Secrets to Dressing For Nowhere To Go
How to make yourself get dressed when no one will see you
“You can see and feel everything in clothes”
—Diana Vreeland
Dearest Subscribers,
There are days that are meant for robes, t-shirts with bleach stains, and old sweats with random holes around the crotch. I’ve got plenty of those lying around and refuse to call these “practical coverings”, clothes. I'll confess, these garments wrap me in comfort, helping me stay serene, even when my main task involves guarding the toilet from yet another toy-tossing escapade by my boys.
Since having children and post-pandemic, my cherished wardrobe has taken a backseat to make room for the wonderfully unpredictable chaos that comes with the early stages of motherhood. These no-dressing days are now weekdays, weekends, and holidays. I’m not alone in this predicament, but it does make you feel so disconnected from your “old” self. What we put on is intricately linked to how we experience life. Writer Ashley Alt of Fashion is Psychology makes the argument that fashion is little more than a feeling :
each item of clothing we put on, a certain feeling is evoked. This, after all, is essentially what we are all dressing for each day, isn’t it? That one feeling we are trying to grasp, may it be pride, professionalism, boldness or contentment.
And those feelings, just like our style preferences, change and evolve over time.
Some psychology behind dressing
Having remote jobs, with nowhere to actually go thanks to Amazon and the internet, has changed our relationship with dressing. If we didn’t dress for comfort before the pandemic, we definitely dress for comfort now. The younger version of me thought fashion was pain and sacrifice. When shopping for clothes, the idea of comfort rarely came up. But after a lot more life, I find that things have changed. Is seeking comfort in clothing bad? I don’t think so. It’s a delicate balance of style and comfort. But more importantly, it’s about the feeling it brings, even when you have nowhere to go.
Here are some invaluable insights, or secrets, that reveal the power of dressing up, even when there's no specific destination in sight.
Dressing Up for Productivity: Believe it or not, what you wear can have a profound impact on your productivity. Those old sweats might be cozy, but a well-chosen outfit can help you feel more accomplished. A study, published in the Journal Social Psychological and Personality Science in 2014, found that wearing formal clothing can lead to enhanced abstract thinking and increased focus on the big picture. While it's tempting to stay in those pajamas all day, dressing up, even if it's just slightly more formal than usual, can shift your mindset. It sends a signal to your brain that it's time to get things done.
Dressing up is Contagious/ Emotional Contagion: This concept, explored by social psychologist Elaine Hatfield and her colleagues, suggests that emotions can be "caught" from others. When you dress in a way that makes you feel confident, happy, or enthusiastic, it can have a positive impact on the people around you. This emotional contagion can lead to a better overall mood and atmosphere.
Dressing up gives you confidence: A study in the Journal of Business and Psychology (2006) by Peluchette and Karl explored the idea of "enclothed empowerment." They found that dressing professionally can lead to increased feelings of power, competence, and confidence, which can positively affect one's mood and performance in a professional context.
Confidence and Self-Expression: Dressing up offers a unique opportunity for self-expression. It's a canvas on which you can paint your personality, your mood, and your aspirations. Even on the days when you're working from home, these so-called 'non-clothes' can speak volumes about your style and individuality. So, take pride in what you wear, whether it's a chic robe or a t-shirt with a story.
These 'non-clothes' that fill your wardrobe have a unique superpower – they make you feel at ease, yet ready to conquer the world, even if it's just your own little corner of it. They offer a blend of comfort, style, and personal expression that is unparalleled. So, as you embrace your fashion choices for those days with nowhere to go, remember that you're not just dressing for comfort; you're dressing for confidence, productivity, and the delightful unpredictability of life.
What did you wear today? How much time and effort did you put into dressing? Did you feel good?
May the style Gods of fashion be with you.
Fatally yours,
Betsy