Most of us know that our clothing affects other people’s perceptions of us. However, many of us aren’t aware – or forget – that our outfits can also reflect and impact how we feel about ourselves. This article will take a look at how our mood impacts our choice of clothing as well as how our outfits can affect our mood.
How Can Our Mood Impact How We Dress?
We may not always be consciously aware of it but what we wear is often a direct reflection of how we were feeling when we picked out our outfit for the day. For example, if you’re having a tough time or feeling sad, you’re more likely to reach for comforting clothing, like warm, cosy items you can snuggle up in and feel protected from the outside world.
If you’re extra-tired and living life on autopilot you’re more likely to reach for a ‘uniform’ of sorts – for example, wearing the same t-shirt and pair of jeans every day on the school run or reaching for that trusty black dress for work that requires very little thought. On the other hand, if you’re in a good mood, you’re much more likely to reach for something bolder or more daring, like bright colours or loud prints to express your confidence and happiness.
We also project feelings onto clothes depending on how we’ve felt when wearing them. For example, if we’ve had a bad date or unsuccessful job interview in a certain outfit, we’re less likely to reach for it again in a similar scenario. On the other hand, we might become attached to particular pieces of clothing and see them as ‘lucky’ or special if we’ve had good experiences when wearing them.
How Can Our Outfit Impact Our Mood?
On the flip side, what we wear can also have an impact on how we feel. For example, choosing to wear clothes that you feel confident in can instantly boost your self-esteem, regardless of whether other people even see them. For example, people might not know you’re wearing matching red lingerie but it will still secretly work its magic on your confidence!
When it comes to your work life, wearing the right clothing can help you focus better and be more productive. Research has shown that dressing for success matters, with employees much more likely to get ahead in their careers if they look the part. Dressing smartly can even make you think and act smarter too!
Our outfits can even indirectly affect our health, particularly when it comes to physical exercise. Wearing workout clothes or athletic wear can be a self-fulfilling prophecy as it can increase our motivation and encourage us to actually get up and do some exercise, which is fantastic news for people looking to get fitter and healthier as regular exercise has a wide range of benefits for both physical and mental health.
Collaborative post.