Laura Kate Lucas

  • About
  • Contact
  • Media Kit
  • Press & Features
Advice & Tips Fashion Health

4 Things Fashion Can Do for Your Mental Health 

June 12, 2023
Laura Kate Lucas - Manchester Fashion, Travel and Lifestyle Blogger | Shark Flexstyle Hair Styler Review

Fashion

Fashion is most often viewed as a means of self-expression, but it can do much more than simply change a person’s appearance. How you dress can also influence your psychological state—and dressing in ways you like and find empowering can actually do wonders for your mental health and wellbeing. I’ve definitely had those times where I’ve felt uncomfortable or unattractive in an outfit that doesn’t align with my style. In contrast to that, how great is it when you step out in a look that you know makes you feel incredible. These two situations make it clear that wearing the right outfits for you can really have a psychologically transformative power.

From enabling self-discovery to helping begin meaningful connections, fashion holds the potential to enhance various aspects of your emotional wellbeing. This post includes a few ways in which fashion can benefit your mental health. 

Self-Esteem and Confidence 

Greater confidence is possibly the best-known psychological benefit fashion affords people. When you dress in a way that makes you feel good and aligns with your true self, you’re asserting your control over your style and over the impression you desire to make on others. As a result, you don’t just look great but also radiate confidence from within. The right outfit can thus make you stand a little taller, speak with more assurance, and face the world head-on.  

“Suiting up” or “power-dressing” is one especially well-studied illustration of the positive relationship between fashion and self-esteem. Many studies have found that when people dress in clothing they typically associate with power and authority, such as business suits or lab coats, they subconsciously begin to project these qualities in their speech and bearing. Try it yourself the next time you have a big meeting or presentation at work. Don a smart shift dress, a pair of classy tights, and some no-nonsense pumps, and don’t be surprised if you suddenly feel ten feet tall. 

Laura Kate Lucas - Manchester Fashion, Travel and Lifestyle Blogger | Shark Flexstyle Hair Styler Review

Self-Discovery and Awareness 

Throughout history, fashion has helped people learn about themselves and express their individuality. By experimenting with different styles, colours and materials, you can gradually discover what particular kinds of clothing resonate with you. These discoveries can actually prompt deeper introspection, helping you explore your own preferences and personal narratives. From there, you can use what you know about yourself to fuel your fashion choices and personal aesthetic. 

For example, are you the sort of person who’s discovered a preference for functional and comfortable clothing over the pandemic years? If so, you’re definitely not alone. Fashion experts over the last few years have reported a marked shift in public preference for sensible clothing items that don’t sacrifice comfort in favour of style. And although this shift was occasioned by a period of extreme difficulty, the emphasis it places on self-care, practicality, and healthy lifestyle choices has been really positive for many. 

Mood Boosting 

Have you ever crawled into your favourite hoodie and sweatpants after a long day and instantly felt a heavy weight fall from your shoulders? Do you have certain pieces that instantly make you feel happier, when you put them on? If so, then you’ll already be familiar with the ways fashion can shape and improve your mood. 

Fashion has the power to uplift and inspire people, and it can actually be one of the most potent mood boosters in daily life. The psychology of colour, patterns, and clothing choices plays a significant role in shaping a person’s emotional state. Bold, vibrant colours can evoke feelings of confidence and joy, while softer hues promote tranquility. By consciously selecting clothing that supports the emotions you’d like to nurture in yourself, you can instantly reshape a poor mood or enhance an already positive one. 

Laura Kate Lucas - Manchester Fashion, Lifestyle and Travel Blogger | Daisy London Jewellery Rings

Creating Meaningful Connections

Fashion is also about communication and connection with other people. It can serve as a powerful catalyst for bringing them together. Interesting fashion choices can spark meaningful social interactions and connections between friends, neighbours, and even total strangers. These encounters can help people to find common ground and build strong relationships too!

Whether it’s engaging in conversations about style, attending fashion events, or collaborating on creative projects.

