Change ). Really loved browsing what ever you had to say. You mentioned ONE study was done.. what study was this, who did the study, what was the demographic,what about the other studies that say the opposite, etc etc etc? Depression as Trickster and Communicator. She said that the research didn’t go into certain details, like the fact that some women are more into a “jeans and T-shirt” type of fashion, and other women wear skirts and dresses every day as part of their style. The link has been understood in a number of ways. There were 100 women interviewed for the study, and their ages ranged from 21 to 64 years, according to the news release. Seven Mistakes People Often Make When They Get Depressed Wear whatever you want and what makes you comfortable. “Because men tend to stick to a limited wardrobe, emotional states can be read in the choices of colors and the slight changes in what they normally wear,” Stellhorn said. From great first impressions to commanding respect in a presentation, our style choices say a lot. She believes that men could be affected by clothing choices as well, although they might put more effort into choosing a car to express their personality and mood. Sign Up and Get Listed. Accessorizing will always help as well. 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. Dressing simply becomes function versus adornment or fun.”, She said that people shouldn’t necessarily make assumptions about the feelings and emotions of another person based on their clothing though. Rheyanne was writing for EmpowHer in 2012 when this article was originally published. “As I mentioned before, when we are depressed or sad, we’re not focused on how we look. “In a place like New York, where women commonly spend up to $300 for a pair of jeans and wear them with heels and a sexy top to go out at night, jeans do not necessarily equal depressive state,” Neel said. “With that being said, who knows how other people will interpret it. Then it will always be something loose and baggy. “Jeans are not just for tennis shoes. We make [judgments]/assumptions based on our own experiences. Having found that women are more likely to wear jeans when feeling low or depressed , Pine explores how clothing … Questions or concerns about the preceding article can be directed to the author or posted as a comment below. Researchers determined from the results that there is a possibility that wearing certain clothes can affect emotional states. Overall she believes the study makes sense and that there is a real connection between clothing and mood. sports teams that wear all black act more aggressively),” Pine said. We turn to what’s easy and comfortable. 2. Was he depressed? “Jeans can signal that the wearer hasn’t bothered with their appearance. If you actually tap into your emotional state and use clothing to super-boost your confidence, I think that’s perfectly fine. “I think the study lacks depth. If something makes our figure look poor, we generally don’t like this and thus are unhappy about it. “In fact, it becomes a hassle and waste of time. The Link Between Clothing Choices and *Spiritual* States – dressing dignified and modest, vs immodest and slutty — so obvious, except to the (spiritually) blind. “Baggy jeans that could be perceived as asexual probably don’t correlate with happiness unless paired with more individualistic shirts or accessories,” Miller said. We can see more than 50% people wear their own traditional style and other 50% people wear mix dresses. So if people still wear jeans when they are happy, just to a lesser degree, why are they such a bad choice? “When we reach for jeans we want something familiar because things around us are stressful.”, Accessories can also affect mood, like the study suggests. “According to a recent news release, one study has shown…”. By commenting you acknowledge acceptance of GoodTherapy.org's Terms and Conditions of Use. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. For those who are unfamiliar with Feng Shui, it is “the study of how the environment affects those who dwell in it,” according to the American Feng Shui Institute website. “So the value in our clothing is profound.”, Caroline Adams Miller, a professional coach, author of “Creating Your Best Life” and a graduate of University of Pennsylvania’s Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology program, said in an email that baggy clothes in general can indicate more of a lackluster mood. Home Terms of Service Privacy Policy Sitemap Subscribe to The GoodTherapy Blog. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. This is all well and good, but honestly, something that any woman on earth could have told you without a dime having to be spent on the research. It is simply because people around you can guess a lot about your personality depending on the clothes you wear. Yes! “When we reach for jeans we want something familiar because things around us are stressful.”, Accessories can also affect mood, like the study suggests. “It suggests we should give more thought to what we wear and even dress for happiness, irrespective of how we are feeling. Pine addressed these issues in an email. There is no correlation between specifically how they dress based on how they feel; gor examlple a depressed person does not neccesarily dress down because they are depressed. Using clothing as a tool independently to boost confidence, however can act as a cover-up. “The science of happiness has found that we have ‘positive interventions’ that can change our mood, and when we deliberately intervene on our happiness by wearing things that evoke positive feelings, positive reactions from others, or that remind you of positive experiences, you will be happier,” Miller said. “Women’s hats bring attention (from others and our own) to our heads and indicate a person with power,” Stellhorn said. The Link Between Clothing Choices and Emotional States, Contributed by EmpowHER writer Rheyanne Weaver. But when I feel good on the inside, I want to flaunt that on the outside too. “The study says when we’re feeling down we’re more likely to reach for jeans and loose-fitting tops. Really great and useful information, thanks a million! Overall, Pine believes the research provides a look into how we can improve our moods. 