How to look approachable
Happy Tuesday, everyone! Today, I am discussing how to look approachable when you get dressed every day.
The topic of how to look approachable came up recently as we have begun to practice dressing with style adjectives more.
My style adjectives are polished, creative, approachable, current and joyful. So, a couple of followers said they wanted to dress more approachable.
Looking approachable has become more important to me than ever before as I have moved into a community where I know so few people.
Basically, the word approachable means friendly and easy to talk to. I like to think of it as portraying kindness and trustworthiness…not scary or cold.
It is a statement to others that I care about people I meet.
So, let’s talk about this word and how to look approachable with your style.
HOW TO LOOK APPROACHABLE: MOST IMPORTANT ACCESSORY
How to look approachable begins with our number one accessory…our countenance.
A welcoming, confident smile and a genuine interest in others are the key accessories for an approachable person.
Friendliness and caring are things that exude outward from how we feel inward.
Approachable people have a little light shining on their faces that you do not see when a person is cold and self-absorbed.
I hope I demonstrate approachability when I am encouraging the women I have met here who own and manage small businesses. Complimenting a shop is a great way to open conversations.
Or when I take time to compliment strangers in line at the grocery or shopping alongside in other places.
I love to watch someone light up when you compliment how they look or a garment they have on.
Sometimes, I will even ask a woman a question about what they are purchasing to open a conversation…”do you have good success with that potting soil?” for example.
HOW TO LOOK APPROACHABLE: CARE ABOUT YOURSELF
How to look approachable and showing it on our countenance does begin with how we feel about ourselves.
That is why it is so important to learn to dress with confidence and look our best EVERY DAY.
My personal ways to dress with confidence are to:
- Take time to plan a look and not just toss on anything.
- Dress with my five style adjectives and ask in the mirror before leaving if my look speaks those adjectives.
- Dress in my best colors. (like my NOTCHED-LAPEL RUCHED SLEEVE BLAZER in the DRIED ROSES color which I have worn often since I discovered my Spring Palette)
- Not worry about overdressing…but looking my best, even on casual days.
Also, I think it is important when we look in the mirror at the beginning of each day and greet ourselves with confidence and not nit-picking everything we think is wrong.
I know it is easy to focus on every flaw…wrinkle…age spot…but I want to encourage you NOT to do that.
Aging happens…accept it…and choose to look your best that day at whatever your age happens to be.
Fix your hair…touch up your complexion..add a little makeup …and leave the house with a smile.
Confidence in ourselves plants the seeds of approachability.
For those of you who have expressed a desire to look more approachable, I hope this has helped and will inspire you.
I have learned in this new place that I must be the one to reach out to people first and if they reach back, then we are on the way to knowing someone new.
If I am wearing an approachable countenance, then I just might have some new friends.
Thanks for stopping by today…I hope to see you tomorrow…until then….
KEEP SMILING!!
By Pamela Lutrell
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These are all such good tips to help us become more approachable! A smile is the most flattering accessory we can wear, and it’s free. I can strike up conversations easily with strangers, but I also want them to feel comfortable speaking to me first. I try to wear at least one accessory that invites conversation. For me, that is often an unusual vintage James Avery ring, but could be a pendant, a pair of handmade earrings, or one of my vintage Fossil bags. A young female cashier asked me about one of the bags just last week, and I told her I get them on eBay for a fraction of the original retail prices. She wasn’t terribly busy, so I stayed for a few minutes and showed her how to set up a search for that specific bag. My daughter would have been horrified that I was talking to strangers again, but it was such a nice connection. I’m glad she felt comfortable saying “Excuse me, but is that a vintage Fossil bag?” Thanks for helping us be more intentional about being approachable!
I’m so glad you started with countenance (it’s a given, right?). When women “of a certain age” claim they’re invisible, I kind of scratch my head. I couldn’t agree more with your advice. You are doing a service by making us consider how we approach the world around us.
I love your handbag story and this happens often to me with accessories. They are great for conversation…thanks for sharing your eBay tip as well.
Pam, with your gorgeous smile and lovely pink blazer Id call you the best example of approachable I know. Happy glow —just draws people to you….
So you could have on anything and still be approachable as long as you are confident and feel good. That makes sense. How about polished? Polished seems to be refined and perfected. How do you dress for that?
I also scratch my head at feeling invisible…I CHOSE not to feel that way and it is a choice. We still have a lot of living to do and I plan to do it with a smile. Thanks Kim!
I love wearing a happy glow…I guess my spring palette really is ME. Thanks Paulette.
I have always interpreted polished as “put together” or purposeful. A refined, elegant look to me says classic. The reason I like dressing with style adjectives is that they all work together to style outfits that are me. So when I say polished, the adjective keeps my creative adjective under control so that I am not too crazy with my style. I hope that makes sense…so I put together an outfit that is polished with traditional pieces like a blazer and add a touch of creativity to it….here with my top and accessories. If I was a traditional classic dresser, my adjectives might be refined, elegant, simple, understated, classic….let me now if you see what I am saying.
I agree being approachable starts with your own respect for yourself. Although all of us are vulnerable and can be hurt, we should not be our own worst enemy, either out of defensiveness or because we have absorbed too many messages about youth or body type. Sure, we are older, which means we are experienced, wise, and lucky! Sure, I have a fluffy middle, a sign I enjoy life and am quite contented. We need to flip our messages, because all our flaws have elements of positivity. How we dress is so important, because, as you always tell us, it’s our first message to the world.
I love flipping the messages because all have elements of positivity. Great advice Linda!
I, too, compliment others when I have an opportunity to do so. The flip side of that is knowing how to accept a compliment. That can be difficult for some of us because we tend to downplay them & ourselves. Saying thank you upon receiving a compliment is also a sign of confidence. I appreciated your explanation of your polished adjective. I thought your adjectives for a traditional classic dresser were spot on. That is the type of dresser I am, & those adjectives are exactly the message I want to send.
Thank you, Becky!
Your gorgeous smile always lights up your face and makes you approachable. Your spring color palette adds to your glow. I chose navy Bermuda shorts and a navy tee today and navy boat shoes to do chores at home. I looked in the mirror and added a little cream blush and tinted lip conditioner and then my silver hoops. Good enough for making beds and doing dishes. When we go out to walk with Trixy, I will add sunglasses and my white straw hat. We always talk to other dog walkers.
Great advice. A smile is always free. I meet so many people when I walk my dogs. Being a small town gal I tend to be friendly and I guess it shows. At least I hope it does.
Thank you, Sydney!
I am certain it does, Kathie!
I didn’t get a chance to respond yesterday but I just wanted to say I agree with those that said a smile is important. And when we feel good we will smile more.
Good ideas, Pam.
Thanks for coming back around to the approachable post, Paula.
I think that the value of everyday friendly exchanges with people you may not actually know is underrated. We have a dog and I have meaningless chat with all kinds of people while my dog is busy sniffing their dogs private parts. It’s not like I’m spilling my soul to these people, but it’s human contact. Over time it builds up.