How Your Personal Style Can Boost Your Self-Esteem
Your appearance is one of the first things someone will notice when they meet you (unless it is via phone call or email), and ultimately, this will set the benchmark of how you are perceived going forward. As such, it is crucial that you keep your personal style in check wherever you go, especially if you have a love of all things fashion-related. In my latest article, I will be looking at how your individual style signals confidence and boosts your self-esteem. Carry on reading for more!
How You Dress Can Influence Perceptions
Many studies worldwide have attempted to determine the connection between how we dress and how others view us – from status, wealth, professionalism, and even attractiveness. Visual cues are said to boost (or reduce) how each factor is calculated, such as wearing a Swiss watch (like a Rolex) compared to a high-street variant will influence the opinion of status and wealth. Similarly, if you are known to wear smart formal wear such as a tailored three-piece suit, it will suggest that you are a professional guy who cares about his career (or business, if he is self-employed).
On the flip side, if you love casual streetwear, it can indicate that you are much more relaxed and have an approachable mindset. Certain researchers also state that red is associated with attractiveness (providing a more charming appearance), which can be utilised in all walks of life, from business to relationships.
However, many of these ideas will also depend on the person—outfit choices, colours, and premium pieces can only do so much to boost one’s appearance.
Build Your Confidence With Self-Expression
It is widely believed that your personal style showcases your self-expression and can dramatically affect how others view your confidence level. Famous historical figures such as Frida Kahlo, Emily Dickinson, and even more recently, Steve Jobs, incorporated their personal style to develop their identities, boosting their success (after all, Apple is a huge behemoth of a corporation, and I’m typing this on a Mac, too…).
Successfully aligning your outside appearance with your internal values can enhance your authenticity, which in turn boosts your self-assured persona, which others will view as successful, confident, and even attractive (depending on the situation). Additionally, if you upgrade your style, you will also share a positive vibe, indicating that you care about yourself, your stability, and your worth (all elements that are appealing traits).
Many other researchers have suggested that individuals are drawn to those who are happy and comfortable in their skin, and personal style plays a pivotal role in this aspect. When choosing your outfit, it is essential to opt for styles that reflect your personality, thus boosting your self-esteem.
How you dress can effectively influence your state of mind – after all, if you feel good in your latest ensemble, you will convey positive feelings, and others will sense this (albeit subconsciously) and be drawn to you (which will help in business, work, home life and even relationships).
Enclothed Cognition
There is a concept known as ‘enclothed cognition‘, a phenomenon in which clothing choices affect feelings, thoughts, and even behaviour and choices. According to Hajo Adam and Adam D. Galinsky (who coined the term in 2012), aligning your personal style can potentially improve cognitive function and psychological processes.
It is considered that if you dress well (and you know it), your performance will improve, and this new-found confidence will be perceived by others, boosting that important first impression.
Personal Style And Lifestyle
Your personal style can heavily influence various aspects of your lifestyle – work, family and even interpersonal relationships. In the modern world, there is a vast difference in how people live on a daily basis, be it their career choices (whether you are working in an office, out on the road or a high-flying go-getter), interaction with family and friends (my family for example, is very close-knit) and even traditional or non-traditional arrangements (from typical monogamous bonds, less-common polyamorous connections or even new-age sugar relationships).
Yet one thing is certain – each of these lifestyle areas requires some form of maintained personal style to ensure happiness, respect and confidence.
Authenticity
Remember that staying authentic with your personal style is essential, so embrace your own unique tastes rather than follow these fleeting trends. Standing out from the crowd shows that you are confident and attractive to others. Your body language will show that you are a guy who knows his worth, shifting through his daily activities with conviction and poise.
Research
If you need help figuring out your style, there are a variety of areas to help with inspiration. Check out online sources such as social media (Instagram, Pinterest, or TikTok), fashion blogs (like this one!), movies, TV shows, and even celeb magazines. You can incorporate these visual ideas into your personal style, creating an amalgamation effect, developing and nurturing your fashion ideas, and boosting your confidence level even further.
Summary
Incorporating your distinctive style tastes into your outfits allows you to feel truly happy no matter the occasion. This new level of self-worth will shine through, pulling others to you and, in turn, further building your self-esteem. Soon, you will be able to just walk into a room, and heads will turn, and they will gasp in awe at your new-found confidence and fashionable prowess.
Did you enjoy reading my latest article on confidence and self-esteem? Would you like to see more in this category? Please let me know in the comments section below.
