It’s not surprising that research tells us that our style is a mirror to our personality. There is a whole new area of psychology that studies what your clothes reveal about you. Clinical psychologist Dr. Jennifer Baumgartner literally wrote the book on this topic, which she calls the “psychology of dress.”
Her book entitled “You Are What You Wear: What Your Clothes Reveal About You,” explains how psychology determines our clothing choice. She delves deeper and looks at psychological issues your wardrobe might be bringing to light in your everyday life, or even at work. It’s a fascinating read, and it certainly got me thinking about my approach to fashion concerning my lifestyle. You can reveal whoever you want to be through what you wear, and determine how others perceive you.
My Clothes Speak to Me and I Respond with Abundance
I am flirty, wear my emotions on my sleeve, impulsive, fearless, demonstrative type of person. I love mixing up my style, pattern clashes, bold colors, edgy, body-hugging, leopard print, style. It’s not safe, it’s out there, and it’s fun. My clothes speak to me, and I respond with abandonment.
“Shopping and spending behaviors often come from internal motivations such as emotions, experiences, and culture,” says Dr. Baumgartner. “You look at shopping or storing behaviors, even putting together outfits, and people think of it fluff. But any behavior is rooted in something deeper. I look at the deeper meaning of choices, just like I would in therapy.”
A study this year from Northwestern University examined a concept called “enclothed cognition.” Researchers define it in their report as “the systematic influence that clothes have on the wearer’s psychological processes,” meaning what your clothes are saying to you, not about you. And how they make you feel ties in with your confidence and sense of self-empowerment. New research has found that your style does more than just send messages to your mind or to others; it can determine how you feel.
I do… You might….. Consider
I keep most of my clothes. I love to reuse older pieces with new pieces as I adapt my look as I move through stages in my life, to bring some sentimental value to my style. Don’t be afraid to mix it up, move in a new direction just as in life, and don’t get stuck in a style psychological rut. Consider your accessories, hairstyle, fragrance, posture, body language, tone of voice, and energy level with which you move and speak.
Science says that our clothes affect our behavior, attitudes, personality, mood, confidence, and even the way we interact with others. This is “Enclothed Cognition “.
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