Do Looks Matter?

I posted a picture of my niece on Instagram the other day. The caption was "She's just too cute not to share" then with a few necessary hashtags. Granted, she really is the cutest baby, and granted, it was an adorable picture of her, but still, the thing I highlighted about her was her looks.

You often hear about parents and teachers telling their children "Looks don't matter," and "You're beautiful, just the way you are." And I know that's what most parents really think and what they intend to teach their children, but do we send them subliminal messages when we highlight their looks, or work so hard to get them dressed or do their hair or get them out of their princess/pirate costume they want to wear to the store?

I'm not necessarily saying that it's bad to care about our own and children's looks, but it makes me wonder, do looks matter?

And not only with children, in the adult world, do looks matter?

Part of preparing for an interview is usually getting the right look for the job you're applying for. You wouldn't go into an interview for Hot Topic in a suit and tie, and you wouldn't go into an interview for a banking job in ripped jeans and a t-shirt. Do looks matter?

Dating. There's another pandora's box. Do looks matter in dating? Is physical attraction important? What do we often first notice about someone we end up dating or having interest in? Their looks. I dare to say that it's not often we end up dating someone that we are not physically attracted to. Although, I also believe that physical attraction does grow and we are not always attracted at first to the people we end up dating. But, do looks matter?

One of the first things I do in the morning after I wake up, and before I leave the house, is get ready. I shower, do my hair, make-up, get dressed, get re-dressed in a different outfit... it ends up taking time. I've wondered if I added up all the time I've spent on getting my looks to be the way I want (not to mention the money spent on clothes and cosmetics products) how much it would be, and what I would have been able to do with that time (and money). I'm not saying it's a bad thing, my parents will attest that I do own my fair share of clothes, but, do looks matter?

I think the conclusion I've come to, is yes. Looks do matter. The question then becomes should they? and how much?

The answers to those questions, I do not know, and can wait for another day.

Anyway, those are the ramblings of my crazy mind, have a great day and be happy!