The case for
Nicole Reid
Fashion & Pageants
grooming
T
here’s a quote I really like and it goes like this; ‘Custom will reconcile people to any atrocity and fashion will drive them to acquire any custom.’ GEORGE BERNARD SHAW. In this world we live in where one is required to constantly find themselves adapting to change, it can become increasingly challenging to remain relevant and not become complacent with the demands society holds us to. Society at large is a very broad spectrum and so an individual should understand that at every level of this broad spectrum, there are certain things required of an individual in terms of image, communication and presentation of oneself. Usually, when grooming is mentioned, individuals tend to think of hygiene, deportment, priming and so on but I would like to recondition your mind to view grooming as a standard of propriety as well as a tool that affords you acceptance into any level of society. It should be understood that grooming differs from place to place as what might be deemed important in one area may not necessarily be of much importance in another. So it is imperative that one studies and gains thorough knowledge of the norms that surround different societies so as to accommodate and be accommodated by others. So why do we need to be groomed? you might ask. Well, the answer is very simple; grooming is an essential part of your development as an individual. The way you smell, dress, look, eat, speak and carry yourself can determine
so many factors in your growth and development, not only in the society you find yourself in, but also in whatever career path you take. For instance, if you are an investment banker, you should conform to the norms and etiquette of that industry for you to be taken seriously in that sector and rise to the upper ranks of management. Therefore, it is not only crucial that one studies to be a banker but one becomes the part. Why, you might ask yourself, should I conform to a certain code of conduct or dress? This is simple; people dress and conform to different codes of conduct for different scenarios hence our definition of grooming being a sense of propriety. What might be acceptable in a hospital might not be so acceptable in a Law firm. Although both are highly professional fields, it would be unheard of for a doctor to come to the operating room in a designer suit. However, the same attire is highly appropriate for the Lawyer who cannot arrive in a court room in shabby clothes. This is because of the simple fact that a doctor cannot operate in a suit as it would be hygienically inappropriate and would also be a restriction for the doctor who would need to be as relaxed as possible during surgery. Every industry has its norms and grooming etiquette that require individuals in that line of work or field to conform to. These are standardised requirements that are expected of every individual to ensure they carry out their business without hindering, disturbing, annoying or misrepresenting themselves or the people around them. TP February 2013 Page 79
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