Our clothing choices play a large role in how we express ourselves and show our personal identities to the world. Because of this, our mood and confidence can be heavily impacted by what we choose to wear. Not only because of how comfortable it feels physically, but mentally too. What we wear can be referred to as “non-verbal communication”, as we are sending a message to those around us through our clothes. In this blog, we are going to explore the relationship people have with their clothes, and how it affects our mood and confidence in our daily lives.
For starters, it’s important to acknowledge the more obvious links between our clothing and mood. In the same way that our clothes can influence our mood, our mood influences our clothes. For example, if you wake up feeling happy and upbeat - you may choose to wear something more colourful or “put-together”, but if you woke up feeling not-so-great, you may prioritise wearing something more casual and comfortable in darker colours, as you don’t have the energy for anything beyond that.
Scientists refer to this phenomenon as “enclothed cognition”. It is used to explain how our mood is actively shaped by our clothes. Research has shows that a persons focus, confidence and relaxation can all be linked to the type of clothing they’re wearing. By choosing clothes that align more with your current mood, or the mood you hope to have for the day, can allow for you to feel more inline with yourself and your well-being.
This theory not only works with our mood, but our confidence too. If you’re wearing a tailored suit or a sleek, fitted dress - you’ll likely feel put together and give off a confident, self-assured vibe to those around you. When we dress in a way that makes us feel empowered, we carry ourselves with more confidence and less insecurity. This is where the famous saying of “dress for success” comes from. If you think about important life events - a job interview, first date, important work presentation - a lot of thought goes behind what to wear. This is because it not only affects how you feel personally, but as mentioned before, sends a message of confidence to those around you. If you showed up to one of those functions wearing sweatpants and a shirt, you wouldn’t get the respect you are looking for in a situation like this.
Clothing also allows us to showcase our personalities to the world. They don’t define who you are as a person, and you shouldn’t make judgement on someone based on their clothes, but they can help you to create an image that you feel accurately describes yourself. If you are a bohemian free-spirit, or a corporate professional - chances are your clothing choices are going to look quite different within your personal lives. Your wardrobe is a canvas where you can paint your identity. Developing a personal style allows you to create a sense of individuality allowing for a deeper connection with oneself.
In today’s world, fast-fashion has certainly taken over, and this can be a major factor in not identifying your own personal style. The constant changing trends leads people to buying more and more clothing, that they may not necessarily like for themselves but is what is currently considered “cool”, leaving them to not have much of a solo identity when it comes to clothes. Focus more on buying less, but buying better. Get pieces that work for you and your personal style - which will last long and never go “out of style”, because it is your style. It’s timeless for you.
In conclusion, it’s clear to see there is a major link between what we wear and how we feel. Not only do clothes influence our mood and confidence within our selves, but they can be used as a form of expression and communication to those around us. By embracing our own personal style and finding an identity within ourselves, we can buy more sustainable clothing that lasts longer and makes us feel better than sticking to the trends.