If you want to be taken seriously, never wear these 9 things again

Let’s be honest: people size us up fast.

That doesn’t mean we need to dress like robots or abandon our personality. It just means our clothes and grooming send signals—loud ones. And if you want to be perceived as competent, thoughtful, and trustworthy, a few simple wardrobe tweaks can do a lot of the heavy lifting.

As researchers Hajo Adam and Adam Galinsky put it, enclothed cognition is “the systematic influence that clothes have on the wearer’s psychological processes.”

(Their phrase, not mine—and it’s one I keep top of mind when I’m getting dressed for a tough meeting.)

Below are nine things I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) to stop wearing if you want others to take you seriously—at work, in your community, and in everyday life.

1. Clothes that don’t fit

Have you ever tried to focus in a shirt that pulls across your shoulders or pants that puddle around your ankles? The wrong fit broadcasts “I didn’t think this through.”

When I left my corporate analyst role, I donated half my closet and took the rest to a tailor. Best decision I made. A $70 blazer that fits will outclass a $700 one that doesn’t.

Watch the shoulder seam (it should align with your shoulder edge), the sleeve length (aim for the wrist bone), and the pant break (a clean line—not a fabric accordion).

Quick fix: if you don’t have a tailor, learn two measurements—shoulder width and inseam—and keep them in your notes app. When in doubt, size up and tailor down.

2. Wrinkled, stained, or lint-covered fabrics

Nothing undermines credibility faster than showing up looking like your clothes came from the bottom of the hamper. I’m not anti-wrinkle; I’m anti-wrinkled-for-the-occasion.

A handheld steamer lives by my front door for “oh no” mornings. I keep stain wipes in my bag and a lint roller in the car. And I favor texture-rich knits, twill, and ponte for travel days—they resist creasing and photograph better than shiny synthetics.

This isn’t about perfection; it’s about respect. If you care enough to be prepared, people tend to care more about what you say.

3. Shoes that are scuffed (or wildly off-context)

We “wear” our shoes harder than any other item. They’re also where people’s eyes dart when they’re sizing us up—consciously or not. One line from a study on first impressions made me polish my shoes more: “Surprisingly minimal appearance cues lead perceivers to accurately judge others’ personality, status, or politics.”

That was about footwear. Keep them clean, repaired, and appropriate to the setting.

If you love sneakers (same), stick to minimal styles for dressier contexts and retire running shoes from non-athletic outfits. For leather shoes, a quick conditioner and polish revive them. For plant-based or synthetic alternatives, a damp cloth and a minute of attention go a long way.

4. Overpowering fragrance

Yes, scent counts as something you “wear.” I learned this while volunteering at a local farmers’ market.

I hugged a friend who’d layered perfume with a scented lotion.

Sweet, but my neighboring vendor—who was sensitive to fragrance—had to step away from her booth because the scent lingered.

Wear what makes you feel confident, but go easy on the trigger. One spritz, not four. And if you’re headed to close quarters—classroom, clinic, yoga studio—consider unscented altogether.

Subtlety reads as self-awareness.

5. Loud logos and shouty slogans

I love a clever graphic tee as much as anyone. But big logos and snarky slogans can overshadow your message—especially when you need to be seen as neutral, thoughtful, or professional.

A while back, I wore a huge sports-logo hoodie to a casual pitch meeting.

Nothing wrong with being a fan, but I spent the first five minutes making small talk about the team instead of the idea.

Now, if I want to be the message, I swap logos for clean, quiet basics and let my words do the talking.

6. Distracting accessories

Jingly bangles, flashing smartwatches, and novelty ties (sorry!) can steal attention in the worst way. You want your ideas to be the shiny object.

Ask yourself: does this piece support or steal focus? If your bracelet is audible on Zoom, leave it.

If your tie pattern is the only thing people mention, tone it down. I stick to one focal accessory: bold earrings or a great watch or a textured belt—not all three at once.

7. Revealing-for-the-room silhouettes

This isn’t about shame; it’s about context. When a neckline, hemline, or cutout becomes the main character, your credibility often becomes a side plot. The same goes for ultra-tight fits.

If you want to be taken seriously in mixed company (clients, boards, classrooms, public meetings), err on the side of “polished and comfortable.”

You can still express yourself: a body-skimming knit, an interesting neckline, a back detail under a blazer—tasteful, intentional, and true to you.

8. Visible wear-and-tear

Pilling sweaters, frayed hems, loose threads, chipped nail polish—these little things read as “unfinished.”

I garden and trail run, so plenty of my clothes look gloriously beat-up by the end of a weekend. But I don’t wear those pieces into spaces where I’m asking for trust or attention.

Five-minute rehab routine: de-pill knitwear, trim loose threads, fix a missing button, and do a quick check for deodorant marks or pet hair.

If a piece is past saving, consider mending or upcycling it into a chore jacket or yard-work favorite.

9. Trend overload (costume vibes)

Fashion is fun; costumes are for themed parties. Piling on every new trend at once can dilute your authority. A strong personal uniform—then one or two trend notes—projects clarity.

I treat trends like hot sauce: a dash elevates the dish; a cup ruins it. Try a modern silhouette (say, wider-leg trousers) with classic tops. Or add a contemporary sneaker to a tailored outfit.

The goal isn’t to look “not trendy”—it’s to look like you, updated.

A quick word about first impressions.

In one classic study, researchers found that “Judgments made after a 100-ms exposure correlated strongly with judgments made in the absence of time constraints.”

That’s a tenth of a second. Even if it’s unfair, those snap reads happen—then they’re hard to reverse. Think of your clothes as the opening line of your story.

And remember, your wardrobe influences how you feel, too. That same enclothed-cognition research offers a simple reminder: what you put on shapes how you show up.

The right choices can make you stand taller, speak clearer, and advocate for yourself with less effort. “We introduce the term ‘enclothed cognition’ to describe the systematic influence that clothes have on the wearer’s psychological processes.”

When what you’re wearing supports your purpose, people feel it.

How to put this into practice this week

• Pick one category above and do a 20-minute audit.

• Choose a “go-to serious outfit” you can reach for under pressure—tailored, clean, shoe-polished, accessory-edited.

• Pack a tiny upgrade kit: lint roller, stain wipe, travel steamer or wrinkle-release spray, and clear nail polish (for frays and emergency fixes).

• Ask a friend you trust: “What’s one small tweak that would sharpen how I come across?” Then try it.

You don’t need a brand-new wardrobe to be taken seriously. You need intention. Clean lines, the right fit, respect for context, and a small dose of restraint. That’s it.

Wear what feels like you—then make sure it’s sending the message you mean to send.