How What You Wear Can Determine How You Feel

Source: Image by Mircea Iancu from Pixabay

One of the biggest decisions people make in the morning before dashing to work is what to wear. Ironically, it is also often the quickest decision—which might be a mistake. True, some jobs require a uniform, which limits options, except for accessories. Other workplaces have professional standards but allow for a range of appropriate options, such as the courtroom where I work as a prosecutor.

In almost every case, however, there is opportunity for individuality. Research reveals that taking advantage of this flexibility can set a positive mood for the day.

Distinctive Dress for Success

Researchers have explored the nuances of dressing for success. Joseph K. Kim et al. (2023) investigated the combination between conformity and personal uniqueness in a paper entitled “Wearing Your Worth at Work.”[i] Among other discoveries, they found that daily dress aesthetics and uniqueness in the workplace improved state self-esteem, defined as “the degree to which one perceives they are valued and accepted by others in their immediate or near-future situation,” leading to more goal progress and less social avoidance. Although they found similar effects for dress conformity, they were limited to days with frequent interaction.

Kim et al. also found that state self-esteem was boosted when participants donned clothing with symbolic meaning, such as belongingness, distinctiveness, or personal attractiveness—all of which are linked with social value. Although they note their findings include “seemingly paradoxical” goals of both fitting in and standing out compared to professional colleagues in terms of predicting self-esteem, it appears that intentional wardrobe selection was the common denominator.

So how do we acquire an array of appealing options to choose from? Researchers have tackled this issue as well.

Wearing Self-Confidence on Your Sleeve

Tat-Huei Cham et al. (2021) examined the influence of marketing and psychological factors on clothing preferences within the Generation Y population as well as the link between product attitude, self-confidence, and intention to purchase.[ii] Their findings acknowledged the importance of psychological factors such as fashion consciousness and innovativeness, as well as the need for uniqueness, and also marketing factors (including social media) among Generation Y consumers. Culturally, they found differences between Generation Y buyers in Malaysia and Thailand, with Thai consumers putting a stricter emphasis on the impact of social media marketing on clothing interest, and self-confidence on intention to buy.

Looking Good and Feeling Good

The common denominator identified within this research, as well as common experience, is the importance of feeling good about the clothing we choose. Many people underestimate the value of taking the time to think this through in order to make wise choices in criteria from comfort, to climate, to culture. Dressing for success incorporates personal style as well as self-confidence. You may not wear your emotions on your sleeve, but you can boost workday well-being with your wardrobe.