As more and more Briton’s continue working from home and with 76% of us already having a relaxed dress code at work, the time of “dressing for the job you want” seems to be dead and buried. With more of us choosing pyjamas & sweats over pant suits, you’re probably thinking “clothes aren’t that important, right?” Wrong. What you wear has never been more important until now.
Entering the visual century, how we appear not only allows us to showcase our personalities but is also a “statement”, says Prof Frances Corner, Head of the London College of Fashion. A recent study by the University of Columbia has also shown that “the formality of clothing may not only indicate how others perceive a person, but also how they perceive themselves” and has the power to “influence decision making”. While this might not seem like much, the way you dress and present yourself has also been known to affect your tone of voice and posture, giving you an entirely different office presence purely based on what outfit you chose that morning.
Dressing is an outward expression of your inward emotions, although some people with low self esteem care less how they dress, consciously changing that can reverse their mindset. So, if you’re not feeling your most powerful in the workplace, here’s a few tips to get you looking and feeling your best.
De-clutter Your Wardrobe
Great outfits start in the wardrobe, yet a recent study found that people don’t wear at least 50% of theirs. Clinging onto old items not only wastes valuable space, but also makes it harder for you to find outfits that make you feel both confident and comfortable. So you opt for the former rather than the latter.
In order to beat your brain and avoid wearing clothes that make you feel meak, take an afternoon to declutter your wardrobe. When looking at your work clothes, categorize them into different sections, such as jeans, shoes, shirts, etc. Then, when you’re deciding what to keep, try comparing them to other items you’ve already got. If something doesn’t fit right anymore, or you’ve just realised your favourite pair of trousers have a hole in, let go of them to make space for new and more powerful clothing.
Stop Wearing Sweats!
Statistics show that 69% of us dress for comfort rather than style at work, and over lockdown loungewear sales increased by 322%. This means the majority of us are opting for more casual WFH attire.
Although working in our comfies might be, well, comfy, research has found that “people feel more competent when wearing business clothes”, Psychologist Cathleen Swody says, and that “dressing pulled together helps us feel pulled together.”
With that in mind, dress like you’re going into the office even if you’re not. Of course, this doesn’t mean a full suit and tie, but perhaps some leggings and a nice shirt will make you feel more confident at home (and not just presentable for that zoom call).
On the other hand, if you are going back into the office and have enjoyed wearing comfier clothing, why not buy a few pairs of smart jogger bottoms? They’ll be useful for the days when you want clothes to be less restrictive, but still feel like a boss.
Choose Staples That Feel Powerful
According to Kate Ibbston, women wear 20% of their clothes 80% of the time, favouring a few items to wear again. So if you’re looking for already existing wardrobe items or searching for something new in the shops, choose 4 or 5 items of clothing that not only look nice but are different and make you feel great.
These pieces could be something as simple as a pair of trousers which enhance your assets or a bold necklace that shows off your personality. The trick is to focus on how the clothes make you feel.
Once you have your items selected, it’s the easy part: building outfits around them. You don’t have to wear them all at once, but choose things you know you’ll enjoy wearing. Most importantly, choose what will make you feel powerful. So next time you’re in the office or show up to that virtual meeting, wear something that will make you feel like the best version of you.
Written by Alison Irlam
Alison is a writer with a keen interest in mental health and wellbeing. Since finishing a postgraduate degree in creative writing and having her own experiences with mental health, she has dedicated her time to helping and empowering others to make positive changes in their own lives.
