How do the clothes you wear impact your mood and mindset?

Have you ever put on your favorite dress, jumper or t-shirt and immediately stood a little
taller? Or put on sweatpants after work and felt yourself relaxing into your evening? If so,
you’ve experienced what psychologists call ‘enclothed cognition’ – the idea that what we
wear can affect our behavior, mood, confidence and the way we connect with others
around us.

Perhaps, then, if we subscribe to the idea of enclothed cognition, we can help influence
how we feel in our day to day lives. Whilst there’s no suggestion that bright, comfortable
clothing can be a cure for anxiety, perhaps it can help in a small way, giving us a self-
esteem boost or even just making us more comfortable as we go about our daily tasks.

Ready to rejuvenate your wardrobe? Let’s dive in and see what impact clothing can have
on your mood and mindset.

Colour
You may be familiar with the idea that the color of our homes and workplaces can affect
how we feel. This is called color psychology, with certain colors actually invoking physical
reactions, such as increased blood pressure and increased metabolism. For example, red
typically signifies love, but also danger – if you see a red sign in the street, you’re likely to
assume something is wrong, or you can’t go there.

The same theory applies to the color of the clothes you wear. Bright colors can help you
feel energized and confident, whilst neutrals make you feel more relaxed and calm. Your
color choice can influence how others perceive you too. A 2020 study showed that 51% of
people associated black with sadness, 39% of people associated green with contentment,
and 52% of people associated yellow with joy, amongst other results. Whilst the study
wasn’t clothing-specific, those opinions are likely to hold some weight in the textile world
too.

Conformity and self-expression
In the study of psychology, it’s suggested that our choice of clothing can be really
important for self-expression, either making yourself stand out from the crowd or blending
in with a group to make you feel part of the community. Uniforms are required at some jobs
for this exact reason – not only does it mean that employees are immediately
recognizable, but it creates a sense of cohesion, and the impression that every team
member is on the same level.

It’s possible to blend the two, as well – for example, wearing a suit to work, but with a
bright lining, a vibrant tie or simply choosing a more tailored version to showcase your
personality and individuality.

Taking care of ourselves
When we know we look and feel good, it can be a huge boost to our mental health. That
doesn’t mean you need to dress in fitted or fashionable clothing every day – even wearing
your favorite jumper that fits well can make you feel like you’ve put some effort in. Taking
the time to choose clothes that you’re happy with is a perfect example of taking care of
yourself, and giving you a boost of positivity at the start of your day.