Over the last few years, casual clothing has transitioned from something worn on the weekends to an everyday default. Hoodies and oversized sweats are now commonly seen in classrooms, at work meetings, and even at social events that were once reserved for “real clothes.” At first glance, it seems like this change is harmless, and even progress. However, there are deeper psychological effects that arise from what people wear. According to research done by many social psychologists, clothing is more than just an outer layer of decoration; it affects our cognitive processes and our self-perceptions.
The idea of enclothed cognition indicates that the clothing we wear can activate certain mental states in us. Formal attire is associated with authority, concentration, and ability; while casual attire is associated with relaxation and being informal. In one study, people who wore formal clothing were more likely to engage in abstract and strategic thinking than those who wore casual clothes. This effect likely arises from the symbolic meaning attached to clothing and how the brain incorporates that symbolic meaning into our cognition.
Researchers from Temple University have also shown that being able to dress well—or even just not formally—has a positive effect on self-esteem and productivity. Researchers state that dressing well gives people impetus to achieve their goals because it gives them a sense of confidence, purpose, and preparation to complete their work as an employee. Employees who dress in clothing considered, “authentic but intentional” are more successful at completing their work than those who don’t dress that way or in casual clothing because they have an “empowered” mindset when they dress with intent, thus achieving more goal completion and collaborating more with others who dress in the same manner than those that wear casual clothing. Whereas, casual clothing gives employees a “relaxed” mindset because they are wearing clothing that does not challenge their focus to complete their work; for example, psychologists say dressing in casual clothing sends a subconscious message to the brain that it is “time to relax rather than put forth effort to complete complex work.”
In addition to an individual’s own productivity, how individuals dress has a direct impact on how they are perceived by others. Research indicates that formal clothing commands higher status, dominance and professionalism; whereas, those who wear extremely casual clothing are perceived as being “lazy” or “not serious.” The perceptions that people have about how other people dress are not just superficial but they can directly impact people’s ability to obtain employment; how they perceive people in leadership roles; and how much trust or responsibility they will place on others based on how well a person dresses.
Clothing does not have to suit your style every day. However, we see that people are typically less likely to dress casually at the workplace than in leisure time. Because of this, there may be less motivation to adopt behaviours related to ambition, focus and purposeful behaviour in the workplace. For example, when someone wears well-fitted jeans or dresses well, their clothing choices signal their readiness to be productive, while oversized lounge wear can hinder their ability to be productive due to its lack of indicating a desire to work.
In a world where our actions and how people perceive others affect our output, clothing choices can build good habits and create an environment that promotes a certain mindset, therefore influencing how we appear to others and ourselves.