Clothes are both a necessity and a form of self expression. They are vital for optimising self-confidence and for creating a positive long-lasting impression on the people you meet. 

However, sometimes it is easy to fall into wearing the same sort of things day in and day out, which can result in lethargy and carelessness with your appearance. Yet, there is good reason to believe that the clothes you wear can affect your mood quite incredibly. 

In a 2017 TEDx Talk, psychologist Dawnn Karen suggests a theory of learning how to style from the inside out. Specifically, she puts forth two different ‘ways’ to dress.

These are: ‘Mood Illustration Dress’ and ‘Mood Enhancement Dress’.

Both approaches to fashion can be used interchangeably as a way to affect your mood and as a way to present a certain image to others.

In particular, it is useful to regard ‘Mood Enhancement Dress’ as a way to understand how what you wear affects your mood, and ways to evoke certain feelings.

Let’s have a look at them in detail.

Mood Enhancement Dress 

By considering fashion in this way, it is simple to see how the materials we come into close contact with, and the way we wear things, can be indicative and vital to mood enhancement.

For example, baggy clothes and/or dark colours can sometimes be indicative of sadness, loneliness, and coldness, whereas brighter colours with soft, silk-like textures can promote feelings of happiness and confidence.

Obviously, this is not an exact science, as some thrive in darker loose-fitting clothing, and others in tight vibrant outfits, but it can be useful to at least consider the emotions your clothes are evoking.

Again, this is not to suggest that those wearing yellow are happy and those wearing brown are depressed. Instead, it can be useful to consider the positive vibes your clothes are giving. 

Let’s look at a few examples:

• Red evokes feelings of desire and appeal
• Orange evokes feelings of energy and excitement
• Yellow evokes feelings of happiness
• Green evokes feelings of luck and optimism 
• Blue evokes feelings of safety 
• Purple evokes feelings of decadence and power
• Black evokes feelings of security and control
• White evokes feelings of cleanliness and simplicity

Colour choices do without a doubt depend on personal preference, but these are some of the emotions that these colours can evoke. The use of patterns or varying textures can also add a sense of creativity and motivation, whereas plain colours and simple materials suggest a sense of control and conscientiousness. 

By following some of these steps, this can elevate your wardrobe as well as your mood which can lead to a positive and outcome that leaves you motivated and ready to tackle your day.  

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