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| What Your Clothes Say About You and Your Self-Image |
Your sense of style and the things you choose to wear are reflections of your general confidence, health, and mood. This phenomenon is known as "enclothed cognition" by scientists. Professors Adam Hajo and Adam D. Galinsky of Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management describe it as "involving the co-occurrence of two independent factors -- the symbolic meaning of the clothes and the physical experience of wearing them" in a Journal of Experimental Social Psychology article. The respondents were asked to complete tasks while wearing a lab coat, similar to what physicians wear, a coat similar to what painters wear, or neither. Researchers discovered that when respondents wore the physicians' jackets, their sustained attention rose, but not when they wore the painters' coats or no coats at all.
In a similar vein, Mind What You Wear: The Psychology of Fashion, written by Professor Karen J. Pine of the University of Hertfordshire (UK), states that "when we put on a piece of clothing we cannot help but adopt some of the characteristics associated with it, even if we are unaware of it." "If I'm in casual clothes, I relax and am tomboyish, but if I dress up for a meeting or a special occasion, it can alter the way I walk and hold myself," said one of the study participants, according to Pine's book.
The Body Empowerment Coach Lisa Stariha works to develop in her clients the same belief. It is crucial, according to her, to "get up, get dressed, and never give up each day." Stariha, who often works from home, is aware of how comfy working in yoga pants and a warm top can be. In the same way that Wonder Woman transitioned from her Diana Prince uniform to her kick-butt Wonder Woman outfit, she asserts that "to feel more beautiful, confident, and strong, you must change out of the yoga pants and put on clothes that give you power."
One of the things my co-authors, Jean Otte and Rosina L. Racioppi, and I discussed in our book WOMEN Are Changing the Corporate Landscape: Rules for Cultivating Leadership Excellence, is how significant and powerful the correct clothes—and even the appropriate undergarments—can be. Furthermore, according to Business Insider, "clothing significantly influences how others perceive you and how they respond to you." This means that your wardrobe has an impact not only on your confidence levels but also on your success.
High heels, a little black dress, and premium perfume were among the items on the top 10 list for women in a poll conducted in 2014 by automaker Kia on what inspires confidence in individuals. A cleanly shaven face, a brand-new suit, and a pleasant-smelling aftershave were among the requirements for males.
It's become a major industry to understand the psychological mechanics of why wearing clothes that fit us may boost our self-esteem, increase our confidence, and help us advance in the profession. From celebrities to regular people, image, style, and branding consultants are employed by a wide range of people; in fact, over 56,000 individuals reported working in this field in 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Through personal brand and style analysis, body and color analysis, wardrobe analysis, personal shopping, and virtual style consulting, Kim Peterson of Uniquely Savvy empowers people to take charge of their own lives. More forward-thinking companies invite Kim to conduct workshops for their staff on these self-empowerment subjects.
The next time you grab for that hot red dress or your yoga trousers, consider how it will make you feel and what it is saying about the world around you right now.
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