I am a firm believer that what you wear can have a fundamental affect on your self esteem. We all have that one outfit that we feel amazing in, like we can conquer the world. When we look good, we feel good.
Enclothed Cognition
Enclothed cognition is basically a combination of what the clothes mean to you and the actual experience of wearing them. Scientists carried out a study where people were given a white lab coat to wear. Those who were told that the white coat belonged to a doctor had an increase in the attention that they paid to a task while those who were told it belonged to a painter showed no difference at all. This goes to show that it isn’t just how clothes look that make the difference, it is how we perceive them.
This immediately makes me thing of the power suit. There are certain things that you put on that make you stand a little taller and increase your self esteem. If I have something important like a meeting I reach for my tailored trousers, structured blazer and heels. Straight away I feel more confident and like I will be taken more seriously. This isn’t just about how I perceive myself, it is about how others perceive me. If I rocked up to that same meeting in my ripped jeans and leather jacket I would be laughed out of there. I would come across as being unprofessional and it would be assumed that I didn’t think the meeting was important enough to make an effort for.
Express Yourself
Fashion gives us all the chance to express ourselves and show the world who we are. It isn’t just about showing our personalities, it can also be about showing how we are feeling. Sometimes if I’m feeling a little low I know that if I make an effort with my makeup and outfit that it will really boost my self esteem and my mood.
Do you have a fail safe outfit that always makes you feel good?
