Does how you dress actually matter?
Does dressing professionally actually matter? Shouldn’t people respect me for my ideas, not my clothes?
As much as you might not want to admit it, how you dress matters. Not just to other people, either. To you, too.
If you’ve ever started a big day trying on a dozen or more outfits only to end up wearing the first thing you put on, and still not really feeling great about it, then you already know that your clothes can play a big part in your mood. Of course, what you wear also has an effect on how other people perceive you, but did you also know that your clothing can change how you think?
If you’re new here, I’m Missy of Simplified Wardrobe, an Ethical Personal Stylist & Capsule Wardrobe Curator. I help ambitious, eco-conscious womxn who want to look great, feel confident, and simplify their lives.
Find more information about personal style, capsule wardrobes, and color analysis over on Instagram. You can also download my free 10-page Guide to Defining your Personal Style.
Here are 5 ways the way you dress actually makes a big difference:
#1 Mental Energy
No matter how serenely your morning begins, things can start to go sideways as soon as you open your closet doors. This common experience can induce panic that starts you off on the wrong foot and cause anxiety that sticks with you for the rest of the day.
Whether you start the morning frazzled, stressed, and disheveled, in an outfit that doesn’t do anything for you or calm, confident, and put together in an outfit that makes you feel confident and in control depends on what’s hanging in your closet.
When you stare blankly into a jam-packed closet and think “I have nothing to wear” this is called the Paradox of Choice. It’s a psychological phenomenon that basically means when you have too many choices, you become paralyzed and have a hard time making a decision.
But the difficulty to make a choice isn’t even the worst part. As the number of choices grows, we become less satisfied with the options and we’re more likely to be dissatisfied with the decisions we do make. That means the more clothes are hanging in your closet, the less confident you’ll feel no matter what you put on.
Our brains can only handle so many decisions per day before they stop functioning at their peak. Do you really want to waste all of your brain power on getting dressed in the morning?
This is why Steve Jobs famously wore a black turtleneck, jeans, and tennis shoes everyday. Barack Obama stated that he has 2 colors of suits and a few basic shirts and ties that he can mix-and-match so he doesn’t ever have to think about what to wear in the morning.
Streamlining your closet, creating a strategic wardrobe, and developing outfit formulas or uniforms can save you precious mental energy that will allow you to save the brain power for more important decisions.
#2 Enclothed Cognition
I’m sure you’ve noticed during the shelter in place, it’s really easy to stay in your pajamas all day, but I know at least for me, when I actually take the time to put on real clothes and even do a little hair and makeup, I feel way better, I’m more productive, and I’m not worried that someone might want to have an impromptu Zoom call.
What we wear really affects our mindset and our confidence. In fact, you’ve also probably read a lot of “Working from home productivity tips” that tell you to get dressed every morning just like you normally would. That’s because changing your outward appearance signals to your brain “okay, now the work day has started.”
Your clothes not only affect your productivity and overall confidence, but scientists at Northwestern University found that the clothes you wear can change the way you think. In one study, subjects had to perform tests while wearing a lab coat like medical doctors wear, a coat like painters wear, or neither coat.
They found that subjects' sustained attention increased while wearing the doctors' coats in a way that their attention did not increase while wearing the painters' coats or neither coat. The lab coat itself made the subjects feel more like a doctor and therefore behave more like a doctor would behave.
I’m sure you’ve felt this before, too. When you’re really polished and dressed to the nines, you feel more confident and prepared for the task.
#3 Creative Thinking
A series of studies shows that the formality of your clothing influences your decision making.
In a series of experiments, students wearing their normal clothes performed a series of standardized tests. Students wearing more formal clothing showed stronger inclinations towards abstract processing.
And in another experiment, participants were randomly assigned to change into either their formal or their casual clothes and then given a test on strategic thinking. Participants wearing more formal clothing focused on the big picture, whereas students wearing their street clothes got stuck more in the details.
So you can use your executive-level clothing to prime your brain for executive-level thinking.
#4 Authenticity
Another way that clothing can affect your psyche is when your clothing matches, or doesn’t match, your internal self. When you feel like you’re truly expressing yourself, you feel calmer, more purposeful, and more confident.
When you feel like you’re hiding who you are that has a psychological affect. When you dress authentically, you’ll not only feel more confident in yourself, but you’ll also attract like-minded people. And you know what they say, “You are the product of the people you spend the most time with.” Consider: who do you want to be?
#5 Perception
Of course, style is not just about feeling confident. Other people notice how you dress, too. What you wear shows people how you view yourself, and it’s the first thing anyone notices when you step into a room.
You might think you’re showing your dedication to your work by not caring about your clothing, but what you’re actually showing is you don’t take it or yourself seriously. If a client, manager, or co-worker has a bad experience with you, that’s one thing. But, sometimes, a they might have a great experience with you but still not refer you for a promotion, a new client, or an opening at their new company because just as much as your style is a representation of you, if they vouch for you, you are a representation of them and their company.
The way you present yourself will reflect back on them, so make sure that you’re always presenting yourself in a way that would make you an asset, not a liability.
Style is just one of many tools we can use to put our best foot forward. I happen to think it’s the most fun, but even if you’re not a “fashion person,” you can strategically curate your wardrobe to feel more confident, increase your brain power, and earn the right kind of reputation so you can be successful.
If you’re ready to step up your style game, I’m here for you. Check out and apply for my styling services.
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