Clothing is so much more than simply what we throw on in the morning…
THE STORY
…I’ve discussed before how personal style is a way in which we share who we are with the world, but did you realize that what we choose to wear can also have an impact on our self-confidence? At it’s most basic level, personal style is a reflection of how you feel and how you define yourself on any given day.
In other words, how you put yourself together each day speaks not only to the world, but to your inner self. Think about it for a moment…if you roll out of bed in the morning, don’t shower or make much effort in regard to your appearance and head out to run errands…or…you wake up take a shower, pull your hair up into a cute bun, add a touch of makeup and put on your favorite jeans, sweater and boots and then run out to do errands how are you going to feel? I don’t know about you, but I have done both and unkempt grungy me shrinks in on herself and does everything in her power to become even more invisible; whereas me who makes a bit of effort and puts on a favorite outfit definitely has more pep in her step, is more willing to smile at strangers and strike up conversations.
“Putting some effort into your appearance is not vanity…it is the first step in showing respect towards yourself.”
How you choose to style yourself also gives you control; control over how the rest of the world perceives you. That control in turn leads you to feeling more confident and powerful which translates into improvements in how you carry yourself, how you interact with others and how you actually feel about yourself. You feel powerful…confident…your truest self. In fact there is an actual scientific term that explains it, “enclothed cognition“.
Enclothed cognition explains the transformative power of a well cut suit, a smokin’ hot little black dress or a pair of super fierce heels. Feeling fabulous about yourself when you’re wearing the perfect outfit isn’t simply a figment of your imagination. Clothing truly does have the power to transform you into the fiercely confident badass woman that you know in your heart you were born to be.
What are your thoughts…Do you think clothing has the power to make you feel more self-confident?
THE OUTFIT
Today’s outfit tells a story of boldness plain and simple; because if a red plaid suit doesn’t say “bold” I’m not sure what does. Technically I suppose it’s not a suit per se…it’s actually red plaid pants and a matching red plaid shirt.
I found this little gem online at H&M over the holidays and there was indeed a blazer, which I had originally intended to get. However when I checked it out in-store there was also this button down shirt which spoke to me even more than the blazer. I’m a creature of comfort at heart so I knew that I would get way more wear out of the shirt as opposed to the blazer. The nice thing though is that both pieces will work well paired with other pieces from my closet too.
The pants are still available online for under $20, and if you are considering getting them I would definitely suggest sizing up. They run particularly small and the fabric doesn’t have a whole lot of give. I actually went up 2 sizes so keep that in mind when ordering if you can’t try them on in store first.
Finally, the shoes…oh, how I love these pumps. The front strap-like details make them special and the heel height is just right for all day comfort. Believe it or not, until a few months ago I was black pump-less since mine had blown out and I hadn’t gotten around to getting another pair. When I saw these I knew they were the ones. They also come in red, eggplant and navy (which I picked up at the same time).
THE TIP
I don’t typically subscribe to the “You should have __________ in your closet,” line of thinking, however there are certain basics that are useful to have as foundation pieces. Black pumps are definitely a foundation piece. They are the perfect basic shoe for a million situations and pair well with everything from a formal dress to jeans and a white tee. Whether you opt for a basic pair or something with a special detail like these, you need a solid pair of black pumps in your closet.
THE LINK UPS
Check out the weekly link ups I participate in for even more fashion and style ideas…
Pants: H&M; Shirt: H&M (Similar); Graphic Tee: Suburban Riot (Similar); Pumps: JCPenney
**Disclaimer: Commission earned through shopping links in this post.
