Who’s Driving Your Closet

Many of us live our daily lives on autopilot, allowing our instincts and subconscious to make all the decisions. The clothes we choose can tell us a lot about ourselves and what our subconscious is doing behind the scenes. 

Thanks to 2020 many of us have a favorite pair of comfy sweatpants that adorn our bottom half during zoom meetings. What if I told you, you are better off wearing those work pants you wore the day you got a promotion?

According to researchers, what we choose to wear on any given day can reveal how we are feeling even if we don’t yet recognize it. A study done by Dr. Karen Pine found that women who felt down reached for blue jeans and other comfortable clothing. Baggy oversized clothes were used by people that felt exposed. While women that modeled their wardrobe after people they admired, reported increased levels of confidence. 

So, the question is, what can your outfit tell YOU about yourself today. Are you wearing procrastination?

Choosing sweatpants to wear to a digital meeting is not about whether your co-workers see them. In a sort of self-fulfilled prophecy, they can set us up to feel placid, unfocused, and unproductive. 

If you’re like me, you’d happily live in your pajamas all day. I often wore my comfy sweats to work from home, but when I came across this research, I decided to do a little experiment. I’m a skeptic by nature and really wanted to keep my work sweats. Alas, no such luck. I spent a day working in my pajamas. I had the perfect excuse. It’s over 100 degrees here and I’m without an AC, so comfy seemed the best way to be productive. Yet, despite my best efforts I spent the day fruitlessly trying to get something done. The following day I got dressed for the office, and found my focus was better and I quickly settled into a rhythm that helped me get much more accomplished. 

By becoming aware of this part of our subconscious we can seize the opportunity to make a choice that will benefit us in our day to day lives, instead of just existing on auto-pilot unaware of the potential consequences. 

Researchers had several suggestions on how to approach our wardrobes to help us engage our day in a meaningful way.

For starters donate everything that reminds you of something negative. Let someone else enjoy them. 

Fill your closet with bright colors and reach for them whenever you are having a blue day. Even when you work from home, get dressed like you’re going to the office. Put on your shoes to tell your brain it is time to get to work.  

There is strength in knowing what our clothes are telling us about ourselves, and power in making that choice with intention.