Whoever coined the term “retail therapy” was really on to something. How can your spirits not be buoyed after a jaunt through the mall yielded some amazing new togs? Just glancing over at the colorful shopping bags on the passenger seat while driving home is enough to put a big smile on your face.
The process of clothes shopping is actually an exercise in self-care, believe it or not. Wandering through the shops, touching and twirling the various fabrics, trying on outfits, and coordinating accessories is a very tactile and sensory-rich experience. The way the different materials feel against our skin, how that skirt hangs or the blouse drapes—all of these little nuances add to the joy of discovering apparel items that simply make us feel good.
The Joy of Finding Clothes that Make You Feel Good
Many times we set out on a hunt for some new clothes and aren’t even sure exactly what we are looking for—we’ll know it when we see it, we figure. Then, when we finally find the perfect fitting jeans, the perfect blue blazer, or the perfect floral print skirt, it can feel like we just won the lottery. All that time spent traipsing through the stores, trying on one item after another, pays off the instant we slip on that soft, cuddly sweater that feels like heaven on earth. Suddenly, all is right with the world.
The significance of finding clothing that makes us feel good about ourselves cannot be overstated. Even guys have to admit it feels pretty good to be fitted for a stylish new suit. Treating yourself to a special garment, something that makes you feel like a million bucks, is equally fulfilling regardless of being male or female. When you look good, you feel good, and that is universal.
The Psychology of Clothing
Did you know that choosing your clothing has psychological significance? We actually select clothing items that reflect something about our personality that we want to project to the world. We select pieces that reflect who we are, if we’re quirky or intellectual, or anything in between.
For example, someone who lives an active, healthy lifestyle is likely to gravitate toward athletic apparel. Wearing predominantly athletic-type clothing conveys something central about their lifestyle, while they also remain authentic to themselves versus conforming to cultural fashion trends. In this way, clothing becomes a part of someone’s identity.
Wardrobe choices can also have a subconscious affect on our state of mind, especially when it comes to the colors we wear. Color has a powerful impact on our mood, to soothe us or to energize us. Bold colors put us in a cheery, outgoing mood, and that’s great. But sometimes when we’re feeling mellow, it’s the quiet tones in our wardrobe that we’ll gravitate towards.
Science has even explored the concept that your clothing choices can actually drive your behavior. A behavioral study of males, titled “The Cognitive Consequences of Formal Clothing,” found that men who wore formal business attire or tuxedos felt more powerful, and exhibited higher levels of intellect, creativity, and control over their environment than the study participants wearing casual clothing.
So, the next time you bust out a stunning new dress to wear to that special event, notice the little spring in your step and smile. When we wear clothes that make us feel good, we can’t help but radiate a positive, happy glow.
