Wouldn’t it be nice if we could choose to be more confident? The secret might be in your wardrobe.
Getting dressed isn’t just a matter of how you feel – all sorts of things come into play, from how comfortable you are in your body to what’s appropriate for the occasion. Not all of these are in our control all the time – if you’re a defence lawyer, you probably can’t rock up to work in a giant orange onesie – but little tweaks can actually change not just how other people see us, but also how we see ourselves. Weird but true. One of the things I’ve realised is that trainers are brilliant for me. Honestly, I’ve scrapped the uncomfortable shoes and opted for fresh new trainers to give my outfit a glow and my confidence too! (These Adidas beauties were actually a bargain through Love the Sales – so I’m not just going and spending a fortune on trainers every month!)
If you don’t believe me, give it a try yourself. A lot of the time, it’s about the colours we choose. Wearing bright colours can pump up our mood and make us feel miles more confident – here’s how.
It’s all about the psychology of colour
Ever noticed that different colours evoke different emotions? This is called the “psychology of colour”, and it’s a real thing. Restaurants, shops, and brands regularly consider this as an important part of their designs – for instance, lots of fast-food chains use happy, stimulating colours like red and orange, as they want to encourage customers to eat more.
Each colour has a set of feelings associated with it. Red increases circulation (maybe why it’s associated with passion – gets your heart rate going!) and it’s known as a bold colour. It’s often quite sophisticated, in a sexy way. Orange is energising, and it’s meant to promote decision making, which could definitely make you appear more confident (which this Simply Be jumpsuit does!) Yellow (the big colour of 2024) is joyful, confident, and optimistic – it helps that it’s the colour of sunshine – and is meant to help promote creativity.
On the other side of the scale are blues and greens. They’re more subdued colours (or they could be! Electric blue, anyone?), and they have lots of positive associations. Blue is known as a calming colour – its paler tones are soothing, like looking up at a soft blue sky, while its deeper tones stimulate the intellect and are meant to promote healing. Green is obviously the colour found throughout nature (trees, grass, etc.), so no surprises that it evokes growth, harmony, peace, and love.
Be the change you want to see
Wearing bright colours is basically the sartorial version of a power stance. It’s a way to ensure that you don’t get lost in a room and that people remember you. You might not feel confident at first, but you’ll project an image of confidence – and when that happens, often you’ll start to feel it.
Another big reason that wearing bright colours can boost your confidence is that…
Bright colours reflect back at you
Have you ever walked down the street, seen someone in an amazing outfit, and smiled at them? Me too. When you wear bright, bold colours, you’ll bring joy to the people around you. When you brighten up the world, it usually comes right back around – don’t be surprised when people smile at you more or make the effort to talk to you. This is a big mood-booster, and what happens when your mood is boosted? You’re way more confident.
