Dressing appropriately for a job interview is crucial as it can significantly impact the first impression you make on the interviewer.
Here’s an interesting article about it written by Natalia Levit:
Dressing for Confidence: Boosting Self-Esteem Through Clothing
Have you ever noticed that your outfit can impact your mood and behavior? Wearing a power suit might make you feel more confident and assertive, while comfortable jeans can make you feel relaxed and carefree. Your clothing and grooming choices significantly influence how others perceive and interact with you, sending subconscious signals about whether you are like them or different, which affects whether they listen, trust, or ignore you.
Dressing in a way that feels right for you sends a powerful message to both yourself and others. Choosing clothes that make you feel good tells you that you deserve to be noticed and heard, boosting your self-esteem and giving you the confidence to face challenges. Embrace your body's uniqueness and choose clothing that highlights your best features. When you feel comfortable and confident in your skin, it shows through your clothing and empowers you to be your true self (Samantha, 2024).
This paper explores the psychological and sociological reasons behind the impact of clothing on self-confidence. By examining studies on enclothed cognition, self-perception theory, and color psychology, we can understand how clothes influence our thoughts, behaviors, and interactions. Additionally, practical tips will be offered to help you make clothing choices that boost your confidence.
Why and How Our Clothing Choices Influence Our Self-Confidence
Clothes and outfits affect our mood and self-perception. For example, when I'm in a good mood, I wear more colorful and stylish clothes, but when I'm feeling down, I throw on jeans and a t-shirt and feel bad about it. But why do clothes have such an impact on us? To understand this, let's dive into studies and research.
Adam and Galinsky (2012) studied enclothed cognition and concluded that clothes influence how we think and behave because they trigger associations and expectations of how to act. For example, wearing a lab coat associated with attentiveness can make us act more attentive. This is because clothes shape our thoughts and behaviors by shaping our expectations of how we should behave.
Kaiser (1997) and Adam and Galinsky (2012) argued that clothes are not just for covering our bodies; they carry symbolic meanings that affect how we see ourselves and how others see us. Wearing certain clothes sends signals about our identity, social status, and values, influencing our self-perception and how others perceive us. For instance, wearing a professional suit may make us feel more competent and serious, influencing our behavior in professional settings. Similarly, others may perceive us as more authoritative or capable based on our attire.
Bem's self-perception theory suggests that the clothes we wear help us understand ourselves better. Wearing professional attire might make us feel and act more serious or competent (Bem, 1972). Additionally, our choice of clothing influences how others see us immediately. Dressing formally can make others treat us with more respect, which affects how we see ourselves and can change our behavior in response (Goffman, 1959; Fraser, 1996).
Kellerman and Laird (1982) found that appearance changes, such as wearing eyeglasses, can affect self-perception, especially for those sensitive to such cues. This highlights how our clothing and accessories shape how we view ourselves. If you don't personally believe wearing glasses makes someone appear smarter, wearing them yourself is unlikely to make you feel smarter.
Studying How Different Colors Affect Our Mood and Confidence
The colors you wear can deeply impact your emotions. It's interesting how something as simple as your clothing color choice can affect how you feel. Colors can evoke specific emotions and influence your mood and actions. Knowing the psychology behind colors can help you express yourself freely and make thoughtful decisions about your wardrobe. Warm colors like red, orange, and yellow are energizing and can boost confidence, great for making a bold statement. Conversely, cool colors like blue, green, and purple have a calming effect, promoting relaxation and focus. It's important to remember that individual reactions to colors vary based on personal experiences and cultural influences. Therefore, choosing colors that resonate with you and make you feel comfortable and empowered is key (Samantha, 2024).
Studies have shown the impact that colors have on us. Elliot and Maier (2014) and Hemphill (1996) studied color psychology and how different colors evoke psychological responses. For example, red can increase arousal, while blue can induce calmness, influencing mood and behavior accordingly. Roberts, Owen, and Havlicek (2010) confirm that clothing color influences how people perceive us and how we behave, distinguishing between the effects on observers and wearers.
In their research, Fornazaric and Toros (2017) dived into previous studies and listed the colors with their associations and associated meanings. Let's examine these colors and see if they align with our perceptions and experiences:
Red: power, energy, warmth, Christmas, love, excitement, passion, activity, intensity, danger, wishes, violence, and anger.