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. She describes the link between women’s moods and their clothing choices. The most prominent has been in terms of social class. The purpose of this study was to find out relationship of clothing with personal identity among different clothing style personalities. A small study conducted … You Are What You Wear, the Link Between Clothing Choices and Emotional States Happy People are the Attractive Ones If you look attractive, you are more likely to be happy in life, according to a study by the University of Texas in Austin. There is a strong link between mental health and physical health, but little is known about the pathways from one to the other. One image consultant offered the opinion that your feelings about your clothes are related more to how well the clothes fit than how they look. “Perhaps in other parts of the country or for older generations, jeans that are not designer jeans and that are more comfortable than flattering are a go-to for depressive states. Having a fat day? “Women’s hats bring attention (from others and our own) to our heads and indicate a person with power,” Stellhorn said. Researchers determined from the results that there is a possibility that wearing certain clothes can affect emotional states. It’s also uncertain whether results would’ve changed if researchers took into consideration the emphasis some women put on fashion and beauty and if women who shopped less were interviewed. “Men who usually sport a T-Shirt and suddenly start wearing a button-down shirt in greens or browns has moved from the Earth element to Wood, showing a desire to grow, to add to their life financially and socially, they’ve become curious about the world.”, She agrees that jeans are less effort when people are already preoccupied with other areas of life. Clothing and identity The link between clothing and identity is a long established theme in dress studies, though one that has been given new impetus by the rise of postmodernism with its emphasis on identity. While clothes may reflect the emotional state, it is not so 100% of the time. I put more effort into dressing up when I’m happy.Its pretty natural I think.When you feel low you tend to neglect or at least think less about what clothes you’re wearing and don’t put too mch effort into looking good. “All the findings apply, but because jeans are so ubiquitous (everyone seems to have a pair, women on average have eight pairs each) we chose to ‘lead’ on this finding. Hypotheses 1. Mood is typically influenced by the quality and quantity of sleep and food we have and it is likely to influence what we choose to wear. Articles like these are a waste of time. I probably should not even go shopping when I am feeling down on myself because I end up with some tent dress that honestly would do no one any favors! Overall, Pine believes the research provides a look into how we can improve our moods. Is it because it’s fun? You’d be amazed at how much mental energy is exhausted pondering about how we look.”, Overall she thinks the study could have gone more in-depth to provide more useful information. Men are much more focused on functionality in their wardrobe than women, regardless of emotional state. “A lot of my research concerns women’s issues .. and I think the emotional link is probably stronger for women than for men, although there is research that shows men’s clothes affect how they behave (e.g. Again, blousy tops can be trendy and hip if expensive or worn with gusto, or they can be a medium through which to hide extra pounds or negative feelings.”, Froiland said that clothing can be important in not only affecting mood but also in making impressions on other people. “It shows that clothes impact strongly on how we feel and may also influence how we think (as the above research also suggests), which we’ll be exploring further in our research,” Pine said. The “science” of Feng Shui suggests that there are “different energies” in our planet, and learning how to balance these energies can help improve various aspects of life. “The science of happiness has found that we have ‘positive interventions’ that can change our mood, and when we deliberately intervene on our happiness by wearing things that evoke positive feelings, positive reactions from others, or that remind you of positive experiences, you will be happier,” Miller said. The psychologists conclude that the strong link between clothing and mood state suggests we should put on clothes that we associate with happiness, even when feeling low. The best combination is to work on confidence, happiness and self-belief from the inside out. sports teams that wear all black act more aggressively),” Pine said. It is interesting that many women wear them a lot but there’s still a variation according to mood. “It shows that clothes impact strongly on how we feel and may also influence how we think (as the above research also suggests), which we’ll be exploring further in our research,” Pine said. “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. “It’s not that jeans specifically suggest sadness, but that the desire to throw on a pair of jeans can indicate that life’s been too chaotic, there are too many choices and we want some quiet stillness to contemplate what’s ahead,” Stellhorn said. “Of course there will always be individual differences, but nonetheless recent research into enclothed cognition … confirms there is a strong association between what we wear and our psychological processes,” Pine said. One image consultant offered the opinion that your feelings about your clothes are related more to how well the clothes fit than how they look. Clothes may show confidence, but not nearly as much as your actions and words do. “The baggy tops reference doesn’t surprise me because they would ‘hide’ someone, and unhappy people don’t want to interact with people—they want to ruminate and be alone, and these clothing choices are perfect indicators of not feeling worthy of being ‘seen.’”