Fashion offers opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals. These connections can help build a sense of belonging and can contribute to your overall sense of happiness and well-being. If you surround yourself with people who love your style and want you to be your best self, you’ll soon find that this best self is well within your reach. 

Fashion extends beyond mere aesthetics and trends; it can be a powerful ally in promoting mental well-being. Once you embrace your personal style as something potentially transformative rather than simply superficial, you’ll soon discover the many ways it can impact your mental health for yourself. 

LL x

*This is a contributed post. As ever, all opinions are my own.

You can find similar posts here and here.

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest

Related

RELATED POSTS

Laura Kate Lucas - Manchester Travel and Lifestyle Blogger | Keepers of Wales - Snowdonia National Park
How Self-Driving Cars Are Changing the Way We Travel
Laura Kate Lucas - Leopard Fashion Outfit
5 reasons to buy your new home in Manchester
Laura Kate Lucas - Manchester Travel, Lifestyle and Fashion Blogger | Relationship Couple Ibiza
Date Night Ideas: From Cosy Evenings to Extravagant Outings
New York Travel Fashion
5 of the World’s Most Underrated Travel Destinations
Must-Have Items for a Versatile Year-Round Wardrobe
Leave a Comment 
[zilla_likes]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Laura Kate Lucas | Manchester Lifestyle & Fashion Blogger

