HMN 2025: How What You Wear Determines How You Mood

Source: Image by Mircea Iancu from Pixabay

One of the biggest decisions people make before heading to work in the morning is what to wear. Ironically, this is also the quickest decision, and it can also be a mistake. In fact, some jobs require uniforms, which limits your options except for accessories. Other workplaces have professional standards, but like the courtroom where I work as a prosecutor, a variety of appropriate options are acceptable.

But in almost every case there is an opportunity to show individuality. Research shows that leveraging this flexibility can help set a positive tone for the day.

A unique outfit for success

Researchers explored the nuances of dressing for success. Joseph K. Kim et al. (2023) examined the combination of fit and personal uniqueness in a paper titled “Wearing Your Worth at Work.”[i] Among other findings, they found that the aesthetics and originality of everyday clothing at work improved. national prideDefined as “the extent to which one perceives oneself to be valued and accepted by others in an immediate or near future situation,” it leads to achieving more goals and reducing social avoidance. They found similar effects for dress fit, but limited to days with frequent interactions.

Kim et al. They also found that national self-esteem increased when participants wore clothes with symbolic meanings such as belonging, uniqueness, and personal appeal, all of which are linked to social values. They note that their findings include the “seemingly paradoxical” goal of fitting in and standing out from professional peers in terms of predicting self-esteem, but intentional clothing choices appear to be the common denominator.

So how do you ensure you have attractive options to choose from? Researchers also addressed this issue.

Wear your confidence on your sleeve

Tat-Huei Cham et al. (2021) investigated the influence of marketing and psychological factors on clothing preferences in the Generation Y population and the associations between product attitudes, confidence, and purchase intentions.[ii] Their findings acknowledged the importance of psychological factors, such as the need for fashion consciousness, innovation, and originality, and marketing factors (including social media) among Generation Y consumers. Culturally, they found differences between Gen Y buyers in Malaysia and Thailand. Thai consumers placed greater emphasis on the impact of social media marketing on clothing interest and confidence in purchase intentions.

Look good and feel good

The common denominator and common experience identified in this study is the importance of feeling good about the clothes we choose. Many people underestimate the value of taking the time to think this through in order to make informed choices based on criteria ranging from comfort to climate to culture. Dressing for success includes both personal style and confidence. You may not wear your emotions on your sleeve, but your wardrobe can help boost your well-being during the workday.