Never underestimate how clothes can make you feel.
Fancy a confidence boost?
The idea that you get a confidence boost by wearing clothes you love is not a marketing tactic, it really is a science! Your clothes can play a big role in how you feel, how you perform at work and how you interact with other people.
I’m always thinking about clothes because it’s my hobby, my job, my thing, my love. For as long as I can remember I was bothered about what I was wearing and what other people were wearing – constantly looking and analysing why they chose this piece to go with that, did the outfit look curated, was it dramatic, was it stylish, is it telling me something, did it look good, was it just random clothes, did they even care what they looked like?
As a child I noticed outfits that caught my attention for any reason that made me look, when I reached my teens, I just wanted to look at fashion on models, in my twenties I was a fashion designer, in my thirties I was judgemental - but not for long. I quickly realised that what everyday people wore wasn’t about picking garments they loved, but it was about how they felt, what was easy and compatible with their lifestyle, circumstance, income, time, associates, work, friends, family, confidence, size, shape, expectation... there’s more to getting dressed than the fabric and silhouette we first see. Getting dressed is wearing clothes that reflect how we feel Behind the Seams.
Research has revealed people tend to dress the way they feel. If you feel low or unmotivated, you’re more likely to wear unflattering or drab clothing.
A theory by fashion psychologist Dr Dawnn Karen, known as ‘Dopamine Dressing’, suggests that wearing certain kinds of clothes can help you feel happier even on days when you’re not at your best.
So how do we know which clothes are the winning formula, to change your mood?
Dr Dawnn Karen goes onto to say, wearing beautiful prints, saturated colours, and something with a flattering fit will help lift your mood and get you out the door with a smile. I’m not convinced it’s as simple as that for everyone. For example, my hairdresser must wear black to work, and my good friend and client Becky, does not do prints. However, a flattering fit and a reminder you can be very comfortable without compromising on style, I believe is key.
I’m under no illusion that owning a full collection of clothes that provides the perfect ‘happy’ outfit for everyday is not a task that’s done once and then ticked off the list. Getting dressed changes with the seasons, with age, with lifestyle and circumstance. So, if unlike me, you don’t spend your life studying fashion and clothing, then you are totally forgiven for not finding it an easy or enjoyable feat.
If you’re still reading, thank you and can I share this message with you that I received from a client:
“ You are so gifted and have amazing vision. Just super impressed with your skills!! I can’t thank you enough. We’re very lucky to have you. “
What an amazing message to receive, but what is so poignant about this message, and why I’m sharing it, is that this was in response to a gorgeous ballgown that no longer fitted its owner. The disappointment and stark confirmation that this woman had gained weight, even though her eating habits and lifestyle had not changed, was depressing to her, followed by the thought of having to find time to source another outfit, and the psychological implications of having to purchase a bigger size, was not a welcome situation. I’m equally as please as she is that she was brave enough to contact me, and we found a solution to adapt her ballgown to a perfect fit.
I also think it’s important to draw upon some of the points Carolyn Mair say’s in her book, titled, The Psychology of Fashion. Carolyn reminds us,
fashion affects our self-perception and self-esteem, however although fashion is creative, exciting a dynamic, it has many problems. She says, the intension of the psychology of fashion, is to go beyond what our clothes say about us, to understand human behaviour across the fashion industries and make a positive difference in the lives of workers and the environment, not just consumers. There’s a whole process Behind the Seams, the production of what we wear, that hugely affects our planet and people – and need I say it’s currently unsustainable.
The next time you’re feeling down, instead of dressing in your comfiest yoga joggers and an oversized sweatshirt, choose something that makes you smile. A pop of colour or even a little sparkle, something with a flattering fit that will help lift your mood. Also, remind yourself who made that garment – does it make you happy, how was it produced, how did become in your possession, and was it worth it?
Change your mood by changing your clothes & never forget what is Behind the Seams.
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