Confidence Begins With A Smile

Interestingly, science is a little closer to understanding the brain chemistry behind our love of clothes, and as it turns out, our outfits may influence how we approach and interact with the world. Early findings from a study published on the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology's website, people who wore white coats that they thought belonged to doctors performed better on tests than those who were dressed in street clothes, or those who thought the coats were associated with artists. Their heightened focus was evident only when subjects actually put on the coat in question, not just when they were in the same room. It’s no secret that putting together an outfit is like selecting social armour, and that what we wear has influence over others - if there weren’t truth to the cliché “lady in red,” designers wouldn’t be making so many scarlet dresses! This study, however, demonstrates if you have a strong cultural association with an item of clothing, wearing it can affect your cognitive processes. This phenomenon is called 'enclothed cognition', meaning that if your brain links Armani or Paul Smith collections with powerful, intelligent women, you’re likely to take on those attributes when you wear that beautifully cut suit or quirky, tailored jacket.