You look in the mirror and you have on your most stylish outfit complete with some unique pants and a unique top. You feel confident but also miss the comfort that comes with hoodies and sweatpants.
Which is more beneficial for self-esteem? Being comfortable, or being expressive?
Having a unique style personal to the wearer can boost confidence as it is a projection of said person’s personality, especially if they are not projecting their personality through means of conversation.
“According to a 2012 study from Northwestern University, wearing certain clothes has a tangible effect on the wearer’s psychology and performance.” (2012 study) clothing choices have a huge effect on how a person acts and feels. For example, wearing a blazer can boost productivity and confidence. But wearing pajamas can make one feel lazy or tired.
Wearing unique outfits can also boost one’s overall confidence and be a strong means of self-expression. For many that are on the quieter side, a strong outfit that incorporates patterns, colors, and textures that one likes can be a great tool to let the ones around them what they are like without having to talk.
Finding your style can be a treacherous journey, full of experimentation and trying out different eras of clothing, textures, colors, fits, etc. but once it is achieved, it can mean all the difference or self-esteem.
Putting together outfits every day can also be a great creative outlet for many people. Even if they are traditionally not creative, everyone has a little creativity, they just need to find it and use it.
Comfy clothes can also be a pathway toward confidence.
Comfortable clothes can hide insecurities that more stylish clothes might highlight. Comfortable clothes are very popular among teens because of the implications of the “perfect body” from social media.
Social media is a huge advocate for the perfect body, specifically for women, but often for men as well. From having a ‘fit’ body type and being slim, yet not too athletic looking, achieving the “perfect look” is not ideal for mental health as it is a constant battle with trying to look perfect, yet healthy.
Comfortable clothing like pj pants, hoodies, oversized T-shirts, etc. helps to mask insecurities and eliminate the stress for many young teens of looking perfect all the time. “ You felt good in your dress, and you felt good about yourself, and that inner confidence was on fire.” (Northwestern University)
Comfortable clothing can also be a much more accessible option for many people.
Exploring a new style and finding your style can be expensive. Trying different styles of clothing, colors, etc. can be very hard to master the very first time you try to find it. So comfortable clothes are way easier to master the first time you look for them and do not require much thought ahead of time about how to style it.
But, you do not have to choose comfortable or stylish clothes. There is often an option that crosses the two and provides a comfortable and a stylish look all in one! You can also just dress based on your mood for the day by choosing a comfortable outfit, or a more stylish one.
Overall, both comfortable clothing, and more stylistic clothing can have great benefits regarding self-esteem, it really depends on insecurities, preferences, and a desire to explore.