Enclothed Cognition Meets The Capsule Wardrobe

The impact of our clothing choices in cultivating a conscious and compact wardrobe.

Culture, Cognition, And Capsule Challenges

Introducing the second blog in my 3-part blog series about the profound connection between our identity and the clothes we choose to wear.

This blog delves into the psychological concept of enclothed cognition and the practical approach of a capsule wardrobe. It explores how our attire reflects our self-perception and impacts our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

• 7 Day Sweater Challenge
• Capsules And Enclothed Cognition
• Culture, Society, And Clothes

----------

Enclothed Cognition: The clothes we wear influence our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Capsule Wardrobe: A selective, curated closet matching how we wish to feel every day.

Our clothing tells a story about who we are, reflecting our self-perception and sending a subtle message to the world.

Clothes are not just about practicality; They are also about how we see ourselves and how others see us.

Enclothed cognition explains how our clothing choices can actually boost our confidence and energy. When we believe our clothes symbolize competence and professionalism, we’re more likely to approach tasks with that same sense of capability.

By choosing clothing that makes us feel good and aligns with our goals, we can enhance our performance and positively influence our mindset.

So, the next time you pick out an outfit, remember that it’s not just about looking good—it’s about feeling empowered and ready to take on the day.

Discovering Self Through Style

We know when something does not suit us. We put it on, and it just doesn’t feel right. It isn’t about the fit. It is about how we feel at a particular moment and the perceived societal, cultural, and psychological messages others will receive.

Daily life is complicated. In a web of opportunities, commitments, desires, and the general undertaking of our day, it is often a herculean effort to get it all done.

Advice is abundant on how to juggle it all. One common theme is simplicity, assuring us therein lies the way toward a more peaceful, less stress-filled day. If only.

As the TV personality Marie Kondo would have it, if you don’t wear it, use it, enjoy it, and get rid of it. This is how to live a Tidy Life.

Simplicity In The Closet, Complexity In Life

To simplify life, I recommend embracing a capsule wardrobe. The concept of a capsule wardrobe has been around since the 1940s, and while its popularity has fluctuated over the years, it’s now common and widely recognized.

Capsules are beneficial for reasons beyond just style. By adopting a capsule wardrobe, we not only simplify our lives but also become more mindful of the planet and sustainability.

Capsules encourage us to consider the impact of our choices on the environment and to support ethical practices in the clothing industry.

A capsule wardrobe helps us focus on quality over quantity, reducing waste, and thoughtful consumption.

Incorporating a capsule wardrobe into our lives is a step towards a more sustainable and ethical future, all while enjoying the benefits of a streamlined, coordinated, and purposeful wardrobe.

The Ethical Fabric Of Our Wardrobe

When I was a freshman in college, I changed my clothes three or four times a day. I never felt right. I felt beige, boring, too weird, not interesting enough, and trying too hard. Long after, I understood that if I depended upon what others would think about me before thinking about what I felt was right for me, it would be nearly impossible to get anything right, much less my style.

Reflecting upon the discomfort I felt, I realized that each piece of clothing I chose did not originate from ‘me’ but was built upon what I thought others would approve of.

In truth, I experienced anxiety because I did not yet know myself. My identity was shifting sand.

Even when we are stronger within our identity, we realize the complexity of life that identity lives through daily. There is the public self, the personal self, and the private self in play.

For example, you are an exceptional professional in a very coat-and-tie environment. You also love laying on the floor playing with your cat or dog or kid or all three in your PJs, walking in the rain in the forest, going to the library, and having a glass of wine in a wine bar. You love to feel held and safe within your clothes, and you don’t want to have to change your clothes every part of the day to actuate these self-truths.

It matters more now that you buy clothes that reflect your beliefs. If they can be local and not simultaneously displace people, the more, the better.

Now, it’s more important than ever to choose clothes that reflect your identity and support ethical and sustainable practices. If your clothes can be local and not displace people, even better.

Creating our personal identity dictionary helps us curate our capsule wardrobe. Think about the values that matter most to you. If you care deeply about ethical concerns, sustainability should be a key part of your wardrobe.

When our clothes are created sustainably, it shows that we are walking our talk.

Paying attention to why and when we feel good about how we are dressed allows us to understand what makes it work. Facing our closet with this mindset helps us consciously eliminate what doesn’t serve us, leading us toward simplicity.

A less burdensome everyday life provides more space in our minds and closets.

Ask yourself, what do you feel good wearing, even when you first put it on? Would you wear it for a week? That’s a challenge worth trying. Observe why you feel good about what you have on and use that insight to guide your wardrobe choices.

• Is it the color?
• Is it the comfort?
• Is it the quality?
• Is it an item you can adapt to many different situations?
• Does it feel what you feel about yourself?
• Does it project the ‘you’ you want others to feel?
• Does it give a balance of both?
• Does it meet your ethical standards?
• Does it pinch the wallet but promise longevity?
• Does that matter to you?

Crafting A Personal Uniform Lexicon

Much of this takes only minutes of practiced awareness, an honest assessment of what we want to meet with what we need, and vice versa.

And no, we don’t have to eliminate everything that doesn’t fit squarely into our personal identity dictionary.

Our evolving sense of style demands only our attention to keep up with ourselves. Everything else is, well, not our style.

If you believe that every good wardrobe starts with owning less and owning better, consider buying yourself an OLIVER CHARLES sweater.