Clothes are of grave importance when it comes to our everyday lives. For centuries humanity perceived clothes as the primary symbol of status. Some colours and fabrics were reserved only for nobility, so workers would save up all their lives just to buy something purple. Buying more expensive clothes was the mean of movement in a highly immovable society.
Even though a lot has changed throughout the years, you can still see that clothing is an ingrained part of society. What you wear shows other people who you are and influences your mood. Your looks can change your behaviour and personality. In short, fashion matters. Why? Read on to find out.
The Way You See Yourself
The most important thing you need for a happy, successful life is self-love. What you wear can significantly impact the way you see yourself. Your style and the clothes you choose reflect and affect your mood, health, and overall confidence. This phenomenon is called “enclothed cognition.” It is used to describe our clothes’ effect on various psychological processes like emotions, self-evaluations, attitudes, and interpersonal interactions. It’s all about the symbolic meaning that we ascribe to multiple types of attire.
Don’t like yourself or the way you behave? Change your style! You can do it by starting with your hairstyle and finishing with the shoes you wear. And contrary to popular belief, changing your appearance doesn’t have to be expensive. You can always cut your hair at home and buy clothes in a second-hand store. Just remember that cutting your hair by yourself can be very harmful if done with the wrong scissors, as kitchen scissors are not as sharp as shears. For more information, you can check out scissortech.co.uk: professional hair scissors.
If you’re feeling blue, you can choose bright-coloured clothing to boost up your energy and mood. We associate bright colours with sun, happiness, and carefree times, so your brain will recognise how you want to feel.
Some gym clothes can be worn as everyday outfits, and they can even help you exercise more. Wearing sportswear on a daily basis makes it more likely that you will do it today. Our workout gear works as a reminder that we must make healthy choices for our bodies, so if you have a problem with being active, dressing like a sportsperson may do the trick.
What Do Your Clothes Tell About You?
Clothing and hairstyles show who you are, both professionally and personally. Wearing veteran apparel means that you have some connection with the army. A red dress can show that you are bold and adventurous, and carrying a Chanel bag implies you have a lot of money. Research shows that you can tell a lot about someone’s personality, politics, status, age, and income just from looking at a photo of their shoes.
Have you ever noticed that politicians change their clothes when addressing different people? For example, when Barack Obama spoke to the working class, he never wore a jacket, and he kept his sleeves rolled up. This way, he could show people that he also had to work hard in his life.
Judgment is a big part of our society. People will decide whether they like you in the first 10 seconds they see you. Usually, this is affected by the way you move and dress. There is a saying that you should dress for the job you want, and it is true. If you start to wear clothes appropriate for the role you want to take, people will naturally begin to see you this way.
When you are dressing or grooming yourself, consider what it is saying about you and the message you want to communicate. Remember that the same thing may have a different meaning in various situations. Let’s take ties as an example. They can make you look reliable and serious in a job in finances, but you can come off as stuffy in the tech startup. In fact, it is the reason why many companies organise Casual Fridays. Formal wear isn’t the best idea when we want to socialise. Studies have shown that people tend to be less open and find it more difficult to relax when they wear formal clothes.
The Bottom Line
Understanding the psychological dynamics of why the correct type of clothing can contribute to us getting a dream job, or raise our self-esteem, can make all the difference. What you wear doesn’t define your value as a human being, but the right outfits worn for the appropriate occasions can show what kind of person you aspire to be. You can choose how others will perceive you and how you will see yourself.
Everything you wear matters. Even underwear can make you feel confident and bold. Taking intentional command of how you dress and present is a good step in empowering yourself, accomplishing your goals, and living a more lucid life at the helm of your decisions.
