What are you wearing right now? And, more importantly, why did you choose to wear it?
And, even more importantly, how does your outfit make you feel? We don’t always think about how what we wear subconsciously affects our outlook and self-actualization. This is unfortunate, as how we feel in our clothing greatly affects how we perceive ourself and accept our unique image.
On the other hand, the same idea works in the reverse as well. External factors, such as seasonal weather, peer influence and numerous other circumstances can affect how we feel in our clothing; there exists a high potential for discomfort and anxiety to a facet of our lives that we can control and embody. In other words, clothing can have a major impact on the way we accept our bodies.
Therefore, it would be fairly helpful to find healthy ways to promote self-love through
the medium of clothing, in order to address how our sartorial choices directly impact our body acceptance, and vice versa. Hopefully these five tips can promote comfort and confidence from the inside out and the outside in.
1. Don’t plan your outfits.
This is an old saying from menswear circles, but it’s universally applicable (to anyone
who isn’t a full time nudist) for one simple reason: what we wear indicates our mood
subconsciously to others and ourselves. The logic follows the idea that adding spontaneity to your daily selection of clothing can better articulate your emotional state. Choosing clothes in the moment is likely going to get you an outfit that matches your mood in the moment. By the same token, predetermining what you wear days or weeks before go-time, can run you the risk of an emotional clash between your current mood and your outfit. While on the surface level this may not seem like a big deal, it can have some serious implications in how you feel in your clothes. If your current emotional state doesn’t really match what you’re wearing, chances are you won’t feel as comfortable. This seemingly tiny disconnect can mean the difference between self-
doubt and complete confidence in outfit and, on the larger scale, self. So take away the burden of planning beforehand and try to dress yourself each morning in what feels right to you. Your self-confidence just might benefit from it.
2. Don’t hold on to old clothes.
It’s very tempting to keep clothing that does not fit anymore as a motivator for “healthy”
activity. How often do we tell ourselves how good we’ll look in a pair of jeans if we could only fit into them, instead of just wearing jeans that made us feel comfortable? This habit of stocking clothing for our ideal self can act as more of a hindrance than a help.
Opening a closet and finding racks of clothing that either does not fit, doesn’t appear
stylish to you, or both can be disheartening and further damage the relationship you have with what you wear and the way you view your body. Not only that, but holding on to clothes in multiple sizes can clutter up dressers and overflow closets, which doesn’t make deciding what to wear any easier- it just adds to stress levels.
Therefore, cleansing a wardrobe, donating clothes that don’t reflect you, and starting over with a closet full of well fitting and stylish options can broaden your choices and increase your comfort and self-confidence.
3. Ignore trends.
Fashion fads come and go like the seasons, if each season was a month in length and
transitioned wildly between only winter and summer. Every tip, trend and tidbit of information that fashion blogs, morning shows and (for whatever reason) Dr. Oz throw at us seems outdated by the time we jump on it; the trend-pendulum swinging to the complete opposite look in no time.
This is not only exhausting, but likely fills your wardrobe with styles that you don’t find
comfort in (see “Don’t hold on to old clothes”). Not every look is for everyone no matter what Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford try to force on us. So how do you remedy the ever-changing landscape of what’s “in?” Trust that what you are wearing looks as good on you (if not better) compared to the look everyone else was told to wear this week. This is especially easier to accomplish when you’re confident in the look that you have cultivated, as it is a perfect match for your own body and personality. Find what works for you to wear that you truly love and roll with that. Which brings us to tip number four…
4. Experiment with what works for you.
An idea that goes hand in hand with “ignoring trends,” experimentation is possibly the
most important method for feeling comfortable and confident in your clothing. Breaking
previous cycles of dressing and discovering outfits and styles that you find to suit yourself best can be highly empowering.
Inspiration albums can be of great help, however, nothing can substitute actually going
shopping and trying on clothes to find what works for you. Understandably, this can be an uncomfortable experience; thankfully, return policies on online shopping sites have been trending towards increasing leniency, allowing customers to essentially try on in-home. Though shipping clothing will increase the amount of time needed, this is a great option to explore styles in a judgment-free zone.
Finding what makes you the most comfortable, or what best fits your mood, or what makes you happiest can make all the difference in getting dressed in the morning and in how you see your body every other moment afterwards.
5. Use your clothing as a means to express yourself.
Note the underlining of “yourself.” The more we use our outfits as a vessel by which to
impress or please others, the further we set ourselves up to scrutinize our image based on the rules of others. Express yourself, develop your style and play by your own rules.
Of course, this may be easier said than done and is less of a “tip” than it could be a
“complete change in outlook,”; however, as far as comfort in one’s own clothing goes, this is key. “You do you” may be cliché at this point, but if it applies, it applies.
Setting and meeting your own expectations as you dictate them is empowering.
Confidence grows from empowerment and acceptance of self and body grows from confidence.
In Conclusion
Hopefully by implementing these tips, finding confidence and comfort in your own
clothes becomes a bit easier. Having a variety of well fitting options to choose from can provide an outlet of expression that lends to empowerment in one’s own body. This is, by no means, an easy route, nor an exhaustive list, but the benefit to accepting your body makes the journey all the more worth it.
Benjamin Whited
I am a fifth year senior set to graduate this December from the General Dietetics option in the Nutrition and Food Science Major. This is my first time in the FitU Program, but I am excited to provide my services to students who may need it. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking (baking’s a lot of fun too), hiking and riding my bike. Outside of nutrition and exercise related activities, I enjoy making beats and music with friends, playing piano, designing and making clothing and binge watching TV. Now that Game of Thrones is over for now, Stranger Things season two can’t come fast enough.
Overall, I’m hoping to get the most out of my final semester here in Chico by making an impact in the program and having fun while doing it.
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