Did You Know Your Style Can Impact Your Mental Health?

By ​Hannah Small ‘25

Times have changed, and so has the fashion industry. Clothes are more than a way to layer up to face the brisk winter weather; they are an art form, now more than ever. Fashion is an expression that allows people to share their identity with the world. Considering the dress code, picking out an outfit is a necessary and routine task in everyday life at Westminster. We spend a lot of time forming outfits for the following day: early in the morning, just before bed, or even in our free time. It is the perfect excuse to express oneself and ensure additional confidence for the following day. A good outfit means a good day, right? The average human being makes about 35,000 decisions daily, and one of the most important and underrated decisions is what we want to wear. Your choice of outfits is also proven to affect your behavioral and confidence levels. Wearing clothes we feel comfortable in allows us to be more productive and willing to put ourselves out there.
 Mental health is a pressing and ever-growing issue in today’s society. More than 50% of the population is affected by at least one mental health issue during their lifetimes. But how do the two correlate? Fashion has a drastic impact on mental health. Today, fashion is one of the most booming industries, and clothing is one of the most consumed products universally; thus making it a powerful medium to implicate mental health awareness. Not only is it a wide platform for mental health awareness, specific cuts, colors, and patterns enhance our mood. Studies have shown that a daily routine for picking out an outfit can help distract from thoughts that lead to anxiety and depression. Colors can also have a significant impact on our mood. Blue is used as an antidepressive color, and green is proven to relieve stress. There are many ways we can begin to create change in the everyday battle to maintain positive mental health, but fashion is perhaps one of the most powerful and taken for granted. Mental health issues have become more and more prevalent in today’s society, especially given the years disrupted by Covid, unemployment, and the obsessive use of social media. Therefore, we must acknowledge style as one of the ways to foster a more positive lifestyle. So next time you think about your outfit for the following day, wear what makes you most confident and inspires happiness in both yourself and possibly others.