THE LANGUAGE CALLED FASHION AND BODY LANGUAGE
What you put on says a lot about you as a person. Fashion is one of the most crucial elements of non-verbal communication. Your outfit speaks for you even before you open your mouth. It conveys your personality, your stance in life, what you represent. “You are what you wear: What your Clothes reveal about you” by psychologist Dr. Baumgartner in which she explains how your clothes play an important role in making a place for oneself and give us a sense of identity. As said by the world-famous writer J.K Rowling “A good impression can work wonders”, your choice of wardrobe plays an important role in making a good first impression. According to psychology first impression refers to the mental image that a person creates of another person, this is done in less than 7 seconds of meeting someone.
There are various aspects that felicitate a good first impression proper body language, appropriate tone of voice, your gestures and one of the most important things what you are wearing. There is a facet of social psychology called “the social psychology of dress” in which research shows the how one’s outfit influences their body language as well as the behavior of others towards the individual. A good #ootd provides a good boost in one’s confidence, a person who is well presentable feels good about themselves and as they say “people perceive you as you perceive yourself. Wearing clothes than help you look confident and improve your body language is extremely important if you want to create a good impression.
Fashion is a language. As rightly said by Miuccia Prada, head designer at The House of Prada “You are presented by what you wear, especially in today’s world, where contacts are so quick, Fashion is your instant language”. What you are wearing on an occasion matters more than you realize.
TIPS FOR GREAT FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
- Comfort is Confidence
Wear what makes you feel comfortable. Don’t wear clothes that you don’t feel comfortable in as they affect your body posture and an uneasy look on the face can be a bummer.
- Emphasize your best part
We all have our favorite body part that makes us feel confident about ourselves. Try drawing attention to those parts. Play with patterns and colours, mix and match contrasting colours to draw attention. Choose colours that best suit your personality, let them do the talking.
3. Dress according to your body shape
Choose outfits and style your looks according to your body type. Just because something looks good on someone else wouldn’t necessarily look good on you too. Identify dresses and fits that go with your body type to let that confidence shine through.
4. Choose the right colour for you
Wear colours that compliment you the most. Check your undertone and select the colours the suit you the best.
5. Power clothing is your friend
A good power suit in the colour that compliments your skin tone is the right companion for you. It adds structure to your body, it makes you look confident and professional.
6. Structured clothing
A good comfortable structured garment felicitates the right body language. It helps you maintain the right body posture. It makes your stance look straighter and more confident a great way to create a good impression!
7.Dress the talk
Being up to date isn’t such a bad thing after all. Wear clothes that are in trend. Styling your looks as per the trend makes one feel more confident. But make sure whatever you choose compliments your personality.
8. A little accessorizing won’t hurt nobody
Accessorize your look with a statement piece. A decent statement accessory can amp up your fashion game. It can turn any basic outfit into the perfect attire.
FASHION AND BODY LANGUAGE
Fashion alone doesn’t not create an impression; your true self is portrayed through your body language as well. Fashion and body language go hand in hand. A good outfit wouldn’t look good without the perfect posture and a confident look. Fashion is not just about what you wear but how you wear it. Carrying yourself quintessentially at the end is the most important aspect of illustrating oneself.
HOW TO AVOID INCORRECT BODY LANGUAGE DUE TO STYLING
Here are some tips that will help you how to choose outfits that won’t disturb your body language:
- Don’t wear too tight
Wearing too tight or body-hugging clothes will restrict your body movement and create a lot of unnecessary gestures.
2. Easy to walk in
Wearing clothes that make your walking style look weird are a strict no. A comfortable walk makes the person look confident and it very important to let that confidence shine through.
3. Avoid extremely short clothes
Don’t wear too short dresses or skirts that you aren’t comfortable in. You are required to cross your leg or bend it on one side. This might not work in your favors and you might come out as an underconfident person.
4. Say no to heavy fabrics
Clothes and fabrics that are too heavy to carry may make you slouch. Avoid wearing too heavy and uncomfortable fabrics that may compromise your posture.
5. Focus on that neckline
Your neckline shouldn’t be plunging down. That might make you adjust your outfit again and again. Your hand movements are of great deal when it comes to portraying a confident body language, don’t move them unnecessarily.
6. Too many accessories are your foe
Wearing too many accessories or too heavy accessories might do more harm than good to your outfit. Heavy accessories will make you look uncomfortable and disrupt your body language. It may make you touch your ears or waist which might be unappealing.
TO CONCLUDE
Dress appropriately and comfortably. Create your best first impression and climb up that success ladder being the confident self that you are. Vivienne Westwood once said; “Find things that suit you. This is how you look extraordinary.” Rule the world with your extraordinary selves. With the right balance of fashion and your body language it’s all possible. The world awaits you.
HOW WE CAN HELP
Enhance your personal style and body language to make lasting first impressions. Our expert insights will help you balance fashion and confidence for any occasion. If you are looking to upgrade your body language skills, be sure to check out our online pre recorded courses on various topics that come with lifetime access. For more information, reach out to us on – 99309 41534.
REFERENCES
Goman, C. K. (2018, August 28). 5 ways body language impacts leadership results. Forbes.
Okten, I. O. (2018, January 31). Studying first impressions: What to consider? Association for Psychological Science – APS.
Staff, H. B. (2022, June 18). The 87 greatest fashion quotes of all time. Harper’s BAZAAR.
Todorović, Tijana & Toporišič, Tomaž & Pavko-Čuden, Alenka. (2014). Clothes and Costumes as Form of Nonverbal Communication. Tekstilec.
Waude, A. (2016, February 19). Fashion psychology: How the clothes you wear affect how people perceive you. Psychologist World.