The Psychology behind a Good Outfit

Fashion is a way of expressing yourself. You may express yourself through your wardrobe, but what is the psychology of an outfit? What effect does this outfit have on your personality? Is it possible that feeling confident in your attire will influence the choices you make throughout the day? Is it going to affect your attitude and interactions with people if you feel insecure in your outfit? What is the psychological aspect of a good outfit, and how does it influence the way you act, portray yourself, and treat others? Fashion has been around for quite some time. The clothes you wear might give you a sense of confidence or insecurity. When you think about red carpets, these stunning, high-priced gowns, you know the individual is feeling their best. However, when a person isn’t feeling confident they tend to shut down, feel insecure, and avoid being seen.

The psychology behind a good outfit is choosing who you want to be. “Wear symbolic clothing for who you want to be, because you take on the characteristics of the clothing you are wearing,” psychologist

Christie Ferrari said on her “Psychology of Fashion” video on Youtube.

She continues, “Are you feeling confident, friendly, fierce? After you decide, walk to your closet and select pieces that help match who you want to be.”

“The first thing I think about when I have an event is what I’m going to wear. When I wear nice clothing, I feel 10 times more confidence,”

Angela Garcia, a former HCC student who considers herself a fashion expert, stated. “Colors can make you feel a certain way, if you feel black heels remind you of a strong business woman, wear black heels to work.” Ferrari said. Professor of Psychology Tonya H. Rondinone shared her thoughts on the psychological aspect of choosing an outfit. “If we feel good while wearing certain pieces of clothing either physically because of the fit or emotionally because we like the way we look in the clothing, this can induce a positive emotion. On the flip side, clothing can also induce negative emotions, you may feel as if the clothing you wear is not on par with your peers, or it may be associated with a loss or trauma, in this case creating a negative emotional reaction,” she said. “If I am wearing an outfit that doesn’t represent who I am, then I feel insecure, I am embarrassed and I want to make myself feel smaller for no one to notice me because that’s not me if they [do] notice me. Even if I am wearing something casual, it’s calculated,” Garcia agreed.

Jackie Vargas, who is a former fashion major, agrees.

“I never truly felt confident in the things that I was wearing because it wasn’t my personality. You cannot put me in a black suit and expect me to be myself because I am going to feel like a completely different person.” she said. On the other hand, Rodinone believes that if an individual is wearing an outfit that makes them feel good, it will change the way they interact with others.“We live in a society where people are often judged by their appearance, especially in social and professional settings. If someone is wearing an outfit that makes them feel good, they are more likely to have a greater sense of confidence and feel empowered. This will impact their interactions with others, as well as set their mood for the moment,” she said.

By Guillermo Hernandez Senior Staff Writer

Photo by Nick de Partee on Unsplash

A rack of endless possibilities.

What guidelines do you use to determine what defines a good outfit? “I based it on where I am going too, I am a planner. Have you seen the movie Clueless? I coordinate my closet as if and I also coordinate my outfits everyday depending on what my mood is going to be like,” Vargas said.

“I ask myself questions when I am shopping; when I am shopping I am looking for longevity. How often am I going to wear this?Will I look back at this in ten years and still consider it cute?” she said. Garcia says that fashion can be for everyone. You don’t need to be into fashion to figure out what determines a good outfit. No matter what you are wearing, if you feel confident, that’s a good outfit.

“Find your niche, let’s say you are a person who throws on a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. If you feel comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt try elevating the things that you feel comfortable or you’re best in.“Try finding Elevated basics, they are simple pieces but they are elevated in small stitching or that’s fitted and textured,” she said. “If you’re trying to drastically change your style, try avoiding picking a style that is completely opposite to what you are feeling inside,” Ferrari cautions.

If you have been suffering from depression, and have a tendency to wear black, for example, Ferrari says that wearing head to toe floral or a bright color like yellow for example might seem like the best idea at the moment, but later throughout your day you are going to feel like you are wearing a costume because you don’t want to put clothes on top of an emotion to hide it drastically. Jonathan Heinzman, a current student at HCC, said that when it comes to a good outfit it’s about your personal style.“Fashion is something personal, you can make it whatever you want.”

“A big part of any outfit is your confidence before you put it on, because if you leave the house feeling confident even if you look like [trash] to other people you know that you’re good. It’s your own energy. Outfits do have an effect on your confidence but also you do as well.” he said.

“...they are more likely to have a greater sense of confidence and feel empowered!”