How we choose to dress everyday has a surprisingly large impact on our mental health. It allows us to express creativity, build confidence and shape how others perceive us.
It may seem like when we are rushing to get ready in the morning that little to no thought has gone into choosing what to wear for the day, but whether that choice was conscious or sub-conscious we have made a decision on how to communicate with the World. The clothing that we wear reflects the way we see ourselves, and how we want others to see us.
Want to know more? Keep reading for our 5 ways that fashion can improve your mental wellbeing.
For days when you don't feel your best, choose an outfit that makes you feel strong. To different people this could mean different things; it could be outting on your favourite top that hugs you in all the right places, it could be something that feels soft and comforting on the skin, or it could be that sassy blazer which makes you feel like a boss! Put on your armour and face the day head on.
Colour therapy is a technique used by experts to improve mental health as studies have shown that colours can have an impact on our mood and how we perceive the world. We can definitely apply this theory to the clothing we wear!
Here are our favourite colours to wear and what they represent:
Pink - Encourages emotions of kindness, compassion and affection. Commonly known as the colour of relaxation.
Orange - One of the warmest tones that resembles the colour of the sunset. Helps to rebalance joy, optimism and wisdom.
Blue - Reflective of the sky and sea this colour evokes a calming presence. It helps to reset a busy mind when life has become a little chaotic.
Green - As an Earth colour, green is grounding. It takes us back to nature and stimulates balance and harmony.
It is so easy to get stuck in a fashion rut, wearing clothes in the same way, not knowing how to re-style and create new looks. At This Is Anyo we 100% support re-wearing your wardrobe as hey! It is the most sustainable option! Having said that, there are different ways to style clothing you already own, or shop for clothing/ accessories that you can pair with items you own to create an array of different outfits. When thinking about the psychology behind trying something new, you are sparking your creative pathways and challenging your brain to think outside of the box. When negative thoughts are taking over, distraction can be a really beneficial technique to reduce these symptoms. Give it a go!
These days it feels like we are constantly on the go. Everything feels rushed and this is how stress and pressure build up causing a negative impact on our mental health. Sometimes your mind is telling you to slow down, don't ignore it. Grab your comfiest clothes (yep those sweatpants were not just for lockdown!) and just snuggle up in your softest hoodie. Take a little YOU time.
One of the superpowers of fashion is that it helps to boost self-esteem. Not only by wearing something vibrant, flattering or something that makes you feel a million dollars, it can help with socialising and can be a great conversation starter as people ask where your outfit is from or may compliment you on it! Receiving compliments and positive feedback is an amazing way to improve your confidence levels and make you feel even more amazing! In the same way that having a strong outfit can enable social interaction, fashion can also be used for the opposite (and that is OK). Sometimes you may not want to draw attention in a group or large gathering, and so may choose to wear something that enables you to 'blend in' a little more. Life is all about balance!
We hope you have found this blog post useful and will give some of our tips a go! Of course this is no substitute for professional help if you feel that you need to talk to someone about your mental health. Many people find it difficult to find time to seek help but there are many services available from face-to-face to online sessions which means it is easier than ever to gain help and support.
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