Use Your Outfits to Boost Your Mood

by Helen Reynolds

Whatever you’re doing right now, I invite you to take a pause and check in with how you are feeling.

Now, take a look down at your outfit. Does it match your mood?

Today, I’d love to inspire you to tune into the power of using your outfits to boost your mood.

I’ve been supporting women to find their true style for almost 15 years now. Supporting women in understanding how different ways of dressing can affect how they feel is such a privilege and brings benefits far beyond looking fabulous. I truly believe we can draw energy from our outfits. And in case you didn’t know it, a fabulous outfit can be a dressed down one. You don’t have to be dressed up to the nines to feel energised and gorgeous. 

Find your ‘bounce’

You know that wonderful feeling when you’ve been to the hairdressers and they’ve done a great job? You step out of the salon with a smile on your face, a bounce in your step and you make eye contact with strangers. You may recognise this as bringing your ‘lover’ energy. You know you look fabulous and you carry yourself differently. You can do this through the clothes you wear too.

For those of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere, January is often seen as a dreary month. Long cold dark days and perhaps recovery time from a busy festive season, can make slobby dressing become your default option. And let me tell you that this does nothing to boost your energy or your mood.

If you are feeling run down, it’s all too easy to throw style out of the window and grab your comfies. Don’t get me wrong, I love a casual, cosy lounge-worthy outfit as much as you, but there’s a big difference between one that feels like a nurturing hug and one that makes you look like a slob.

Upgrade your comfies

My first piece of advice today is to upgrade those comfies, if you feel they’ve seen better days. Whether you choose to treat yourself to some delicious, good quality pieces that you wouldn’t be embarrassed to be seen in, or whether you simply downgrade some of your other clothes to the category of ‘loungewear’ because in truth they are starting to feel a bit too ‘lived-in’. I’m a big fan of downgrading clothing categories over time, so ‘best’ becomes ‘everyday’ and ‘everyday’ becomes ‘loungewear’ and your old scruffy comfies head off to recycling.

Use your outfit to boost your energy

If you are ready to come out of your January slump and want to get on with life, be productive and feel energised, try this…

Instead of reaching for your usual comfies, grab something else. Whether that’s jeans or trousers instead of joggers, or a fabulous top instead of a holey/baggy jumper. Maybe try a dress that never gets worn - January is a great time for a jumper dress and boots. If you don’t have many options to choose from, you might boost your energy with something as simple as an outfit that’s head to toe black with a bold, red lip. My advice is to keep it simple. Do something different and see how it makes you feel.

Whenever I do this, I feel energised, productive and ready to get on with life. It’s an easy way to rediscover your bounce without having to go to the hairdressers!

I’d love for you to give it a go too. Remember, it’s fine to dress for your mood but if you are ready to improve it, get a bit dressed up!

Here’s a few tips to try. 

Suggested swaps

• Joggers for jeans, trousers or leggings (ones without holes!)
• Jeans for a jumper dress and boots
• Baggy old jumper for a nice colourful one
• Holey cardigan for a colourful sweatshirt

Quick wins

• Use your perfume (don’t save it for best)
• Deep condition your hair
• Put on some subtle make-up 
• Wear your jewellery

All of these simple swaps and quick wins can make a huge amount of difference, so do give them a try. 

Join The Wardrobe Reboot Experience, starting soon!

January also feels like a great time to get organised, especially if you’ve rediscovered your energy. If your wardrobe has seen better days and feels like an over-stuffed, under-used messy cupboard, you need to register for my free Wardrobe Reboot Experience. 

We start on Monday 29th January and over the course of 5 days together, I’ll help you to clear out and organise your wardrobe in a non-overwhelming way AND find more to wear than you ever imagined you owned. This fun and productive experience is for you if you are ready to make change, uplevel your style (even your everyday one) and start feeling excited about style again. Click here to register your free place