10 things to know about the psychology of fashion
“Fashion is not something that only exists in clothes. Fashion has to do with ideas, with the way we live and with what happens" - said Coco Chanel. How we dress can actually say a lot about who we are and how we feel.
Our fashion sense is based on what we love, what makes us happy and how we want to represent ourselves. The choice of our fashion pieces also affects our mood. Putting on an outfit, going shopping, or decluttering our closet are all psychological activities that make us feel good.
Fashion can express our deepest feelings
Fashion is more powerful than we think. It can determine how we see ourselves. It can also determine how we want to be seen by others. It can also determine how we feel that day. Our moods change regularly, sometimes even multiple times in a day. The choice of our wardrobe brings out these feelings. Fashion can express not only our feelings, but also our values. Our sense of style can be based on what we love and what inspires us.
The choice of wardrobe affects our mood and how we present ourselves
As previously mentioned, our choice of clothing can reflect our mood. Conversely, our fashion choices can also affect our mood. The way we dress can play a role in how we behave in certain situations. For example, today you have an interview for a manager position at a new hotel in town. You show up in sweatpants and your hair tousled... how do you act during this conversation? Do you feel worthy and ready for the challenge? Let's say you show up in your favorite suit jacket and got your hair cut yesterday. How does the interview go then? When we look good, we feel good. As simple as that!
Children and young people express themselves through their clothing
When we are young we start to discover ourselves. Everything inspires us. Everything is exciting. We grow every day. For this reason, fashion is a way for children and young people to find their own form of self-expression. As we grow, we go through many different trends. When kids have the opportunity to use their fashion sense as a form of expression, they might be better able to figure out who they want to be. Finding your own style and daring to set yourself apart from others strengthens your own self-esteem at an early stage.
Harmony of body and mind
If our clothes fit our body, they also fit our spirit. There are always new trends in the fashion world, but we don't have to follow all of them. Having your own sense of fashion and style also means knowing what you like and making it your own. It's not just about colors and patterns, but also about the fit. Finding clothes that fit your body shape is important for many people. We are all different! When we find pieces that fit our bodies and stature and that we feel safe and good in, we can be much happier and freer in everyday life.
"Look carefully in the mirror and only wear what really suits you." Vivienne Westwood
Sportswear can drive and motivate us
Have you ever felt incredibly uninspired to exercise? And have you ever noticed that a good training outfit can change that? Our brains have a quirk: when we're dressed appropriately, we're much more likely to be active. So put on your gym clothes early to activate this part of your brain. Once you've committed to your outfit for this part of the day, you're much more likely to pull through with the workout. It's all in our heads!
Other people's fashion choices can inspire us
We live in a world that is full of inspiration. It is found in our daily interactions, on our smartphones, our laptops and our TV screens. The world outside our four walls is more accessible than ever. When it comes to fashion, we see fashion blogs, online shopping sites, models in advertising, influencers on social media channels and much more. When our eyes are open to all these different sensibilities of fashion and style, it's so easy to be constantly inspired and motivated. Maybe you've never thought about changing your style, but fell in love with the confidence of a character from your favorite series! Your online shopping cart is now full...!
We can find our fashion sense where we live
Many of us dress according to our social environment. Similar to a language dialect, there are different "fashion dialects" in different places. This can be based on climate, daily activities, career choices, personality type, etc. While cities by the sea often show airy, casual styles, we often see business chic in metropolises. So we dress according to our environment.
The desire to adapt
From an early age, many children feel an inner urge to belong. The desire to be on an equal footing with friends and classmates is widespread in society. When it comes to fashion, it means knowing the current trends among your peers. These trends are often visible in one's own group of friends. As we get older, this desire to belong doesn't necessarily go away. It's just finding new ways to show yourself and can be rooted in finding friendships or love, feeling cool or even worthy. Classmates become work colleagues. The latest glowing sneakers are now the boots every internet influencer wears.
Cultural factors can determine our style
The way we were raised can make us feel embarrassed about our clothing choices as adults. As we dress according to our environment, we also dress according to our personal lifestyle. This includes our upbringing, our religious choices, and our cultural environment. In some religions and cultures, the choice of clothing is very specific and strict. As people in these communities age and make lifestyle choices, these limitations can hold them back mentally. When something is prescribed to us for so long, we can be ashamed to wish for something else. For example, a young woman from a religious family may feel embarrassed when she goes to college and decides to dress less conservatively. This is a very common connection between our inner psychology and our day-to-day fashion choices.
confess colours
The connection between colors and fashion is another important psychological link. Colors can be a projection of how we feel, how we want others to feel, and how we would like others to see us. When we're in a certain mood, we may unconsciously choose a color palette that represents that mood. We may also choose colors on purpose to create a special mood in those around us. Our minds are very sensitive to color and fashion is an easy way to exercise this.
"It's really interesting how what you wear can affect who you are." Stella McCartney
