Fashion Psychology: How Dressing Well Can Transform Your Confidence

If you’re struggling with your self-image, then your first instinct might be to change the way you look. Sometimes, this instinct can actually be worth listening to. If you know that you look better when you’re dressed in a certain way, then an uptick in confidence is more or less inevitable.

First Impressions and Self-Perception

The clothes you wear influence the way that you’re perceived by others. Turn up to a job interview in a business suit (whether you’re a man or a woman), and you’ll stand a better chance of success than if you’d turned up in a beer-stained t-shirt and a pair of ripped jeans (in most jobs).

If you’re persistently dressed well, and you notice a change in the way that other people perceive and interact with you, then your self-image may change over time in a way that’s more durable. This will lead to a lasting change in your confidence in social settings, and in professional ones.

When making your fashion choices, you’ll need to account for your body type, and your personal preference. If a person on television with a vastly different physique to yours looks good in something, then there’s no guarantee that you’ll look good in it, too. What’s more, even if you did, you might not feel confident dressed in a certain way if it does not match your personal style.

The Power of Enclothed Cognition

Enclothed cognition is a fancy term for a phenomenon that most people recognise. We perform differently when we wear different clothes. A soprano in an opera might be better able to embody her role if she’s dressed for it. Similarly, if you’re dressed in a suit and a tie, then you might be better equipped for an office role. Similar rules apply to the world of dating, sports, and socialising. Dress appropriately for the occasion, and you’ll be better able to meet the demands of that occasion.

Colour Psychology and Mood

The colours we dress in also influence the way we perceive ourselves. If you’re a naturally shy or reserved person, you might shun bright colours like yellow or red, in favour of greys and blacks. But wearing them can actually help to shift your mindset, and actually make you think, feel, and behave with just that little more confidence. 

Of course, it’s a good idea to pick colours that match with one another. This is where basic colour theory, and the colour wheel, come into play. Try to match colours on opposite sides of the wheel before you attempt more sophisticated combinations.

Fit and Comfort

You aren’t going to feel at home in your clothing if it doesn’t fit you properly. Ill-fitting garments can tug at you, subtly and not-so-subtly. They may force you to pay close attention to the way that you’re moving, which can stress you out. On the other hand, clothing that’s well-tailored can help you to move freely and stand upright. In other words, you’ll act in a way that isn’t influenced by your choice of clothing. Comfortable evening dresses will allow you to pick up that award in style; uncomfortable ones will see you shuffling awkwardly around all evening and going home with a sense of misery.

Personal Style as Self-Expression

Clothes are a fantastic opportunity for you to tell the world a little bit about who you are. This will give you a greater feeling of self-identity, especially if you would otherwise feel that you’re hiding in yourself. If you’re expressing yourself through your clothing, you’ll naturally feel a little bit more confident – simply because your outward appearance will match your internal image of yourself.

Photo by Anton van der Weijst on Unsplash