Personal style is more than just looking cute. During that split second glance in the bathroom mirror, or the moment where we catch our reflection in a passing taxi window, reality can shift.
Last week, you had a fresh haircut and felt on top of the world. Today, your rushed decision to wear those expensive but uncomfortable shoes that make your ankles look fat caused you to skip lunch and sulk at your desk.
What Is My Fashion Style and Why Does It Matter?
For many, our mental state is at least partially tied to fashion. Defining our personal style helps us feel in control of how others perceive us, and sets a tone without saying a word. We ask ourselves “What is my fashion style?” in an attempt to find order in chaos.
What Is My Fashion Style and Why Does It Matter?
For many, our mental state is at least partially tied to fashion. Defining our personal style helps us feel in control of how others perceive us, and sets a tone without saying a word. We ask ourselves “What is my fashion style?” in an attempt to find order in chaos.
It’s Friday night. You head home after a quick session at the gym for a change of clothes before drinks with friends. What do you reach for? Are you picking an outfit - or are you making a subconscious declaration of your expectations for the evening?
Cultivating self-expression and personal identity through fashion choices is a constantly evolving quest for recognition and understanding. Human brains are capable of everything from euphoria to sabotage. Both internal self reflections and external relationships can be at the mercy of how we’re feeling at that moment.
Sustainable happiness and finding ways to make sure the good days outnumber the bad are the result of looking deep into our psyche to develop physical, emotional and mental coping mechanisms for daily obstacles.
Psychology of Fashion
Prominent fashion institutions are beginning to recognize that fashion has a tremendous impact on our mood, identity, and self-confidence. London College of Fashion offers a Bachelor of Science degree in the Psychology of Fashion. Accredited by the British Psychological Society, students spend 3 years dedicated to topics ranging from the relationship of fashion and wellbeing, to the changing nature of fashion’s influence on identity, and evaluations of consumer behavior in different parts of the world.
Brands may use the psychological aspects of fashion to trigger emotional connections with the garments they’re selling. But you can take the reins of your personal style to send non-verbal cues that communicate who you are. In turn, bringing joy when the frequency you’re transmitting results in being appreciated as you intended.
Your Personal Style, Your Rules
Fashion trends come and go, and your personal style probably looks different now than when you were a freshman in high school. Yet something at the core of your sense of self probably radiates through your fashion choices over the course of your life.
Whether it’s hearing people describe you in a positive light, or noticing others label you as a leader and not a follower - we can all learn to manage a portion of our happiness with intentional style decisions.
Bottom line. What you wear should feel good. Over intellectualizing why it feels good isn’t always necessary. By getting in touch with your body’s relationship with clothes, you will instinctively know what’s the right style for you.