You’ve probably heard the old advice that you should “dress for the job you want.” It is sound advice — the ways in which we dress can change the perspective that others have of us. The style of our clothes can even change our own attitudes. (Image by Darko Mitev/ Unsplash)
But why limit powerful insights like this to your professional career? Here’s some more advice: dress for the life you want, not just the job you want. Use your fashion choices to communicate your personality, values, and priorities, enhancing your enjoyment of the things you love and your efficiency toward the work you do.
How your clothes affect your life
For those of us who aren’t into fashion, the idea of clothes making a huge difference in our lives can seem almost silly. Many of us have spent our whole lives thinking of fashion as something that’s not even skin-deep, and just a shallow thing for vain people. But if you think clothes don’t matter, then you will find that science is not on your side.
Like it or not, the way we dress can change the way people interact with us. That’s not entirely unfair. While we should be aware that not everyone has access to the money or time needed to dress certain ways, it’s also undeniable that we communicate a certain respect for ourselves and others when we take the time to dress up. No wonder, then, that better-dressed people enjoy better interactions with others in public, at work, and elsewhere.
Our clothes can also affect our own minds. Have you ever worked from home in your pajamas? If you were less productive than usual, it might not have been your at-home setting to blame. Experts who regularly work from home suggest dressing up as if you were going to head into work. The right clothes can put you in a working mindset and actually change your mood and productivity levels.
Choosing the right clothes
If dressing well makes a difference in your life, then how can you go about changing your wardrobe? For starters, you need quality clothes with great fits. You can make a pair of jeans look dressy or a suit look casual if you play your style cards right. But no matter how upscale or casual you want your outfit to look, you’re always going to want it to look good, and that means you need the right fit and the right fabrics.
Search for the retailers and brands that offer clothes that fit your body type. Steer clear of e-commerce giants and big-box stores, and instead focus on trendy online boutiques. Finding the right place to shop is half the battle when it comes to finding the right quality clothes, and you’ll find that online boutiques have the hip dresses, tops, slacks, and jeans for the right prices. Smaller operations that put fashion and quality first are a must, and online brands are a good place to turn for lower prices!
Wearing the right thing at the right moment
Your wardrobe needs quality clothes with great fits. Combine that with a basic sense of how to match colors and fabrics, and you’ll be well on your way to dressing better.
But in order to get the most out of the way that you dress, you’ll want to make sure you’re wearing the right things at the right time. Your clothes can make you seem more fun, more professional, younger, older, and more. But if you don’t deploy those outfits at the right time, you’ll send the wrong message.
Think about where you’re going when you dress. If you’re off for a night out — for instance, hitting casinos and nightclubs on vacation and really getting the Oregon Coast experience — then you want classy and casual clothes, things like cocktail dresses or hip tops. Wear that same stuff to work from home, and you may find that your body wants you to jump out of your chair and dance. That’s not so ideal for a productive day.
Dress for the job you want, but don’t stop there. In addition to hip and practical work attire, your wardrobe should include great styles for nights out, comfortable (but flattering) gear for mentally healthy nights in, outfits for workouts, confidence-inspiring clothes for dates, and more. Bring inspired fashion to all areas of your life, not just your job, and watch as your experiences improve.
