You have tried it. I have tried it : a sharp cut blue blazer for confidence, black for authority, red for attention or soft knits for comfort. Your clothes speak volumes even before you say the first word. The cut of a jacket, the flow of a dress, the texture of fabric — they all form part of the story you tell the world that surrounds you.

But here’s when the twist begins. While we’ve long focused on what our clothes say to others, we’ve missed an even more fascinating angle: what they say to US. The way we dress doesn’t just alter perceptions people have about us, it also rewires our thinking, shapes our emotions and even influences how we act.

And believe me, this isn’t just another made-up, OOTD success story fluff. It’s science.

In 1920, psychologist Edward Thorndike coined the halo effect — the idea that one positive trait (as in dressing put-together) leads people to assume you have others (like being efficient or kind). Decades later, researchers Hajo Adam and Adam D. Galinsky followed it up with a study on enclothed cognition. They found that wearing certain types of clothes doesn’t only change how others see you: it changes how you perform. Participants who wore white lab coats associated with doctors showed improved attention and accuracy compared to those who didn’t. Even further: if the person who gave them the coat described it as “lab coat” they performed better than if the coat was described as “painter coat”… even though the coat was actually IDENTICAL!!!

That simple? Not quite — but it’s close.

Clothing carries symbolic meaning and when we wear something connected to that meaning, our brains adopt the traits it represents. A smart outfit might make you feel focused, gym clothes can make you move quicker. It’s not vanity — it’s biology.

Psychologist Karen Pine (University of Hertfordshire) study found that women performed better in tests of confidence and mental agility when they were wearing clothes associated with “power”. 

And what about colours? Wear blue to feel more calm, red to increase your energy and determination in that presentation you are about to give. Textures can play a part as well: soft fabrics can soothe, structured ones sharpen your posture and help you focus.

So, what can YOU do with this?

• Dress for your goal: Think about what you want to achieve when you are choosing what you wear. Do you have an important presentation? Wear something structured and polished and stay away from soft pastels.
• Set your mood: Feeling sluggish or can’t find your focus? Swap loungewear for something vibrant, even at home.
• Create a ritual: Changing clothes when you get home will help you unwind, putting a jacket on for presentations can signal your brain that it’s time to shift gears and begin the winning mode.

Every outfit can become a subtle form of self-programming. When your wardrobe aligns with your intentions, you’re no longer just getting dressed — you’re setting the stage for how your day unfolds.

It’s not about vanity. It’s about strategy.
Because sometimes the smallest of changes – a shirt or sweater, a different colour scarf or the pair of shoes you wear – can quietly reshape your mind, your world and how you achieve your goals.

References

• Thorndike, E. L. (1920). A Constant Error in Psychological Ratings. Journal of Applied Psychology, 4(1), 25–29.
• Adam, H., & Galinsky, A. D. (2012). Enclothed Cognition. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 48(4), 918–925.
• Pine, K. (2010). Mind What You Wear: The Psychology of Fashion. University of Hertfordshire.