Fashion, Psychology & Fostering Our Identity

My wardrobe has always been about so much more than the clothes I like to wear regularly. It’s a vibrant mix of all the versions of myself I used to be, currently am, would like to be, and might be. 

Within the depths of my wardrobe(s!) you’ll find the vibrant paisley-print flares that I used to rock during my art-college days in the early 2000s (gosh I love those flares! And it still kind of boggles my mind that I ever fit in them). You’ll find the killer black stilettos and daring collection of LBDs that saw me through my London party-scene days. You’ll find endless attempts at finding the ‘perfect’ jeans and never quite hitting it, but coming close and finding some gems along the way. And you’ll find the impeccably tailored business dress I’ve worn to every interview in the past decade (it hasn’t failed me yet!). I’ve always loved expressing myself through my clothes, shoes, bags, accessories - you name it. I love looking through my collection and the memories certain items bring to mind and the joy of this process. 

But more than this, I love the potential my wardrobe fosters in me - who might I be in this outfit or that outfit? What version of me exists in this dress with those shoes? How does she approach life?

Exploring the Psychology in Fashion

I’m currently on the path to gaining my accreditation as a psychologist, so pretty much everything I look at in my life is shifted through that lens. So, realizing how much my clothing choices influence my mood and general sense of self, I decided to dive deeper and explore some of the concepts of fashion psychology.

There was so much more in this field than I anticipated, and I highly encourage you to research independently if it piques your interest. 

Here are a few of the ideas I came across that really spoke to me in understanding the connection between my identity and my wardrobe.

Dopamine Dressing 

Dopamine - the so-called ‘happy hormone’ - makes us feel great. You probably know the experience of a dopamine rush from the flush of first love, the sip of a perfectly made coffee, or diving into a cold pool on a scorching day. 

Dopamine dressing has become attached to dressing in brightly colored clothes and using color to boost mood, but it isn’t just about color. Those jeans that fit you in all the right places, that dress that made you feel confident and cool, those boots that make you stand a bit taller - these all count as dopamine dressing. 

Want a better idea of dopamine dressing in your life? Look back through photos of outfits you’ve worn and see how it makes you feel. Any photo that makes you think, ‘I loved that look - I felt great!’ - that’s dopamine dressing.

Fostering Self

I really want to purchase a classic Chanel handbag someday. I have photos saved on my phone. I check the pricing of the bag regularly and occasionally duck into a Chanel store just to look at it. 

I don’t know where this obsession comes from or when it manifested, but it’s been going for a while. I feel like the point in life where I can comfortably afford this bag, is a version of life I want to work towards. The bag represents incredible financial stability (something I didn’t have a lot of while growing up or in my early adulthood) and something I want for my future self. And so, I keep working towards it.

This is ‘fostering self,’ and if you’ve ever coveted a particular fashion item, you may have experienced this too. It doesn’t have to be as grandiose as my Chanel handbag (she will be mine), but the clothing and fashion items we covet can help us to build a foundation of the ‘type’ of person who dresses in that way. It can be a powerful motivator to help us keep working toward life goals.

Dressing in Alignment

Some days I go to my wardrobe, knowing full well the outfit I’m going to pick out. I’ve thought about it all morning, and in my head, it works great. Except when I put it on .. it doesn’t. What follows is a good hour or so of me turning my bedroom into the chaos of an Anthropologie sale as I try on outfit after outfit trying to find the one that ‘works.’

On those days, I’m dressing in misalignment. On the days when the outfit in my mind works, I’m dressing in alignment.

Dressing in alignment is when we pick the clothes that flatter us, match our mindset, the colors match our coloring, the outfit punches us in the face with the big fat yes that it works for us. I usually know I’ve found these outfits when my fiance looks up and tells me how good I look without any prompting. Dressing in alignment takes time to figure out but it’s worth doing (tip: a personal stylist can be a huge help here!).

Enclothed Cognition

Have you ever dressed a certain way to convince people to have a particular perception of you and, in so doing, help change your own perception? Perhaps for a hot date or a big job interview? This, in its essence, is enclothed cognition.

According to researchers Adam & Galinsky (2012) in their paper on the term, enclothed cognition describes the systematic influence clothes have on the wearer's psychological processes. I know when I slip into a figure-skimming linen summer dress on a hot day, I feel myself begin to embody my ideal of the easy, breezy kinda girl who dresses in this way. It’s far removed from my grumpy, bundled-in-forty-layers-to-walk-the-dog during winter mindset.

Enclothed cognition has its pros and cons, but it’s far from a new concept. When utilized with awareness, it can help us find the confidence we might otherwise lack to take on some of the big moments of our lives.

Don’t Be Scared of Self Expression

I spent quite a bit of time cringing over how I used to dress in my early twenties (and mid-twenties, late twenties, and last year), but now I have a better sense of acceptance. 

All of my clothing choices have been attached to different parts of me, different versions of me, and helped me in different ways on my journey to connect with my identity.

Understanding some of the psychology behind fashion and the deeper influence of my clothing choices helps me develop a greater awareness of why I might be drawn to specific items. It allows me to see what this fashion item might be drawing on deeper within me and make a conscious decision about whether that’s in alignment with where I’m at. Sure, that Marc Jacobs LBD might look cute, but is it speaking to a past version of me that I’m feeling a bit nostalgic for? If so, I probably shouldn’t buy it for present me. 

It’s helped me find a deeper appreciation for my fashion journey through life so far and feel excited for what’s to come.

Elaine Mead

Elaine is a freelance writer, educator, and psychologist-in-training from London, currently residing in Tasmania. Her writing on personal and professional development has appeared with Darling Magazine, Healthline, Psych Central, and many more. You can usually find her having a good rummage at the local thrift market, fueling her caffeine addiction, or napping with her dachshund, Einstein. More of her words here: www.wordswithelaine.com