We understand what it means to be “fashionable” in our own way. Fabrics affect how our bodies are shaped, colors can affect our mood, and labels make us feel prestige. College is the time of your life you discover how you want to look and feel when moving through the world.
Heidi Grant Halbertson, a social psychologist, has found that wearing formal clothing makes people feel more powerful and in control. It even causes the brain to think more abstractly and become more productive. Clothes are a form of self-expression, and the association you have with the style can almost create an identity you did not know existed. When you dress how you want to feel, you begin to feel how you dress, and there are many ways to express yourself with style.
Being in college is the perfect time to develop credibility and set an academic tone for the future. It is important that when you are trying to make an impression, looking the part will make this journey feel smoother and set you apart from the crowd. There are three main parts.
The first step is to have a style goal. You want to know why you are dressing the way you want because it is your compass throughout; so, think about your future and what you are wearing. Second, understand the psychology of color. It is the study of how colors can affect our behavior or ideas. Surrounding ourselves with certain colors can make us feel confident. In his Back to Basics blog, Dr. Joe Dispenza wrote, “Your personality creates your personal reality.”
Lastly, select clothes that tap into how you want to feel about yourself. When you are feeling discouraged, choose a sundress to feel free and creative, or when you are feeling stressed from studying, change into your favorite pajamas to feel relaxed. Always stay true to yourself and your emotions.
We dress how we feel unconsciously because we believe that is who we truly are. When you present yourself as untidy, you begin to feel untidy in every aspect of your life. Reward yourself by investing in your style because everyone deserves to feel comfortable in the skin that they are in. Never let a trend define you or a comment discourage you from being the best version of yourself.
by Zaire Simpson
