In a world where everything seems to be out of control, the way we show up in the world is something we have control over. Fashion is a non-verbal communication that can represent our political and religious beliefs, gender identity, occupation, and essence; our appearance, the clothes we wear it sends a message. According to a study conducted by Dr Adam D. Galinksy in Enclothed Cognition, clothes have an influence on the wearer's psychological processes and abilities. The study confirmed that clothing is representative of identity. When we put on clothing with a symbolic meaning to us we cannot help but adopt characteristics associated with that clothing. Furthermore, that fabrics and textiles can influence our perceptions of ourselves and the world.
The clothes we wear can improve our confidence and self esteem, enhance joy and evoke comfort in the following ways:
FABRICS AND TEXTILES
Fabrics such as silk, cotton and wool are known for their ability to allow or limit the movement of air thus regulating moisture. This impacts our comfort when wearing our garments, and we know that comfort influences how confident we feel in our outfits.
COLOUR
The use of clothing colours to express who we are, what we feel and believe has been a long held practice throughout history. For instance, in many cultures people in mourning wear black. In West African cultures chiefs often wore bright yellow garments to signify riches and prosperity. In Medieval Europe only nobility wore the colour purple. Even presently with the current quiet luxury obsession, wearing predominantly white, black and brown signals an old money aesthetic and desire to be of a certain economic class. Colours have symbolic meaning thus influence our perception of the wearer.
FIT
In fashion, thin and willowy is the epitome of beauty and elegance which everyone should strive for. Although there has been a shift to embrace all clothing sizes. For each of us to embrace our individual sizes instead of squeezing our bodies into two sizes too small to maintain a false confidence and perception of our beauty. The fit of clothing affects how comfortable we feel and that affects confident we feel. The confusion around sizing does not help this, the fact that in one store you might be a size 8 while at another you are a size 12. We cannot change an industry but we can control its influence on our self-image, self-esteem, self-love. That is the purpose of fashion as self-care.
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