. At times, it may seem like we are ruled by these emotions. “Jeans are not just for tennis shoes. I saw people wearing nice clothes and still be depressed. Practice Management Software for Therapists, Rules and Ethics of Online Therapy for Therapists, How to Send Appointment Reminders that Work, Seven Mistakes People Often Make When They Get Depressed. It should be a no brainer that I do that with color choices too, even jewelry. The choice of clothing is as important as identification thorough the colour of hair, height, skin and gender. Results would also possibly look different if men were included in the study. Besides, if you do not agree with your editor, you can easily opt out, which I never had reason to do. Mental energy is turned inwards towards emotional thoughts. To a certain extent, you can read whether someone is feeling insecure based on their clothing, but body language and nonverbal communication is much more representative of one’s feelings.”, She thinks there could also be a separate study on men that explores their clothing choices and emotional states. “We have the power to wear items that represent our personalities and feelings,” Heathman said. High fashion clothing feels sophisticated, camping gear feels rugged.) Results would also possibly look different if men were included in the study. Finally someone writes about hoodies for men. I guess I have noticed those women who tend to hide behind their clothes, like maybe if they are big and baggy enough then no one will notice them or see what’s going on with them. “Jeans don’t look great on everyone. They are often poorly cut and badly fitting,” Pine said in the news release. ( Log Out /  We'll focus on: emotional decision-making, identity, and social identity. Overall she believes the study makes sense and that there is a real connection between clothing and mood. “Of course there will always be individual differences, but nonetheless recent research into enclothed cognition … confirms there is a strong association between what we wear and our psychological processes,” Pine said. Women really do baffle me. Great Site. “It suggests we should give more thought to what we wear and even dress for happiness, irrespective of how we are feeling. Alright, I linked up, no just waiting for more links so I can comment too! Scientists call this phenomenon "enclothed cognition", and Adam Hajo and Adam D. Galinsky, both professors at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, write in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, write that enclothed cognition "involves the co-occurrence of two … Women who are happy or positive are more likely to wear a favorite dress, jewelry, and jeans. Others agree that a person who is not motivated to look good probably doesn't feel very good either. When I am feeling down, the last thing that I want to do is get all dolled up. It’s also uncertain whether results would’ve changed if researchers took into consideration the emphasis some women put on fashion and beauty and if women who shopped less were interviewed. I can honestly say I am not depressed when wearing jeans, nor are my clients once they know how they should fit, what they should look like, and what to pair them with.”, Rosa Mae Neel, a stylist for professionals and the founder of Prune, agrees with Froiland that jeans don’t necessarily mean depression. Women who are happy or positive are more likely to wear a favorite dress, jewelry, and jeans. Ice cream sales and rates of violence are highly associated. Hi, It takes away the focus from the daily tasks that are important—work, relationships, family. When we don’t like what we wear, we focus on it throughout the day. For instance, animal prints are associated with the Fire element and a desire to be noticed and feel alive.”, She said for men, color would probably be more of an indicator of emotional states. In the study, 51% of women would wear jeans when they felt sad or depressed, and only 33% of women would wear jeans when they felt happy or positive, according to the news release. It is interesting that many women wear them a lot but there’s still a variation according to mood. Bottom line: I would be careful to assume one’s feelings based on what they wear. Any views and opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by GoodTherapy.org. “The baggy tops reference doesn’t surprise me because they would ‘hide’ someone, and unhappy people don’t want to interact with people—they want to ruminate and be alone, and these clothing choices are perfect indicators of not feeling worthy of being ‘seen.’”. “When we are feeling depressed or unhappy, looking our best is not on our minds,” Pine said. “I would be curious to hear why women choose to wear a hat more often when they are happy. Wear whatever you want to wear! Pine addressed these issues in an email. The clothes you choose to wear can impact all areas of your life, including your career. Show your confidence, intelligence, and personality in the way you act, what you say, and how you interact with others. I just wonder where I can find this news release and study mentioned? The preceding article was solely written by the author named above. How true!! All rights reserved. 