Your Outfit has power!
Let Your Outfit Do the Talking
Sometimes after I get dressed my husband will say, “Oh, it’s one of THOSE days is it?” and slowly back away.
Other days he’ll say, “You look extra happy today!”
I’ve not said a word, but I didn’t have to. My outfit did all the talking. It doesn’t just talk to the people around me, my clothes have power over how I feel.
This article and the video above are taken from the Stunning Style Weekly Style Snack! Join us weekly at 11am MT/1pm ET on the Stunning Style Facebook page (HERE) or the FREE Capsule Wardrobes for Classic Style Facebook Group.
Harness the power in your outfits
There is a lot of power in what you wear. It affects what people think of you, sends signals (like stay away from me or I’m approachable), and how you feel.
The thing about power is you can harness and use it to benefit you. Color, pattern, and all the other elements in my outfit can have two different effects on me. They can brighten my mood and help me lift up and out of a funk, soothe and calm me, or they can overwhelm me and drive me deeper into anxiety.
Learning which types of outfits will help me at which times of my life has been key to harnessing the power of my clothes.
I use my clothes to help me in a lot of ways, but one particular way is I dress to affect my mood. I have two typical ways I choose my outfits in order to affect my mood. Right now we are all having a variety of emotions and needs, and these tips will help you harness the power of your outfits to feel better.
Get Dressed
I talk about this all the time, but now more than ever, getting dressed matters. It gives you some control, makes you feel prettier, happier, more productive, inspired. You’re not doing this for anyone else. You’re doing it for you because you matter. It’s a form of self-care.
I won’t go into all the details of this today because I’ve talked about it a lot, but it really makes a difference.
It doesn’t have to mean you dress for the runway. You don’t have to do the full 2-hour get ready option. But putting on actual clothes will make you feel better. Comfortable jeans and a cute tee are functional, comfortable, put together and just as easy to put on as pajamas.
Brushing your hair, a little makeup, even a pair of earrings can make you feel so much better. A lot of the things you usually do to feel better aren’t an option right now, but this is. We are all experiencing a range of emotions right now, from grief to anger to depression and loneliness. Getting dressed is one thing you can choose, control, and use to feel better.
Even if you aren’t going anywhere, a simple outfit will make all the difference.
Festive Outfits
The first way I affect my mood with my outfits is by intentionally wearing something brighter to lift my spirits. I do this when it’s been too gray, cloudy, rainy, and dark for too long. I do it when I want to feel festive and get in the mood for an event, party, holiday, or company.
If I want to encourage myself to feel more social, I’ll wear something more colorful, not only to encourage myself to engage, but also because it signals to other I want to engage.
I’ve suffered from serious depression in the past, and sometimes choosing a happier outfit will boost me. I can choose the amount of color and pattern based on my tolerance levels and what feels good.
Recovery Outfits
When I feel overwhelmed, stressed, tired, anxious, sad, or overall just DONE, I often retreat to what I call Recovery Outfits. I need soothing, calm, and peace. When I cannot control the chaos going on around me, I can control the chaos on my body.
I wear these outfits during or after stressful periods. Even good stress is stress, so after a big event like a party, a holiday, a big project at work, having company, etc.
Recovery outfits are made up of my comfort colors, which for me are black, white, and blue. It can range from a column of black or navy to a combination of those colors. These outfits are no fuss, which means typically no pattern, minimal layering, minimal contrast and minimal accessories.
A recovery outfit for you could be entirely different. Your comfort colors might be other neutrals or colors that soothe you. Comfort might be your top priority.
I wear these outfits during or after stressful periods. Even good stress is stress, so after a big event like a party, a holiday, a big project at work, having company, etc.
Recovery outfits are made up of my comfort colors, which for me are black, white, and blue. It can range from a column of black or navy to a combination of those colors. These outfits are no fuss, which means typically no pattern, minimal layering, minimal contrast and minimal accessories.
A recovery outfit for you could be entirely different. Your comfort colors might be other neutrals or colors that soothe you. Comfort might be your top priority.
Have fun and experiment
This is a great time to have fun and experiment with style, makeup, hair. Give yourself permission to wear what you love if you’ve been living with the shoulds. No worries about what others will think. Get into that makeup drawer and try something new. If you have more time because you’re staying home, take some extra time to play around with style. It’s a fun thing to do
How to know the difference
Do you need a boost or a break?
Do you need some calm or a lift?
Whatever you put on should feel good. You should feel some relief.
If you want to get ready quickly, I filmed my How to Get Ready in 20 Minutes or Less routine to show you how I do it and created a FREE cheat sheet with my exact routine and best tips. Getting ready in 20 minutes doesn’t happen on accident!
