Surprising Mental Health and Productivity Benefits of Dressing Up, The Difference Just One Accessory Makes, and Anti-Aging Colors for Men and Women
We might be tempted to allow ourselves to get lazy about grooming and dressing up, but whether it's our careers, personal lives, or even mental health, there's too much at stake!
Radiant greetings to you!
I’m excited to bring you some encouraging news about getting dressed and engaging in personal grooming. You might already intuitively know all of this, but I hope you find it an interesting read as I cover some studies that reveal how important it is that we don’t let ourselves go in this arena.
Enjoy the content!
Stay timeless!
~Tatyana
PS: I created 2 Looks of the Week this week, one for men and one for women, as I play with new image tools and explore ways to motivate readers to incorporate bright, cheery colors in their looks. As always, if the email cuts it off, please click through to read it free on the site.
You’re reading Light Loves Color, by Tatyana Wilson, Ed.S. It’s a weekly publication full of timeless wardrobe strategies based on 4+ decades of research and 16,000+ color analysis sessions to help free people from clothing confusion and never-ending trends.
You will find the “shoppable” versions of these looks at the bottom of the page.
Anti-aging colors: What exactly makes a color anti-aging? The way a color worn next to the face can even out the facial skin tone and give you a healthy glow. Research shows that just having a more even skin tone can take 10–15 years off our appearance.
Flattering Capsule Wardrobe Basics: A little black dress, a blue suit—these are basics we can easily mix and match into a variety of looks that will last for decades with proper care.
Impactful Accessories: Whether it’s from Amazon or Chanel, a vintage family heirloom or a splurge, we can easily work within our budgets to stock a few amazing accessories that will take any look to the next level. Train your eye for quality and high character. Get a little more about this in this week’s Tip of the Week, below.
The Surprising Mental Health Benefits of Dressing Up: Why Your Wardrobe Matters
Have you ever had a slump where it’s hard to get out of bed, let alone style your hair, pick out clothes, or put on fancy accessories? Admittedly, sometimes we feel like we’re not that important. “Who even cares if I don’t do my hair, put on accessories, or wear clothes that make me look my best today?”
The answer may surprise you: YOUR OWN BRAIN CARES!
You read that right. How you perceive yourself, how you treat yourself, and your self-talk reaffirm to your brain how worthwhile you are.
Honestly, that’s just a little bit scary, but I do believe this is exactly what happens.
How Dressing Well Can Instantly Boost Your Mood and Confidence: The Psychology Behind It
The results are in: dressing well and engaging in regular grooming practices can have a significant positive impact on our mental health and mood. We’ve all been there with the “just not feeling it” days, but it turns out we can pick ourselves up by “faking it till we make it!'“
Not only that, but the act of grooming itself can serve as a form of self-care, which helps reduce anxiety and stress. So, it’s fair to say that grooming rituals, such as skincare routines or styling hair, can have a calming, meditative effect that promotes relaxation and enhances mood.
I bet some of you already knew that deep down inside, am I right? Check out just a few of the known psychological benefits.
7 Mental Health Benefits of Grooming and Dressing Well
Boosts Self-Confidence: When you groom and dress well, you present your best self to the world, which naturally enhances your self-confidence. Feeling good about your appearance can empower you to take on challenges with greater assurance and positivity.
Elevates Mood: The act of grooming and putting effort into your appearance can trigger a sense of accomplishment and pride. This can lead to the release of endorphins, the "feel-good" hormones, which elevate your overall mood and combat feelings of sadness or anxiety.
Encourages Productivity: Dressing well can create a mindset shift that makes you feel more focused and productive. Just as a uniform might signal the start of work, dressing up can help mentally prepare you for the day’s tasks, increasing your efficiency and effectiveness.
Enhances Social Interactions: Grooming and dressing well can improve how others perceive and interact with you, which can lead to more positive social interactions. Feeling good about how you look can also make you more approachable, which can improve your social connections and support network.
