The Transformative Powers of Clothes & How You Can Use Them To Your Advantage
“Nothing is more transformative than that [Clothes] kinda like Genesis. Adam messed up, got caught. First thing he did, he got a loincloth” — Dapper Dan
When I heard Dapper Dan say this, it gave me chills. It got me to thinking that ever since the beginning of time people have used clothes to change something about themselves.
Even today we use clothes to cover up what we don’t want others to see, change our moods, or people’s perception of us.
We buy expensive clothes in order to feel good about what we don’t have and follow trends so that we can fit in with the rest of society.
However, we hardly don’t buy clothes just based on how they look. Instead, we buy them based on what they can do for us. We buy them based on their transformative powers.
The challenge for many, however, is using these powers effectively.
Enhance Your Mood
“If you look good, you feel good, if you feel good you do good” — Georges St-Pierre
Have you ever looked at clothes as something that could make you feel good? Yea, probably not.
I didn’t either until college. But have you ever look in the mirror and said, “I look good”? That makes you happy right?
Just that feeling of knowing you put on a great outfit can change your entire mood for the day. After all your appearance is important; it’s a self-esteem booster. And when it’s at its best you feel your best.
Yet, you probably don’t do this with much consistency.
And I know you’re probably thinking that you don’t have enough time to put much effort into your outfits each day and trying to figure out something nice to wear is a hassle. I get that.
However, looking good shouldn’t be viewed as an unnecessary and difficult task. Instead, it should be looked at as an obligation to yourself.
You owe it to yourself to look good and to feel good.
But how do you look good every day?
You start with simple changes. Instead of going for the whole nine yards, start with a shirt. Find one that catches your eye, that makes you excited.
Wear that for a few days and see how you feel. Then buy yourself a really nice pair of pants, a pair that moves you. Wear those for a few days and see how you feel. Do the same thing with a blazer, a jacket, a coat, and shoes.
The reason for doing this is to help you find pieces that not only make you look good but feel good. Too many people shop and get a whole entire outfit or buy a particular garment to complement another particular garment in their closet. This is a mistake.
Why?
Because you don’t really like any of the individual pieces what you like Is how it all comes together which means unless you wear all at the same time you probably won’t wear any of it.
Yet, if you stop buying new clothes to compliment the old ones and start buying clothes based on how they make you feel I can promise you you’ll not only feel better about your choices but you’ll look better as well.
Who Do Your Clothes Say You Are?
In Africa, each tribe wears something that differentiates them from other tribes.
In sports, each team has a uniform that the players must wear to distinguish them from the other teams.
In fraternities and sororities, they were specific colors to indicate which fraternity or sorority they belong to.
But these garments aren’t just meant for show or to simply separate themselves from other groups. The garments that these tribes, sports teams, fraternities, and sororities wear mean something.
They indicate what each group stands for and what they believe in. When a member of the group puts on the attire of the group they are then representing the values of that organization.
The clothes that you have in your closet should be able to do the same. What you wear should symbolize the values that you hold. The clothes you have should say something about who you are as a person.
Too often we buy and wear clothes that poorly represents us. We wear things that don’t truly communicate who we are.
When you shop, don’t just look for clothes that look nice, look for clothes that you can identify with.
In other words, only buy an article of clothing if your closet wouldn’t be complete without it. As if you would regret leaving it in the store because that garment had you written all over it.
“But what if that item is expensive or they don’t have my size or the color I want?”
You shouldn’t put a price tag on your identity. The way you identify with your clothes shouldn’t be determined by the dollars you spend on them but how well they represent the person you are.
Think of it like this; you’re cheating yourself if you don’t get what you really want.
Unless it’s completely over your budget don’t let price be the determining factor when it comes to your look (you might regret it later). If you see something you like and it’s a tad bit over budget, get it. After all, you identify with that item more than you do with the one that looks like it.
Getting A Date Just Got Easier
“A well-tailored suit is to women what lingerie is to men” — Unknown
Translation, women love a well-dressed man. The same can be said for men.
A well-dressed person is simply more attractive than one who doesn’t seem to care about their appearance.
The way you dress sends signals out to the universe especially the opposite sex. It says a lot about your cleanliness, personality, and the effort you put into yourself and almost everything you do.
However, what you wear isn’t necessarily as important as how you wear it. In the quote above it doesn’t just say “ A SUIT is to come…” it says “A WELL-TAILORED suit…”.
If your suit fits you like a Glad trash bag that’s not very attractive. The same goes for all your clothes. For the most part, what makes you look good in your clothes boils down to fit.
Your clothing shouldn’t be too tight nor should they be too loose. They should almost model the shape of your body by accentuating your most prized features.
But how exactly do you get a great fit?
Two ways: you were born with an off the rack body or you have a tailor.
And since you probably don’t have an off the rack body you’re most likely going to need a tailor. Yes, tailors cost money, however, the money you spend to have your clothes fit you just right is money well spent.
Spending your money on a tailor now means your cheap suit just got a whole lot more expensive looking. Spending your money on a tailor now means that those baggy pants lose their bagginess. Spending your money on a tailor now means you’ll look a hell of a lot more attractive.
You don’t have to go out and spend booku bucks on a designer outfit to make you look more appealing. All you need is a few dollars and a good tailor and I guarantee you and your clothes will look so much better.
Thanks for reading.
