How Your Choice of Clothing Can Affect Your Mood, Confidence and Career

The fashion industry has always been a cornerstone of pop culture and an important aspect of everyday life, but did you know your choice of clothing can have an impact on your mood?  

For some people, clothes are just clothes, and the last thing they are concerned about are fashion trends. But for others, clothing not only provides them with a way to stand out in a crowd, but it also helps to empower or improve their mood substantially.

So whether it’s the pajama set you relax in after a hard day or the bespoke suit you wear to work, it’s worth noting how your garments of choice affect your mood, and impact your career. In this post, we’ll take a look at the various ways this can happen for good and for bad.

Improve your self confidence

There are many different aspects of everyday life that can influence your self-confidence. We tend to feel more comfortable and at ease when we are confident, and for many people, their self-esteem stems from their appearance. It’s incredible to think that a dress, a suit, a hat or even a new pair of trainers can alter your approach to specific scenarios — but hey, humans are a weird and wonderful bunch.

The link between clothing and confidence isn’t always for the same reason. For some people, it’s due to the way it makes them look — which can prove to be especially crucial for people who are conscious about their weight. For others, it’s much more about the brands they wear and presenting a bespoke and ‘on trend’ look, which for many people is an essential part of their self-image. 

Career empowerment

In the 1980’s the power suit not only redefined woman’s fashion but also made a statement about female professionals being authoritative figures in the workplace. And although these days you may want to leave the shoulder pads at home, the importance of clothing, appearance and other people’s perception of you is still vital in a professional arena.

The type of clothes that empower you at work will depend on the industry you’re part of. For some, this may come in the form of a custom tailored suit that wows colleagues and clients, while presenting an image of a consummate professional. Many companies have a casual-professional dress code, so there’s more focus on putting an outfit together that makes you feel comfortable and confident. Two traits that can work wonders in the workplace where stress and anxiety are common.    

Relaxing at home

The majority of the clothes we buy tend to be for time spent outside of your home, but there’s a lot to be said for investing in some comfy items that help you to relax during your downtime. For example, treating yourself to some luxury pajamas not only means that you’ll be lounging around in the comfiest of comfy clothes, but it also will give you an excuse to spend more time relaxing and avoid burning yourself out.

Although many workplaces have adopted a more casual dress code, it’s always a nice feeling to come home and put on clothes that allow you to completely forgot about your job. Whether this is a t-shirt and jeans, a summer dress, or any other outfit that helps you to chill out — being able to relax and recuperate is vital for your body, mind, and overall health.

Clothes that bring back memories

Our brains are a bank of memories that can be triggered at any moment, even by clothes, which is why from time-to-time it’s a good idea to cull your wardrobe of any items that bring back bad memories. Finding your wedding dress after a divorce is definitely at the extreme end of the scale, but anything that carries negative connotations (no matter how minimal) needs to go.

But don’t worry, it’s not all doom and gloom. Anyone who has hoarded clothes or other items over the years will have the occasional moment of joy when they discover something that reminds them of a special occasion, jewelry from a loved one, or even items that serve as weight-loss effort reminders. The latter is a brilliant tool for self-recognition and motivation during tough times.