Reduces Stress and Anxiety: Taking time to groom and dress well can be a form of self-care that helps reduce stress and anxiety. The ritual of grooming can be calming, and feeling put-together can help reduce the anxiety that comes with feeling unprepared or underdressed in social situations.
Reinforces a Positive Self-Image: Consistently grooming and dressing well can help reinforce a positive self-image. This practice can be particularly beneficial in combating negative self-talk or body image issues, as it emphasizes self-worth and the importance of taking care of oneself.
Promotes Mental Clarity: The discipline of grooming and dressing well can lead to mental clarity. When you look good, you feel more organized and in control, which can help clear your mind and reduce mental clutter, leading to better decision-making and overall mental well-being.
As you can see, putting effort into our appearance can actually stabilize and improve our happiness, drastically reducing the risk of depression. When we dress well and groom ourselves, we often feel more confident, which can translate into improved mood and productivity throughout the day.
I’m not saying that it’s a replacement for medications or therapy or that it will get us through a grieving process quicker than normal, but in our daily lives, this can give us a serious boost.
Article Continues below…
"I want people to see the dress, but focus on the woman."
~Vera Wang
Article Continued…
25 Overall Benefits of Always Looking Polished
If your mental health wasn’t enough, here’s a list of all the reasons you should always take the time to properly groom and put on great clothes and accessories.
Personal Discipline: Reflects personal discipline and self-care, which are admired qualities in any field.
First Impressions: Makes a positive first impression that can influence interactions favorably.
Professional Success: Enhances perceptions of professionalism, which can lead to career advancement and opportunities.
Social Perceptions: Improves how others perceive your social status and success.
Trustworthiness: Increases perceived trustworthiness and reliability.
Leadership Image: Helps project a leadership image, making it easier to assume or be granted responsibility.
Attention to Detail: Signals attention to detail, suggesting thoroughness and precision in your work.
Influence: Enhances your ability to influence others, as people often listen more to those they respect.
Networking Advantage: Gives you an edge in networking situations, where making a strong visual impression is beneficial.
Positive Work Environment: Contributes to a more positive and professional work environment.
Better Service: Often results in better service from others in both professional and personal settings.
Negotiation Leverage: Provides leverage in negotiations as you appear more credible and authoritative.
Peer Respect: Garners respect from peers, which can enhance teamwork and collaboration.
Public Speaking: Increases your effectiveness in public speaking by aligning your appearance with your message.
Personal Branding: Strengthens your personal brand, helping you to stand out in a crowded market.
Cultural Competence: Demonstrates cultural competence, showing respect for the norms and expectations of your environment.
Respect from Seniors: Commands respect from senior or older individuals who value a polished appearance.
Enhanced Presence: Enhances your overall presence and charisma in any room or situation.
Emotional Effect: Positively impacts your mood and outlook, promoting a more optimistic attitude.
Self-Confidence: Boosts self-confidence, making you feel more competent and assertive.
Motivation: Serves as a form of self-motivation, propelling you towards personal and professional goals.
Conflict Resolution: Facilitates smoother conflict resolution, as respect can lead to more constructive conversations.
Crisis Management: In crisis situations, a polished appearance can lend credibility and calm, helping to manage perceptions.
Adaptability: Shows adaptability and respect for various social contexts, making it easier to fit into diverse settings.
Long-lasting Impressions: Creates long-lasting impressions that can benefit long-term relationships and reputation building.
With all these benefits to our mental health, success in business, and more successful personal relationships, there’s no reason why we wouldn’t pull ourselves out of bed every morning and try to live life to the fullest!
Don’t underestimate the finishing touches. Even a simple pocket square in a jacket or vest pocket for a guy, or some chunky earrings for a gal, can have unbelievable effects.
Ladies, don’t overdo the accessories with matching earrings, necklaces, and bracelets, by the way. It can age you. It can also make you look unsophisticated, like you walked by a set at the department store, and here you are wearing the set without any thought.
The trick is to curate your accessory collection with timeless, bold pieces that you can mix and match and that represent value, good taste, and a level of sophistication.
Shoppable Links:
Click on the images below to get shopping ideas for the two looks of the week with Pinterest AI.
