What we wear is intrinsically linked to our confidence levels and self worth. The saying "never underestimate the power of a good outfit on a bad day", couldn't be more accurate.
The other day I found myself walking home from work with my head held higher and an extra spring in my step. This surprising new found confidence caught me rather off guard but as I strutted down the street it dawned on me there was a cause and it was down to my outfit. That particular day I had received a number of compliments from colleagues and clients over the course of the day and even as I grabbed a quick bite to eat, this impeccably styled gay guy was fawning all over my outfit. It made my day and as I wandered the last few blocks home I was practically skipping! So while this subject may seem vanity riddled and trivial the truth is what we wear is not only an almighty representation of who we are, but also our safety net, a defence mechanism or more accurately, our armour.
People blow off fashion as something for frou frou dimwits or the self obsessed. Of course there are more important things in life other than clothes, after all we all have bills to pay, responsibilities to adhere to and would like world peace. However, I’m not talking about the bigger picture and what fashion does or doesn’t add to the world, although it is an $1.2 trillion industry, so it isn’t trivial even on a global sense. What I want to focus on is the importance it brings to the individual.
What we wear is intrinsically linked to our confidence levels and self worth. The saying “never underestimate the power of a good outfit on a bad day”, couldn’t be more accurate. If you’re feeling vulnerable, put on a power suit and fake that high flying business woman. If you feel fat, put on that boho, floaty gypsy dress which hides a multitude of sins and no will ever know it’s a “fat day”. If you’re attending an event alone, throw on your favourite outfit and you’ll instantly feel more confident and sure of yourself. The only person who can control how you want to be perceived is yourself and what you wear is integral part of that.
Being interested in fashion, shopping and beauty shouldn’t automatically tarnish you as a narcissistic with no brains. To the contrary, dress yourself to be whoever you want to be and with self belief, determination and hard work you’ll undoubtedly succeed. The next time someone frowns at you because you picked up Vogue and not the Financial Times or makes a comment about there being more important things in the world than your appearance, put on your fashion armour and brush it off.
I couldn’t agree with you more. In fact, I think our outside is a reflection of what’s inside. So if we feel good about ourselves it will most certainly be reflected in how much care we put into getting ourselves ready for the day. And sometimes it’s the little things, the details that matter like taking time to pick out a pair of earrings, scarf or shoes that make me feel just a bit more ME. I also have certain colors I wear on really important days, that are my “power colors” – red is my favorite- I feel good and I am a force to be reckoned with!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Couldn’t have said it better myself! A girl in red is a girl not to be reckoned with! xx
I found this really inspiring – when I wanted to do fashion journalism I was warned of the stigma in the industry (news anchors and political journalists for example don’t see it as a real discipline). But fashion is art and people should never be made to feel they can’t express themselves through wearing, reading about or talking about it. Great piece 🙂 x
Viva Epernay
I love this and I couldn´t agree more. Recently I have found that with a good outfit or even just a pair of slightly heeled boots on I feel so much more confident. Same goes for make up when I´m not feeling great in general. Give me a winged eyeliner and a red lip and I´ll be feeling great, jumping around in a few minutes. Of course, there are more important things in the world in general but for our individual lives, these things are so important!
xx Lisa | Following Lisa
I agree so much with this! I think is not narcissist or vanish to feel good when you have a nice outfit on or you buy a new pair of shoes or whatever and you feel more confidence about you. Of course it come from the inside but these little things help some times and it’s nice! I just found your blog and I start following you, I love the whole design of it 🙂
http://www.blossomikebana.com
You’re so pretty! And you’ve got such a beautiful blog!xx
That’s so lovely, thank you! xx
Thank you for the kind words hun! As glad you agree with the post! xx
Hi lovely Lisa! I agree give a girl good liner and a red lip and she can rule the world! xx
I’m so happy you liked it. I love your comment, you pretty encapsulated everything I feel about it in 50 words! xx
That hair suits you so well….
Thanks hun! I’m kind of obsessed with boxer braids at the moment! Haha! xx
I totally agree! “Never underestimate the power of a good outfit on a bad day” is so true! I love how dressing up just turns my entire day around. 😀
xoxo
Regina
http://mybeautymusings.com
It’s all about dressing like you mean business, right!!?? Haha! xx