I believe the number one reason a person judges you ‘by your cover’ is because they want to know if they are safe or not. Are you someone they would want to talk with, someone who can offer them an opportunity, or someone who poses a threat? It is a simple as that.
If what you wear harmonizes or goes with your outward appearance and inner personality, then you present a consistent picture, and you are perceived as a known quantity. You are on your way to making a good first impression.
If the outside and the inside are in discord, you are perceived as unpredictable and you need further review. If they have time they will spend it discovering more about you. If they do not have the time, they will write you off. It’s as simple as that.
You know this for a fact, because if you meet someone for the second time and don’t remember the first time, you probably wrote them off. Their presentation did not get a strong positive response. On the other hand, they did not pose a threat to you.
If you would like to be engaging and positively memorable, learn to choose colors and clothes that look like you and carry your message. It is a small investment toward not being misjudged by your cover. And first impressions do count, in fact they make the difference when it comes to being memorable.