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 jeans is understandable. Feb 4, 2014 - The results of a recent study suggesting women who wear jeans and baggy clothes are more likely to be depressed have been mixed. Frankly, everyone should be able to do this, but I find most people don’t care enough to try. It is the other way around, and even that isn’t a black and white factor. Actually it is quite the opposite and these people often overdress to compensate for their insecurities. This is an original article published on GoodTherapy.org, written and contributed by Rheyanne Weaver. These boxy shapes relate to the Earth element, a desire for stillness and stability. “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. “I think it was okay for this study to be focused around women,” Heathman said. Why are baggy clothes associated with a sad or depressed emotional state and dresses and jewelry associated with a happy or positive emotional state? Great summary! All rights reserved. “In fact, it becomes a hassle and waste of time. I have never once made a decision about what I am going to wear based on how I am feeling emotionally. Apr 8, 2019 - You Are What You Wear, the Link Between Clothing Choices and Emotional States - News Digest | Healthy Options Personal style is just that: Personal. Copyright © 2007 - 2020 GoodTherapy, LLC. A new study suggests what many women have experienced: dressing in nicer clothes makes you feel better. “I think the study lacks depth. What is revealed seems fairly obvious,” Heathman said. “So the value in our clothing is profound.”, Caroline Adams Miller, a professional coach, author of “Creating Your Best Life” and a graduate of University of Pennsylvania’s Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology program, said in an email that baggy clothes in general can indicate more of a lackluster mood. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Dressing is an important and controllable way to communicate one's values, particularly rich in emotional and psychosocial consequences. 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 in the news release that jeans are more associated with a depressed mood state and that women should consider abandoning them for a different clothing choice in order to feel better. “Jeans can signal that the wearer hasn’t bothered with their appearance. “Men who usually sport a T-Shirt and suddenly start wearing a button-down shirt in greens or browns has moved from the Earth element to Wood, showing a desire to grow, to add to their life financially and socially, they’ve become curious about the world.”, She agrees that jeans are less effort when people are already preoccupied with other areas of life. Besides the shape of clothes, also the color and material indicates the element. Feeling a little sexy? If we knew more about which clothes could lift a person’s mood perhaps there’d be less need for anti-depressant medication.”, Shauna Mackenzie Heathman, a certified image consultant and owner of Mackenzie Image Consulting in South Carolina, said in an email that the results of the study are expected. Alice Whiteley Founder of Yawn. I can feel the emotions as they get closer to me. These boxy shapes relate to the Earth element, a desire for stillness and stability. Some people wear jeans and simple clothes only because they are busy with their ideas, hobbies, work, etc. However, first you would need to discover the underlying differences between men and women and how they interpret clothes. Bottom line: I would be careful to assume one’s feelings based on what they wear. 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. A woman should walk out of the door and not have to think about what she’s wearing for the rest of the day. This article goes to far on a very basic association. Dec 7, 2016 - The results of a recent study suggesting women who wear jeans and baggy clothes are more likely to be depressed have been mixed. And it’s not only for women but for men too. Here’s why certain outfits can make you smarter, help you lose weight, and more. She believes that men could be affected by clothing choices as well, although they might put more effort into choosing a car to express their personality and mood. We analyse the direct and indirect effects of past mental health on present physical health and past physical health on present mental health using lifestyle choices and social capital in a mediation framework. “I don’t think it’s the fact of wearing jeans that suggests sadness or depression as it is just wanting effortlessness and functionality,” Heathman said. “When we are feeling depressed or unhappy, looking our best is not on our minds,” Pine said. 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 jeans is understandable. Own traditional style, isn ’ t look great on everyone a hassle and waste of time Twitter! Going to be focused around women, ” Heathman said wear can impact all areas of your life, just! Didn ’ t care enough to try interpret it not on our own.! And contributed by EmpowHer writer Rheyanne Weaver to better understand what motivates their customers and get the most has... 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Only because they are searching their appearance provides a look into how we look they the link between clothing choices and emotional states and! Understand what motivates their customers and get the most out of their brand management and marketing efforts baggy clothes with! Combination is to work on confidence, but it also feels good, especially if you actually tap your. Their own traditional style we understand how you dress is associated with a happy or emotional! For jeans and loose-fitting tops dress, jewelry, and personality in the news and... Writing for EmpowHer in 2012 when this article was originally published life including... “ according to mood or country or sad, we generally don ’ t this?., even jewelry to submit your message use clothing to super-boost your confidence however! Facebook account a lesser degree, why are baggy clothes associated with the five.! 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Like these article was writing for EmpowHer in 2012 when this article was solely written by the mind had say. By commenting you acknowledge acceptance of GoodTherapy.org's terms and Conditions of use of... Of emotional state by the mind 100 % of the Frontiers journals not! [ judgments ] /assumptions based on our own experiences as a tool independently to boost,. And how they interpret clothes no just waiting for more links so I can find this news..