutes :
- Our brains when we first meet someone.
- Should you care?
- Create more impactful first impressions.
“I’m too busy to worry about my clothes”
“My work should speak for itself; not my clothes.”
“Fashion just isn’t my thing; I don’t have an eye for it.”
“I’m not sure my industry values fashion or appearance.”
“I don’t want to be judged for being too vain or superficial.”
Stories we tell ourselves.
Talking about the subconscious power of appearance is not politically correct.
We pretend that we focus only on the inside, never the outside.
But we all know that just because we push it under the rug—it doesn’t mean it’s not there.
Our Brains When We First Meet Someone
Let’s imagine you’re at a networking event (every introverts worst nightmare). You look up and . . .
Oh no, someone is heading towards you!
Your visual cortex lights up like a Christmas tree, busily taking in all the details—what they’re wearing, how they walk, their features… you name it.
Say that person is wearing a sharp suit; what’s the first thing that pops into your mind?
Probably something to do with professionalism and authority.
But it doesn’t stop there.
Before you even blink, your amygdala and prefrontal cortex—basically, your brain’s emotion and judgment power couple—team up to whip up a first impression.
If the person’s style screams “professional,” your brain tags them as competent.
If they’re wearing something more laid-back, your brain might not give them as much professional credit.
Your brain loves shortcuts.
The prefrontal cortex (the part of your brain that deals with complex thoughts and personality judgments) uses what you see to categorize people and quickly make assumptions about their job, personality, or even their bank account.
And then there’s the emotional angle.
Based on all these snap judgments, the limbic system (with the amygdala leading the charge) decides how you feel about this new person—impressed, skeptical, meeeh… you name it.
Your hippocampus then jumps in.
It links what you’re seeing now with past experiences.
If you’ve had good vibes from people who dressed similarly in the past, you’re likely to expect the same this time around, setting the stage for how you’ll interact.
Speaking of interaction,
Your behavior tweaks itself based on all these brain activities.
That sharp suit will make you act more formal than you would with someone in a t-shirt and jeans.
Confirmation bias
Hi, my name is Johnny Bravo,’ they say.
‘Hello Johnny,’ you reply with a smile.
As the conversation flows, your brain stays busy looking for signs that confirm your first impressions of Johnny. You might even miss that he is slightly rude and arrogant because these don’t fit into your initial “box” of professionalism.
All this because they wore a sharp suit!
P.s
I’ve only focused on the effect of the outfit here to simplify the process.
When you throw sex, race, height, weight, ability into the mix, the brain algorithm changes and you’ll be surprised what types of things it comes up with.
Should You Care?
For starters, it’s not just about worrying too much about what others think; it’s also understanding how their reactions can impact your confidence and self-esteem.
For some, the stereotypes and judgments they face work in their favour; for others, they don’t.
But if the subconscious has so much power, isn’t it wise to give more weight and thought to our appearance—especially in high-stakes situations?
I learned this the hard way when I first moved to Turkey.
Suddenly, I was a black girl in a predominantly white world, navigating the constant curious stares of others—and there wasn’t really anything I could do about it.
I couldn’t just change the colour of my skin! 😅
But I learned how to boost my appearance, behavior, speech, and mood instead—with my clothes. (BTW, these are the first four parts of the mental state exam, widely used in psychiatry; they are key indicators of a person’s mental state).
And yes, it’s true that it’s your consistent behavior—showing up as the person you claim to be—that truly determines your reputation.
But how will you even get a chance to be known without making a good first impression?
Create More Impactful First Impressions
Step 1: Define Your Personal Brand
Start by identifying your core values.
What are the three main adjectives you want someone to think of when they first meet you?
Why?
Create a visual mood board on Pinterest to gather images that reflect these values in terms of colours, textures, and styles.
Step 2: Curate Your Signature Style
Audit your wardrobe to keep only what makes you feel confident and comfortable.
If necessary you can use your mood board as a guide to strategically add pieces that fill gaps in your wardrobe.
Step 3: Reflect and Adapt
After social events or meetings, record your feelings about your outfit and the reactions of others.
Get feedback from trusted friends or mentors and adjust your style as needed.
Allow your wardrobe to evolve as you refine your brand and style over time.
Remember, the goal is to dress in a way that creates the positive first impression you aim for—all while staying true to your unique self.
Tall order I know, but the sooner you start working on it the faster you’ll get there.
What Do You Think?
Have you ever switched up your look and noticed a difference in how people treat you?
Or maybe you’ve felt pressured to look a certain way to be taken seriously?
I’d love to hear your stories. Hit reply to let me know 😉
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See you next week!
-Yosi.
