Our outfit is usually the first thing that others will notice about us when we walk into a room.
It can speak volumes on not only our social status, but how we feel about ourselves- did we take time to put something presentable on or did we not have energy to think beyond sweatpants and a t-shirt?
Turns out there is a science behind our wardrobe choices, and no two articles of clothing are an accident.
There are some outfits that have safe assumptions concerning who you are, like a police officer in uniform or a nurse wearing scrubs.
But then there are certain outfits that give you impressions beyond the obvious- think of a well-put-together woman in a red pants suit or a guy in all black denim pants and a black t-shirt.
Clinical psychologist Dr. Jennifer Baumgartner wrote “You Are What You Wear: What Your Clothes Reveal About You,” and she is the leading expert on what she calls the “psychology of dress.”
There are psychological issues that your clothes reveal about you Baumgartner explains, showing how the study of this phenomenon could be vital in increasing your over all well-being.
Forbes reports on Baumgartner’s revelations on how your clothes tell so much about you:
“Shopping and spending behaviors often come from internal motivations such as emotions, experiences and culture. You look at shopping or storing behaviors, even putting together outfits, and people think of it as fluff. But any behavior is rooted in something deeper. I look at the deeper meaning of choices, just like I would in therapy.”
Clothes can work for us or against us, but they always have some impact on our life. Let’s explore some of the ways apparel affects us.
Clothes give you a place in society.
Caste systems have no place in the United States, and our democratic republic government does well not to single out any socioeconomic group. But people crave community and inclusiveness. Americans have created their own way of distinguishing class, and it is by the clothes we wear. Baumgartner tells Forbes: “When you don’t have a specific system, people come up with their own. It’s what helps you figure out where you fit in. Especially now, with the economy, with people losing status, maintaining a sense of who we are becomes even more important. Our clothes help place us where we think we want to be.” The Real Housewives TV series is used as an example because they often try to put one another down by pointing out logos and designers they feel are inferior.Clothes can cast you in a positive or negative light.
While there is no single item of clothing that screams “I’m accomplished!”, there are closet staples that have stood the test of time for being perceived as “successful” pieces, according to Baumgartner. The three mentioned were the little black dress, the blazer, and the pumps. Keep these items nearby so that you can grab them when you are unsure of what comes across positively. Baumgartner tells us why that is: “With classics, history has done the work for you. It has lasted throughout time, so you already know it works. It has multiple functions, and it’s appropriate for different age ranges and body types. It became a classic because it works no matter who you are.” Just as the blazer can define you as an empowered female who is confident and ready to take on the world, there are outfits that give the opposite message. The wardrobe psychologist says: “The worst clothing is the kind that tries to undo, ignore or hide where or who you are, or the kind that shows you didn’t pay attention to your body/age/situation … Any clothes that prohibit you from doing your job well send the wrong message.”Clothes don’t just speak to others; they speak to you as well.
Forbes reports on a fascinating study came out by Northwestern University where a concept called “enclothed cognition” was expounded on. In the study’s report, the researchers explained it as “the systematic influence that clothes have on the wearer’s psychological processes.” We have all experienced this concept when we put on our favorite summer dress that we have received dozens of compliments on. While wearing it we feel confident, beautiful, and our walk and attitude reflect that. As opposed to when we are wearing a frumpy outfit because we only had 5 minutes to get out the door; leaving us feeling self-conscious and fatigued. It’s not just something people say when they tell a down and out friend to get dressed up to feel better. It actually works! “When you dress in a certain way, it helps shift your internal self,” Dr. Baumgartner says. “We see that when we do makeovers, and even actors say that putting on a costume facilitates expression of character. That’s just as true for everyday life.” Don’t let your wardrobe shape you, but shape your wardrobe to represent the person you want to come. Let go of clothing that doesn’t speak to the future you. When you walk in a room your outfit should lift you up, and if it doesn’t it’s time for a thrift store drop-off.