Does Dressing Well at Work Make a Difference? Yes, and Science Proves It.
Whether spending your days snagging a new job, advancing in your current one, or working from home, staying motivated is as breezy as a misplaced passport.
There are heaps of articles and tactics on how to make WFH setups more productive, but what if you can’t separate home from work, or feel defeated and overwhelmed before your 9 AM even starts?
As an image consultant for many executives, tech leaders, and aspiring change-makers, I see first-hand how having pulled-together mornings gives you more time, energy, and brain space to knock it out of the park.
If you’ve been unmotivated to make waves or overwhelmed by decision fatigue, understanding the science behind getting dressed (and how it advances your career) can put sluggishness out to pasture. Read on to get science-backed facts about fashion and psychology that’ll help level you out before breakfast, electrify your creativity, and control your output.
Do the clothes worn to work impact Your thoughts, productivity, and behaviors? yes.
Evidence:
The Association of Psychological Science found that sitting up straight can make you feel more confident and powerful. They found that people who strike "power poses" reported elevations in testosterone, decreases in cortisol (a chemical found when you experience fear), and increased feelings of power, especially during high-stakes events, like job interviews or presentations.
Researchers have also found that people told to sit up straight were more likely to believe thoughts they wrote down while in that posture concerning whether they were qualified for a job.
Social psychologist Amy Cuddy argues that "power posing" -- standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don't feel confident -- can boost feelings of confidence, and might impact our chances for success.
It’s harder to slouch when your pants don’t stretch! Wearing fitted clothes improves posture, forces stature, and fakes confidence through natural power poses from structured garments. So by wearing fitted clothing, you’ll power pose, and be a power player, by default.
Stylist Pro-tip: Book a Rapid Refresh to understand in minutes how to dress this way without compromising comfort or trying too hard.
how can you determine what clothing is appropriate for your job?
Now that we’ve proven buttoning real pants is a bonafide way to slay your week, let’s see how it can help you fit in at work more seamlessly.
Evidence:
Enclothed recognition. What you wear has a symbolic meaning and a massive impact on who you think you are and what you think you’re capable of, including when you’re in work mode.
Tell your mind what’s next by transitioning into a new set of specific clothes for work or another important event. In Atomic Habits by James Clear, we learned better habits = better thinking = better performance.
Snag my FREE Closet Editing Guide to ensure you get rid of and keep the right items.
Stylist Pro-Tip: Edit your closet so you don’t have to think about what to wear and you have the clothes.
How Fashion is a tool to change our moods and sharpen our minds
Consider clothes a magic bullet to put your money where your merit is. Helpful when you're aiming for “exceeded expectations”, eh?
Evidence:
Research from California State University, Northridge, and Columbia University found even after controlling for socioeconomic status, students wearing more formal clothing showed stronger inclinations toward abstract processing.
Powerful and effective leaders have shown higher testosterone and lower cortisol levels (important brain changes for productivity), which can be increased when people wear more formal clothing.
Stylist Pro-tip: Know what “formal clothing” means to you & your industry to balance your professional reputation with your personal style. Our Styled for Success services ensure this while your mental energy is focused on your career.
how dressing well can make you more money and memorable impressions At Work
By now you get what you wear impacts performance and feelings of power, but how does it get you noticed (without looking like you’re trying too hard)?
With many people using Zoom calls and WFH as an excuse to let dress code standards slide, capitalizing on style can continue to set you apart and even make you more money.
Evidence:
A series of experiments by Princeton psychologists Janine Willis and Alexander Todorov reveal that all it takes is a tenth of a second to form an impression.
MIT found that we categorize rapidly because our reptilian brain trusts what we see. Thus, clothes help put us in charge of the narrative.
Informal outfits can hurt in negotiations because dressing down has been shown to decrease testosterone levels and come off less in control.
With a fraction of a second, we have to make impressions, you can use what you wear to feel armed and in control. Whether you want to make your babyface less post-grad, appear likable, or be a non-conforming visionary, fashion can help.
Stylist Pro-tip: Understand what styles to buy and spend relative to one’s financial circumstances and industry environment. Follow us on Instagram to learn more about how to invest and why.
why dressing fashionable is as nice for you as it is for your work dress code
Even if you don’t see people as often as you used to, you see your reflection daily in mirrors, windows, and video calls. What you see creates memories and associations of your self-perception. By permitting yourself to dress nicely you’re impacting your overall well-being, compounding your life's mood, self-confidence, and energy
Evidence:
A 2013 study published in the "Journal of Experimental Social Psychology" found that simply recalling a moment when you were confident can increase self-confidence too.
A study from the National Institutes of Health found that people who dwelled on negative aspects about themselves had a higher risk of self-doubt and may have a lower rate of self-satisfaction.
Even if you do it in the mirror, smiling makes you more likable, and trustworthy and appear more confident. Get dressed to feel good! The boost of self-esteem will give you something to smile about.
Use style to hack what you think and say. A 2014 study from the University of Illinois suggested that people who talked to themselves had higher job success and confidence.
Stylist Pro-Tip: ‘Follow the feeling’. Select clothes with how you want to feel in mind. Do you want to feel creative, and powerful, or blend in comfortably? As you create the outfit if it doesn’t make you feel positive, make small changes until you feel happy about what you’re wearing. Your feelings will help lead the way!
