The psychology of clothing: how clothes affect the image you have of yourself
Working in the fashion industry as an international fashion model for many years has exposed me to the world of clothing and the profound effects it can have on people. I have seen how clothing can transform someone from the ordinary to the extraordinary simply by wearing a garment that makes you feel somehow different in an elevated way.
Certain items of clothing can trigger memories of something you once liked or admired long ago. Women who used to dress up as girls can feel like an elegant princess again by simply putting on a long dress. Men can feel empowered and handsome by wearing the right belt buckle, vest, or boots. They feel like nothing in the world can stop them or get in their way, as they believed when they were kids acting like cowboys. Playing dress up as children and dress up as adults undoubtedly alters their own personality because they behave differently depending on the outfit they choose to put on and the character they choose to play.
The quality of the clothes you wear has a profound psychological effect on you and those around you. Labels and branded items represent wealth, high quality of life, achievement, privilege, and sometimes self-respect. Quality items can symbolize a personal achievement, such as rewarding yourself with a luxury piece after reaching a goal, or purchasing something of quality to mark a special occasion. When they dress quality, they feel a certain amount of self-respect, or at least self-actualization. Others realize how they behave and the quality in which they have been involved and cannot help but change their approach and reaction by showing them respect. The two go hand in hand: treat yourself with respect (wearing the best quality you can afford) and others treat you with respect.
Consider the effects of colors on the clothes you wear. Each color under the rainbow has a positive and negative trait. It is scientifically proven that color can influence thinking, social behaviour, health and relationships. The use of certain colors can subtly, and sometimes strongly, evoke certain reactions from others. For example, the color red can help build confidence or can make you appear dominant and aggressive. The color gray can earn you respect and has a neutral effect, but it can make you look drab or a bit boring if used too much. Wear blue if you want to give an air of authority. Avoid purple if you are depressed.
Before you get dressed, consider how you feel, who you will see, what you will do. All this together will determine how you behave in the world and how others react to you. Do you need to make a statement? Do you need to get noticed? Do you feel calm and want some peace? Your choice of clothing will help you and those around you create the mood and reaction you want. I have seen it time and time again in the fashion industry as a model. Every time I got dressed, I felt more confident, I gained respect and the doors of opportunity opened for me. You will too if you try it!