Does your clothing define you?

"What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today when human contacts are so quick. Fashion is instant language." —Miuccia Prada

Your outfit can give people cues about who you are, your personality, your mood, your attitude, values, personality, confidence etc. All of us pay attention to these cues subconsciously and create an image of an individual. Our outfit choices define our style

1. Classic - Timeless silhouettes, colours and patterns. Clutter-free, simple and comfortable looks

2. Dramatic - When you make a statement with each look. The bold choice of colours, patterns, lines etc.

3. Natural - Flowy looks, simple prints, neutral colours you don't like to stand- out. Comfort takes precedence over everything.

4. Romantic - Elegant outfit choices, everything is warm, soft, delicate. Simple dainty accessories. You prefer fabrics like silk, satin or chiffon.

5. Sportive - Prefer loose clothing with straight lines, you stay away from body-hugging outfits. Denim, t-shirts, shorts, sneakers etc are your go-to clothing choices.

Most of our styles have a range, I could be Classic at work, Romantic when I step out with my friends and Natural at home or at a casual outing with family. That is my personal style, a style that is unique to me, and it keeps evolving with time and my personality.

Am sure you must have observed that your clothing affects your mood, attitude and your behaviour. You are friendlier and approachable in a casual outfit. When you wear a suit or tie for an important meeting, you are more confident. Gym clothes motivate you to work out. Studies have proven that when one dresses up for work when working from home, is more productive, it has a psychological effect.

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Try this experiment:

When you feel extremely lazy, lethargic, not productive at all, take a nice shower, wear your favourite outfit, do your usual make-up and then record how you feel after.

Personal observation: I feel great :)

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Does just wearing great outfits that define you, guarantee success? Absolutely not. Your hard and soft skills, your communication, your work ethic, integrity and a lot of other factors are equally important. Clothing acts as your visual resume, it definitely gives you an edge.

It does not mean you need a buy a million clothes or focus on brands. It just means that you need to spend some time understanding yourself, the image that you would like to project and evaluate to see if your wardrobe meets that need.

And what do we always say, It's beautiful being YOU.