The Power of Clothing
Even though you may not admit it, or give it much weight, you have been in a lethargic mood before, you’ve gotten up, put on your stupid nice outfit, walked out the stupid door, did your stupid thing, and someone complimented you. Your smile, your blouse, your tie, or even just “you look nice today”. In that moment, a foreign feeling begins to creep up, confidence.
My Freshman year of college, I took a social psychology class, and heard a bit of information that consumed me. Your mood can be god awful, but if someone compliments you, or if you muster up a smile and someone smiles back at you, your brain unleashes a cocktail of happiness that can begin to turn your mood around. This blew the size sticker right off my flat brim hat.
Clothing can boost your psychology in a number of ways. Research has shown that the clothes we wear can affect our mood, self-confidence, and even our cognitive performance.
Mood
The clothes we wear can have a significant impact on our mood. Wearing clothes that we feel good in can make us feel more confident and happy. You’ve heard of a “Power Suit” regardless if you have one or not, its an article of clothing that has cultural significance based on its mood enhancing abilities. On the other hand, wearing clothes that we don't like or that make us feel uncomfortable can make us feel anxious, depressed, and self-conscious. I hate wearing just a T-shirt, I feel like everyone is staring at my voluptuous curves, and I want to crawl under a car. So I don't do it.
A study published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science found that participants who wore clothes that they felt good in were more likely to report feeling positive emotions, such as happiness and confidence. The study also found that participants who wore clothes that they didn't like or that made them feel uncomfortable were more likely to report feeling negative emotions, such as anxiety and depression.
Self-confidence
The clothes we wear can also affect our self-confidence. When we wear clothes that make us feel good about ourselves, it can boost our self-esteem and make us feel more confident. I love seeing all this “hot girl summer, hot girl lunch, hot girls hit curbs” stuff on social media. Lets pull back the curtain and be real for a second, most of it is because we need confidence boosts and this is an outlet. We know how easy it is to feel self conscious in an outfit, but we also know how beautiful that moment is when you absolutely crush it.
A study published in the journal Clothing and Textiles Research Journal found that participants who wore clothes that made them feel confident were more likely to take risks and to perform better on cognitive tasks. The study also found that participants who wore clothes that made them feel less confident were more likely to avoid risks and to perform worse on cognitive tasks.
Cognitive performance
Research has also shown that the clothes we wear can even affect our cognitive performance! A study published in the journal Science found that participants who wore lab coats performed better on cognitive tasks that required attention to detail and focus. This reminds me of that scene from Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia (here)
Another study, published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, found that participants who wore formal clothing performed better on cognitive tasks that required abstract thinking. The study's authors believe that this is because wearing formal clothing primes the mind to think in a more abstract way.
Overall, the research suggests that clothing can have a significant impact on our psychology. Wearing clothes that we feel good in can boost our mood, self-confidence, and even our cognitive performance. This seems to be one of those areas of life that you know, you get it, but you don’t GET it. The power we have over our brains is incredible, and we need to be reminded of it.
Here are some tips for using clothing to boost your psychology:
Choose clothes that fit well and that make you feel good about yourself.
Avoid clothes that are too tight, too loose, or that make you feel uncomfortable.
Dress appropriately for the occasion.
Wear clothes that reflect your personal style.
Use accessories to add a personal touch to your outfits.
If you're feeling down or lacking in confidence, try putting on your favorite outfit or a new outfit that you love. The way you dress can have a big impact on how you feel about yourself.
