What we wear is who we are (and here's the science behind it)

Your clothes quite literally inform your identity.

That’s not just my opinion; it’s been proven by science.

On Tuesday I shared a post about a fascinating fashion psychology study which showed the link between what you wear and how you feel about yourself.

In one experiment , scientists gave each participant a lab coat.

Then they divided the group in two.

They told Group 1 that they were wearing a doctor’s lab coat.

They told Group 2 that they were wearing a painter’s coat.

In tests, Group 1 performed better and had better attention to detail.

And scientists concluded it’s because doctors are seen as serious, intelligent and focussed… So when participants put on a ‘doctor’s lab coat’ they embodied that identity and embraced those qualities.

This isn’t the first study to prove something called ‘embodied cognition.’

In other words, we embody the identity of whatever we perceive the meaning of our clothes to be.

• It’s why when you put on good sportswear, you’re more likely to be geared up for your workout.
• It’s why when you have a big work meeting, you might choose to wear a ‘power’ suit.
• It’s why you change into pyjamas when it’s bed time

It’s why, after a couple of years of wearing your ‘loungewear’ for everything, you feel kinda ‘meh.’

Your identities are all mixed up - there’s no physical signifier of how or when to change gears.

Your clothes tell you who you need to be in any moment, and how you should behave.

And it isn’t about how other people perceive you.

It’s how you view yourself.

In fact, other studies have shown a link between ‘dress’ and ‘self’ - and our integrity.

In another study , scientists gave participants sunglasses. They told them that half were genuine Chloe glasses, and the other half were ‘fakes’.

They then found that participants in ‘fake’ glasses cheated ‘significantly’ on tasks compared to those wearing ‘genuine’ sunglasses.

In a follow-up experiment, researchers found the impact of wearing ‘fake’ products on your behaviour is due to feeling inauthentic.

If you’ve listened to this week’s podcast , you might have heard me say it’s better to save and buy the actual thing you really want… than buy two or three ‘dupes’ or ‘fakes.’

Not only is this better from a Cost Per Wear perspective (because you’re more likely to look after, treasure and use an investment piece) - it’s also about authenticity.

You know who you’re being in every moment of your life.

So the next time someone tells you clothes don’t matter - tell them the science says otherwise.?

*******************************************************************

Stuck in a style rut? There's still time to book your online Wardrobe Refresh.

I’ve condensed my signature Wardrobe Refresh method into a half-day online package to help you:

Create a solid vision for what you need and want from your style

Find new ways of wearing your clothes (and lots of great new outfits)

Save loads of time and money long-term by learning the secrets to effortless style

In this 1:1 programme, you’ll get:

A workbook to help you dig into the WHATs and WHYs of your wardrobe

• 1-hour of vision-building coaching time
• 2-hours of wardrobe time, where we create outfits, sort through what aligns with your vision (and what doesn’t), find out what’s really working for you and get it ORGANISED!
• 2 weeks of Voxer/Whatsapp support following your session as you embed your new-found sense of style into your life
• Follow-up journal prompts and resources to keep you feeling stylish and happy alllll season long!

It’s for you if:

• You’re stuck in a bit of a rut and need something quick and fun to get you out of it
• You used to love clothes and feel like you have a good sense of what you want… but you’ve lost it somewhere along the way
• You keep meaning to ‘get it sorted’ but keep saying you just ‘don’t have time’
• You’re a business leader, founder or executive who needs to show up and feel good about yourself
• You want to save time and make money

If you book through October, your session (and follow-up support) is just ￡199.

Cheaper than all that stuff you’ve just added mindlessly to your Zara basket! (yea, I see you)…

If this sounds like just the thing you need,?click here to book your session

You can ALSO book this as a Christmas gift (you’ll receive a printed gift voucher to give your recipient) - reply to this email if you’d like to do that.