Instagram

laurakatelucas

📍Snaps from our stay at @deadwoodcabins 🤠🇺🇸🌵 a dreamy Wild West inspired retreat in rural Lincolnshire with the cutest cabins, cosy log fires and the best neighbours Dolly and Doris 🐷 cannot recommend this place enough for a little glamping getaway 👌 it was so nice to have a bit of a digital detox - the cabins have games and a private BBQ (you can pre-order food for the BBQ which will be in your fridge when you arrive) so we spent the night cooking dinner and smores, playing scrabble and drinking mulled wine in front of the fire 🥰 there are three different cabins to choose from and all of them are filled with souvenirs and trinkets that make each one unique. There’s also a saloon if you want to go hang (BYOB or there’s an honesty box for beers from the fridge) and you can help yourself to fresh chicken eggs for breakfast too 🍳 thank you to @paarriiee for being such a lovely host, can’t wait to come back 🖤
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#deadwoodcabins #glamping #uktravel #cowgirl #wildwest #ukglamping
‘Ndu Y’Olive Me? YES @nellspizza I do 🍕❤️ 
There’s some new menu items that have made it straight to the top of my faves list, including a chopped salad, moreish garlicky dough bites, and a pizza with nduja, olives, vodka sauce and basil 👌 ALSO the cocktails are SO underrated here - the margs are top tier and their new seasonal drinks are a must try. Will be back for the pistachio ice cream sandwich (so hard not to prioritise eating as much pizza as possible and save room for dessert but I will manage it one day) ✌️
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#nells #nellspizza #manchesterpizza #kampus #manchestereats
Autumn 🍂 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #ootd #au Autumn 🍂 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#ootd #autumnootd #altstyle #outfitinspo #thrashermag #asos #manchesterinfluencer #laurakatelucas #girlswithtattoos #pinkhair
PSA! 📢 The sellout @salfordrum coffee rum is ba PSA! 📢 The sellout @salfordrum coffee rum is back 🙌 run don’t walk to grab one of these, I can’t tell you how good this stuff is 👌 there’s a reason it sold out last time!! The bottle is also stunning and the perfect addition to your bar or cabinet. Oh and if you wanna show off your cocktail skills then make this: Salford Rumtini 🍸 Salford coffee rum 50ml, fresh espresso 40ml, sugar syrup 20ml - hard shake to make it frothyyyyy and then strain into a coupe or martini glass ET VOILA ☕️ your new fave drink ✨
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#salfordrum #salfordrumcompany #coffeerum #cocktailrecipe #manchesterinfluencer #thingstodoinmanchester #laurakatelucas
NYC day 6 ✌️ 🖤 started with mimosas on our NYC day 6 ✌️
🖤 started with mimosas on our rooftop. Waking up to the nyc skyline is my fave.
🖤 we got the subway to @citifield to watch the @mets ⚾️🏟️ so much fun - would definitely recommend doing this if you’re visiting. The whole experience was one of my favourites of the trip.
🖤 A little wander and some vintage shops on the way back to the hotel before getting ready for dinner.
🖤 Dinner at @ivan_ramen 🍜👌 easily the best ramen I’ve ever had (thanks to @josgoncalves91 for the recommendation - SO glad I went here and would definitely recommend to anyone else. Watch the chefs table episode on Netflix.)
🖤 ended the eve with a couple of amazing cocktail bars - @superbuenonyc (no.2 in North America’s 50 best bars) and @attaboy134 (22 in the worlds 50 best bars)🍸 unsurprisingly both up there on my list of favourite cocktails. Also both really lovely atmospheres and would 10000% return. Attaboy have no menu but you just tell them what you like and what you’re in the mood for and they make you something incredible 👌 it’s also hidden behind a very normal looking door (last pic) so you gotta knock to get in.
Superbueno is Mexican-American, a really fun vibe and also serve food 🌮
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#nyc #nycitinerary #newyorktravel #ivanramen #attaboynyc #superbuenonyc #nymets #citifield #thingstodoinnyc
Quick OOTD <3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . #ootd #jad Quick OOTD <3
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#ootd #jadedldn #styleinspo #altstyle #girlswithtattoos #jeansandanicetop #drmartens #manchesterinfluencer #laurakatelucas
Ridin off into the sunset 🤠✨ (aka the weekend Ridin off into the sunset 🤠✨ (aka the weekend)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#deadwoodcabins #ootd #cowgirl #cowboy #cowgirlstyle #westernstyle #laurakatelucas #manchesterinfluencer
Stacking ✨🤠 my current fave jewellery extras Stacking ✨🤠 my current fave jewellery extras from @everydayandco_ 💕  use code LAURA20 for discount 🫶
(gift)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#jewellery #cowboybootnecklace #goldjewellery #altstyle #howtostack #laurakatelucas #manchesterinfluencer #pinkhair
Autumn menu PERFECTION at @evelynscafebar ✨👌 Autumn menu PERFECTION at @evelynscafebar ✨👌 one my favourite evenings at one of my favourite spots, and the food is so so good. The menu is mostly small plates (with some biggies in there too) so it’s perfect for sharing with some bottles of wine ofc. 💕
My faves are the Tuna Crudo, BBQ Mackerel (the best mackerel I’ve ever eaten), the steak is 10/10 and honestly Evelyn’s is one of my fave places for the veggie dishes! Oh and the lamb. AND the dessert! Okay I’ll stop. If the fact that every dish on the menu being great isn’t enough to get you there, they also offer 50% off wine 5-7pm weekdays 🍷 which is surely one of the best happy hours in town?! 
20/10 always great and this menu might be the best yet!
(invite)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#evelynsnq #evelynscafrbar #northernquarter #manchesterrestaurants #laurakatelucas #manchesterinfluencer
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Bloglovin

Follow

 

Coconut lane discount badge

Proudly associated with Copywriter Collective
Europe’s No. 1 source for freelance copywriters


Categories

  • Accessories
  • Activities
  • Advice & Tips
  • Beauty
  • Blogging
  • Cakes & Baking
  • Competition
  • Contributed Posts
  • Event
  • Fashion
  • Fitness
  • Food & Drink
  • For Him
  • Gifting
  • Hair
  • Health
  • Home & Interiors
  • Jewellery
  • Lifestyle
  • Lockdown
  • Marketing
  • Pet
  • Recipes
  • Restaurant
  • Seasonal
  • Subscriptions
  • Technology
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Wedding

Archives

Subscribe

Enter your email address to subscribe to LauraKateLucas and receive notifications of new posts by email!

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
Jennifer theme  |  
 

Loading Comments...