Before we open our mouths, our clothing is already communicating for us. The colors, fabrics, and details we select narrate stories about who we are, where we’ve been, and what we aspire to become. Fashion is not just about the textile—it is a non-verbal communication.

Even before we utter a single word, our clothing speaks for us. The colors, textures, and details about the clothing we choose all have narratives about who we are, where we’ve been, and what we aspire to be. Fashion is much more than fabric—it is a mode of silent communication.

In fact, research by Adam and Galinsky (2012) demonstrated that while clothing is worn, it directly changes the way we think and conduct ourselves, which is referred to as enclothed cognition. For example, individuals who wore clothing associated with confidence or professional clothing performed better and felt more confident in performing the tasks required of them when they wore clothing associated with confidence. So, fashion really affects the way we think and perceive the self, and ultimately how we are perceived by others.

Consider the outfit that you most feel yourself in. Perhaps it’s a denim jacket that has witnessed both emotional heartbreak and laughter, or a pair of sneakers that evoke visions of freedom, running, and youth. These pieces of clothing represent moments in time that symbolize memories, but more specifically signify growth in personal identity, or experiences of change.

Actually, Adam and Galinsky (2012) conducted a study where they discovered that what we wear influences our thoughts and behaviors, a phenomenon called enclothed cognition. When individuals wear clothing associated with power or confidence, they perform better and feel more powerful. More simply, fashion impacts how we perceive ourselves—and how the world perceives us.

Reflect upon the article of clothing you wear when you feel most like yourself. Perhaps it is a denim jacket emblazoned with heartbreak and laughter, or your beloved sneakers alluding to sensations of freedom, physicality, or youth. The clothing you select to wear on a daily basis is not just a clothing choice, it is representative of memory. The clothing you select represents markers of identity growth and changes.

When I began to understand that clothing is a form of storytelling, I came to the conclusion that I was building my own visual diary. Each hoodie, ring, or jacket represents a view of creativity, comfort, or the process of evolving as a person. Each day, our lifestyle choices express to the world how we feel and what we value without ever saying a word.

As the fashion journalist Suzy Menkes once said: “Clothes are never a frivolity. They always mean something.” Fashion is both universal as well as highly personal, in fact, it is an invisible language we all understand whether we choose to blend in or stand out. We are constantly writing chapters of our visual history through the clothes we wear.

So, next time when you go to dress for the day, ask yourself: what story are you telling today?

What’s one piece of clothing that tells your story? Share it with #EveryThreadHasAStory.

Reference:
Adam, H., & Galinsky, A. D. (2012). Enclothed cognition. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 48(4), 918–925.