We all like to dress up from time to time especially for weddings so on that point, Figured I would look into what dressing up can do for us mentally.
Dressing up can take extra effort, but it also feels good, especially if you receive extra compliments. A recent study suggests what many women have experienced: dressing in nicer clothes makes you feel better.
According to a recent news release, one study has shown that women who are depressed or sad are more likely to wear baggy tops, jeans, and a sweatshirt or jumper. Women who are happy or positive are more likely to wear a favorite dress or skirt, and jewelry, These clothing choices seem to mean that women who are feeling down put less effort into what they’re wearing, and women who are in a good mood tend to try and look nicer to match their mood.
There were 100 women interviewed for the study, and their ages ranged from 21 to 60 years, according to the news release. The researchers also found that 73% of women in the study “shopped for clothes at least every few months.” The majority of women, or 96%, “believed that what they wear affects how confident they feel,” according to the news release.
Researchers determined from the results that there is a strong possibility that wearing certain clothes can affect emotional states. “The strong link between clothing and mood state suggests we should put on clothes that we associate with happiness, even when feeling low,” according to the news release. The author of the study, Karen Pine, who is the coauthor of Flex: Do Something Different and a professor in the School of Psychology at University of Hertfordshire, added:
People who are depressed often lose interest in how they look and don’t wish to stand out, so the correlation between depression and wearing baggy clothes. Most importantly, this research suggests that we can dress for happiness, but that might mean ditching the jeans and baggy clothes.”
Overall, the research provides a look into how we can improve our moods. “It shows that clothes impact strongly on how we feel and may also influence how we think. So as I always say "dress for the day you want". Remember its always wonderful to look your best.
