It wasn't all about mulleted German wannabe strippers however. Eurosport introduced me to snooker and figure skating. MTV transformed the way I consumed, invested in and engaged with popular music. This was of course back in the day when MTV was relevant, championing new artists, helping to elevate the music video to an art form, breaking new ground (The Real World was way ahead of its time). My 11 year old self lapped it all up with gusto. I'd spend hours watching VJ's like Ray Cokes, Paul King, Marijne van der Vlugt and Kristiane Backer, discovering artists I would've otherwise ignored. First and foremost MTV was responsible for introducing me to R.E.M. for which I'm eternally grateful.
An added feature of satellite TV was the adverts. Swedish telly at this time consisted of 2 public service channels so ads felt oh so novel. For one reason or another certain ones still reside in my memory - Warsteiner alkoholfrei, C&A Young Collections, Alles Müller oder was, and Head & Shoulders - because first impressions last. Or having dandruff will ruin your life.
I was reminded of the significance of first impressions at a conference I attended earlier this week, around improving vulnerable people's experience of health and social care services. The opening presentation was delivered by a chap with a substance misuse past, now 20 years clean. He provided an open and frank insight into his own experiences as a homeless heroin user trying to access services like A&E and GPs. His unkempt appearance didn't go unnoticed by staff at such services and in his mind on occasion had a significant impact on the way care was delivered, or not as might've been the case. It's clearly not all about being dandruff free in the real world.
His presentation struck a chord with me, as someone who's been involved in providing services for vulnerable people and at times struggled to remain non-judgemental and value neutral, particularly when faced with frequently occurring behavioural patterns. The cunning brain fills your conscience with all sorts of messages based on first impressions, it's up to you to filter these and act or behave accordingly. I hold my hand up and admit that there have been occasions professionally where I've jumped to conclusions based on someone's appearance. Best intentions and all that, sometimes you just have to give yourself a mental slap in the face. My only saving grace is that I'm fairly certain it seldom came across that way to the person in front of me. And noone's perfect.
Don't judge a book by its cover the old adage goes. Sometimes that's easier said than done. Head & Shoulders clearly recognised it. We are all closet cover judgers. Word: Tinder. Two words: heat magazine. Four words: No likey, no lightey. The way we look is obviously only one aspect of our personality and the multi billion pound fashion/beauty/grooming industry's airbrushing, self esteem crushing, debt inducing methods are highly questionable. Some people manage to very successfully navigate the shallow waters of shallowness with a 'fuck the lot of 'em' approach to looks and appearances. Nevertheless a lot of us lap it up like brainwashed minions. In my experience very few people wear clothes simply as a method of covering up their modesty, or have hair on their head just to protect the scalp from sunburn. It's a bit more than that. Making ourselves look the way we feel comfortable with, for sure, looking our best to others, possibly, making a first impression, surely the Head & Shoulders clever clogs weren't right?!
In terms of impressions, my recent purchases may conjure up images of someone who's a slightly frantic spender, which has been well documented, someone who likes to buy (at least) two of everything, also true, someone who loves blue chinos more than anything in the world, perhaps a tad exaggerated, someone who values quantity over quality, very much the case. So here's the fruit of my labour:
French Connection black pea coat - £98
Another Influence camel overcoat - £110
Primark check shirt - £5
Primark burgundy scarf - £5
Primark black roll neck jumper - £8
Asos deep blue chinos - £10.50
Primark royal blue chinos - £10
Asos tweed trousers - £18
New Look brown brogues - £18.50
Le Coq Sportif purple trainers - £24
Asos blue suede shoes - £10.50
My autumn wardrobe has come a long way since the days of Tutti Frutti and MTV's Most Wanted with Ray Cokes, as has my way of seeing the world. Listening to the former substance misuse talker however, made for a timely reminder to do a stock check of my own values and how they influence my perceptions of others I come across. Because first impressions really don't have to last.
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