“I have always believed that fashion was not only to make women more beautiful but also to reassure them, give them confidence.”
Yves Saint Laurent
Outer Style, Inner Confidence
How you feel on the inside is key to your interactions with the world around you.
Feeling confident, strong, capable and in control gives you an edge; it’s that powerful first impression to a new client, a first date, or maybe a new colleague. Confidence gives you strength and power, but is it all from the inside?
The Science of Style and Confidence
Scientific studies have shown that clothing can do as much for your confidence and inner strength as a mindset. Findings from a study published via the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology compared participants wearing coats they thought belonged to doctors versus casual street clothes or clothing associated with artists.
The study showed that performance outcomes on tests by participants wearing coats they associated with doctors were elevated, providing evidence that the participants experienced heightened focus, a state triggered by wearing the coat.
The phenomenon, known as 'enclothed cognition', shows that a strong cultural association with a piece of clothing can actually alter your cognitive processes. We take on the perceived characteristics of the clothing we wear in such a way that it influences the way we think and behave.
So, if we know that our brains are wired to think differently in outfits we associate with success, why not harness the power of that inner confidence?
Not only does a well fitting, well cut and perfectly suited outfit make you feel confident, comfortable and fantastic, but the perception of who we are and what we can achieve when wearing outfits we associate with power, success and confidence is altered.
Elements of Success
Colour, fabric, cut, accessories and personal grooming all form an overall cognitive picture to make an impact not only to others in that all important 7-second window for first impressions but also on your inner psyche.
A confidence boost can literally be hung in your wardrobe, ready for you to step into the style, strong persona and mindset of your best self.
Building a key wardrobe with items specifically tailored to your personality, your figure, the roles you play in life, your aspirations and projected impact is part of your success story.
Take care of your style, and your inner voice takes care of you.
I would love to help you! To book style and image sessions with me to discover your personal style, and inner confidence, contact me. Let’s start your personal journey of empowerment!
Lizzie Edwards is the leading personal stylist and image consultant in London, working with women over thirty-five on their business image and personal brand.
