The most iconic, popular quote regarding looking good is from Deion Sanders: “If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you play good. If you play good, they pay good”. This highlights the confidence boost and performance benefits of feeling well dressed, often summarized as “Look good, feel good, do good”.
Let’s have a serious moment here about what you wear and why – the reason we do not adorn ourselves is because we don’t want to be seen. Why don’t we want to be seen is a much deeper psychological question but is the root of the discussion. We have a right, and might I say an obligation, to be seen. It is a lack of self-confidence which impedes us, what others might think or say which often is just in our head not theirs.
I am not implying this is an easy transition from unseen to seen but it is a miraculous situation once you endeavor. What if the other person is thinking what beautiful hair they behold or a litany of other complimentary notices. Why do we always think if someone looks at us that it is negative.
I remember back in Jr. High School being terrified of the eyes on me in the lunch room. So much so that I found “tasks” to do so I wouldn’t have to navigate the cafeteria. Only to find out many years later at a High School reunion that those eyeballs saw something much different than I ever could have imagined at the time. Since that reckoning, I have shifted my attitude and outlook 180 degrees. Instead of fearing criticism, I taunt it, invite and can stand my ground solidly if it comes my way. Why? Because I dress for the Day I Want, and that is my privilege and right. There are lots of scientific explanations for dressing and a few that resonate for me follow.
“Studies on dressing, often rooted in psychology, show that clothing acts as “social armor”, significantly influencing both personal confidence and how others perceive competence. Known as “enclothed cognition,” the concept highlights that wearing specific attire—like formal clothes—can enhance abstract thinking, boost self-esteem, and improve performance.” ~ Scientific American
Dressing intentionally creates a feedback loop: feeling better about your appearance changes your behavior, which then brings about the positive outcomes you desire.
How to Apply the Science:
- Wear a Goal: If you want to feel more productive and confident, wear structured clothing or an item you associate with authority/personal success, especially if working from home.
- Use Color for Mood: Bright colors like yellow can lift spirits, while blue can bring a sense of calm. Enhance or mute a mood. There is nothing like color to tailor how you feel.
- Dress for the Future You: Choose clothing that represents the person you want to become, which helps align your actions with your goals. And makes you feel pretty Bad A@@ at the same time.
- Texture Matters: Soft, comfortable fabrics can provide emotional comfort, while sharper, tighter clothes can create a sense of preparedness. AKA athletic wear. Stand up tall and straight just like your Mother told you. You cannot begin to imagine the power of great posture.
Simple and doable TRY IT!
Dress for the day you want – NOT – the day you are given because,
Aging is inevitable while Growing Old is Optional.