Hey, my people!
How are you doing today?
Good week? Not so good? Good in progress?
Either way, as usual, I have come with another angle into this self-care matter.
Have you gone to YouTube to see some of my attempts at doing videos? You will first laugh and then remember I am talking about a serious thing.
Sha subscribe after laughing.
Have you ever stopped to think about how the clothes you wear can affect your mental well-being?
Fashion in my eyes, goes beyond looking good; it can also be a powerful tool for self discovery and care.
The moment I started to dress for me, I realized I changed in many other areas, in a good way, I was more like who I wanted to be. The person my 8-year-old self and 80-year-old self will relate with.
The Connection between Dressing and Mental Health
We all know that when we dress up in our favourite outfit, it boosts our confidence and enhances our mood. But the relationship between fashion and mental health goes beyond just looking good.
The clothes we wear can influence how we feel about ourselves and how others perceive us. It’s no secret that when we feel good about our appearance, it has a positive impact on our self-esteem and overall mental well-being.
When we put effort into selecting an outfit that makes us feel comfortable, stylish, and authentic, it sends a powerful message to our brains. It signals that we value ourselves, and that we deserve to look and feel our best.
Dressing in a way that aligns with our personal style and reflects our personality can be an act of self-expression and self-care. It allows us to embrace our uniqueness and cultivate a positive body image, which plays a significant role in our mental health journey.
The Pitfalls of Impulsive Fashion Purchases
In today’s fast-paced world of online shopping and trend-driven fashion, it’s easy to fall into the trap of mindless consumption. We often find ourselves acquiring numerous “nice to have dresses” without giving much thought to their long-term impact on our well-being. While treating ourselves occasionally can be a delightful experience, it’s essential to be mindful of our purchasing habits.
The thrill of buying new clothes may provide temporary joy, but it’s crucial to consider the long-term effects on our mental health. Impulsive purchases can lead to cluttered wardrobes filled with items we rarely wear, which can contribute to feelings of guilt, stress, negative self consciousness and even financial strain.
Moreover, constantly seeking external validation through material possessions can hinder our journey towards self-acceptance and true sustainable self-care.
The Power of Mindful Fashion Choices
Instead of falling into the cycle of excessive consumption, we can adopt a mindful approach to fashion and use it as a tool for self-care, and save the planet in the process.
Here are a few tips to help you create a wardrobe that supports your mental health:
Define your personal style: Take the time to explore your preferences, experiment with different styles, and discover what truly resonates with you. Don’t buy anything new; take what you have and wear them in various ways and combine things in ways you would not usually do then.
Sort out the things that work for your self-esteem and practical life roles, and the things that don’t. Pass on the things that don’t fit your current style to friends or charity. When your wardrobe reflects your authentic self, you’ll find joy in wearing your clothes and boost your self-confidence.
Choose quality over quantity: Invest in well-made pieces that will stand the test of time. Opting for quality over quantity not only reduces waste but also allows you to curate a collection of clothes that you genuinely love, feel comfortable in, and you can wear for years. Says me in 10-year-old La Senza bra.
Embrace versatility: Look for pieces that can be mixed and matched to create various outfits. This way, you can maximize the use of your wardrobe while still enjoying a sense of novelty and creativity. Choose 2 major colours for your wardrobes and build on those with shades and colours that match your two main squeezes.
Y’all know I am a green girl, and brown comes next, so everything else aligns with these basics.
Colour Wheel (Source: Adobe)
Practice gratitude and self-reflection: Before making a purchase, pause and ask yourself if you genuinely need the item or if it aligns with your personal style and values. Practising gratitude for the clothes you already have can help shift your mindset from constantly wanting to appreciate what you already own. Shop in your wardrobe first before you go buying.
You always have something you can wear. Don’t be like some people I know. *Side eyes*
Are you convinced?
Do you feel like you can hack it? Express yourself and send me a picture in your gloriously clothed self, because that is the true you!!!!
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Fashion can be an incredible tool for self-care when approached with intention and mindfulness. By dressing in a way that aligns with our personal style and values, we can boost our self-esteem, cut down preparation time, reduce daily decision making, and build a sustainable personal wardrobe that stands the test of trends and time.
Remember to create and live by your own rule, make them up if you must.
Until next time, I hope you dress your way bombastically to anywhere you wanna go my friend.
You are worth the work.
Stay wholesome
Stay authentic
Be yourself and keep getting better at it.
Live wholeheartedly,
Amaka
