Have you ever rocked a style item that made you feel utterly stunning? Heads turned, everyone was welcoming, and you were glowing from the inside out? 

That’s not a magic trick. That’s science. 

Psychology in fashion is a real phenomenon, and it impacts everything from how you think and feel in certain outfits to how other people perceive you. It’s a big topic, but once you understand the data and rationale, you’ll be well on your way to throwing together outfits that make you look and feel incredible.

Fact: What You Wear Shapes What You Think

If you want to think bigger, smarter, more positive thoughts, try meditating… or curating your closet! It’s true: research demonstrates that what we wear has a substantial and measurable impact on our thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors. 

The concept of psychology in fashion is very thoroughly studied and is known to scientists as “enclothed cognition,” which is just a fancy way of saying that our minds are grounded in our bodies, and our bodies are partly grounded in—you guessed it—the clothes we put on them. 

This is because clothing doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Every single item of clothing is a symbol that’s loaded with cultural, environmental, and societal meanings. For example, imagine putting on a beautifully cut power suit that’s tailored perfectly to your unique proportions, flattering your best features. 

Now that you have that image in your head, ask yourself: what are you thinking? That you’re ready for a prime spot in the corner office? You wouldn’t be far from the truth: research on enclothed cognition demonstrates that our outfits can and do impact our performance levels. In other words, the more elevated we look, the higher we reach! In our culture, a power suit is associated with just that: power, competence, and drive. 

The same association between clothing and thought exists for every other outfit you can imagine, from that swingy little party dress to lazy loungewear. 

Fact: Your Outfit Impacts How You Feel

If our thoughts influence our behavior and performance levels, our emotional states often play an even bigger role in how we show up, work, play, and succeed. 

Studies on the psychology of fashion have found an intriguing correlation between a nation’s economic prosperity levels and women’s hemlines: when a country is threatened by a recession, hemlines get longer and when a nation’s economic outlook is rosy, hemlines get shorter! In a sly way, the length of women’s skirts can be an indicator of how well a country is performing economically and, crucially, how its citizens feel about that performance. 

It might seem like a strange correlation, but if you think about it, it makes perfect sense: the more happy and confident you feel about yourself and your place in the world, the more likely you are to strut your stuff in a mini. If, on the other hand, you’re experiencing anxiety or discomfort, you’re much more likely to cover up. And what can make us more happy and confident than a sense of security and abundance? 

So, next time you sift through your closet, take a moment to think about how each item of clothing you own makes you feel: confident, powerful, nervous, comfortable, elegant? Then, when you need a mood boost, grab your happiest outfit to feel better stat! 

Fact: Your Style Sends a Message to Others

If our clothes act as powerful cultural, social, and even economic symbols, then it goes without saying that how we present ourselves to the world will have a major impact on how others see us. And research bears this out: we scan each other’s outfits for clues about social status, personality traits, and even our careers.

For a super easy thought experiment, picture somebody in a lab coat. What comes to mind about them? There’s a good chance that some of the following traits made it on your list:

• Capable
• Educated
• Scientist or doctor
• Comfortable income

This is actually really good news because it means that how others see you is largely up to you! It’s in your power to present yourself exactly how you want to be seen: an urban trend-setter, the demure and shy type, an executive leader, or anything in between! 

Myth: You Have to Be a Fashion Expert to Feel and Look Gorgeous

Ever looked at a flawlessly-dressed stranger and wondered what kind of magic power they have to look so effortlessly put together? 

Well, guess what? You can look that good, too.

The psychology of fashion demonstrates beyond doubt that clothes are symbols that each of us can learn to use in a way that reflects our thoughts, emotions, and desires, as well as empower us to curate our own image in other people’s eyes. 

At InnataStyle, we’re firm believers in researched-backed, data-driven approaches to fashion because, as style coaches and wardrobe experts, we know that a sense of style is totally learnable. And we have the tools and expertise to help you discover and refine a wardrobe full of outfits that align effortlessly with YOUR distinctive lifestyle.