Blue: trust, dependence, solitude, calmness, stability, harmony, trust, oneness, masculinity, conservatism, security, authority, order, purity, belonging, coldness, the sky, water, technology. It suppresses appetite, lowers body temperature and blood pressure, and is associated with the business world for reliability.
Black: dignity, complexity, mourning, death, elegance, power, sexuality, wealth, secrecy, fear, evil, misfortune, sadness, and anger.
White: purity, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, joy, precision, innocence, youth, birth, winter, snow, holiness, sterility, death, and marriage.
Purple: royalty, spirituality, wealth, art, creativity, intricacy, supremacy, secrets, wisdom, change, enlightenment, cruelty, arrogance, and the exotic.
Green: nature, health, the environment, happiness, youth, safety, spring, fertility, generosity, Christmas, jealousy, naivety, envy, money.
Yellow: joy, warmth, happiness, optimism, hope, idealism, dishonesty, betrayal, jealousy, cowardice, success, gentleness, and spirituality.
Orange: energy, balance, warmth, and adventurousness.
Brown: nature, earth, warmth, reliability, comfort, neutrality, harmony, home, and simplicity.
Grey: indecisiveness, intelligence, humility, boundlessness, security, sadness, practicality, dependence, and elegance.
Each color can be associated with various meanings, but does that mean everyone will interpret the color the same way? Not necessarily. Studies have shown that colors in different situations can have different impacts on our mood and emotions. Cultural and situational contexts significantly influence the meanings we attribute to different colors. What one culture sees as a symbol of joy, another might view as a sign of mourning. Therefore, while colors have general associations, their specific meanings can vary widely depending on cultural and personal experiences.
Practical Tips on How to Use Clothes to Boost Confidence
Clothes and colors significantly impact ourselves and those we interact with. We can boost our confidence, whether by influencing our mood or shaping how others perceive us—or both. It's essential to recognize that these effects can vary widely from person to person, place to place, and situation to situation. It's important to remember that the influence of clothing and colors is nuanced and can be interpreted differently depending on individual preferences, cultural norms, and the specific context in which they are worn.
Tips to boost your confidence:
Dress according to the situation: Think about where you're going and dress accordingly. For a job interview, wear professional attire that fits well and is appropriate for the industry; professional attire signals competence and seriousness, helping you make a strong first impression. For a presentation, choose clothes that make you feel powerful and comfortable; bold colors like red can be energizing, while darker shades like navy or black can convey authority. For a social event, wear clothes that reflect your personality and make you feel good about yourself; comfortable yet stylish outfits can help you feel relaxed and confident. When you feel good in what you're wearing, it can improve your mood and social interactions.
Dress in darker colors: This is the safe option. It's elegant and projects power and intelligence. A bonus point is that it hides stains, so you don't have to worry if you spill something on yourself (Tarvooren, n/d).
Comfort is key: When you wear something uncomfortable, it will be visible. Make sure to wear the right size, choose the right material, and feel comfortable in your outfit. Wearing comfortable clothes can also help reduce anxiety.
Don't forget the colors: Test which colors you like, how they make you feel, and what impact they have on you and your boss, co-workers, friends, and anyone you interact with. If you don't want to be a walking garden of colors, add something small like a necklace, shoes, eyeglasses, or any other accessory you like.
Find your style: Clothes can help express who you are. Wear clothes that reflect your personality and style; it will make you feel more authentic and confident.
Quality matters: Cheap fabric can be itchy and tear easily. Quality fabric and clothes will serve longer and look better, making you feel more sophisticated and confident.
Brands: Sometimes, a brand can add confidence because it represents status and selfidentity.
In summary, clothing is more than just a means of covering our bodies; it is a powerful tool that influences our self-confidence, behavior, and social interactions. The studies reviewed in this paper highlight the significant role of clothes in shaping our self-perception and the perceptions of others. From the symbolic meanings of different outfits to the psychological effects of color, our clothing choices can impact our mood and confidence. By understanding these effects and applying practical tips, individuals can harness the power of clothing to boost their confidence and present their best selves in any situation.
