Have you ever experienced feeling awkward or unsure of yourself because the outfit you´re wearing makes you self-conscious? Or have you experienced feeling enormously confident and good about yourself because what you´re wearing makes you feel beautiful?
I do believe that self-confidence must come from within, however, what we wear can affect our confidence. This is because we are aware that the clothes we wear have the power to convey about us and our personality.
Here are five things about an outfit that makes or breaks your confidence.
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1. It has a good fit.
There are many factors that identify if a piece of clothing fits you well or not. But first, is it your size? If it´s too big or too small, chances are it won´t flatter your shape.
As someone who enjoys shopping during clearance sales, I have to be very conscious about this. Sometimes, if I really like an apparel and my size is already gone, I pick the next size and try it on. I would do a mental calculation in the dressing room if I could make-do of it or not, only to return it back on the rack because deep-down, I knew I couldn´t make the most of it.
Other than choosing your right size, how well the pieces are cut is another (yet best) determinant if they would fit well on you. For example are my jeans. I have many pairs of jeans I bought from high street brands such as Zara and Mango, that are really nice and chic, exactly my size, but they don´t flatter my shape. Instead of accenting my (well-shaped) derriere, they flatten it. I also have two pairs of Levis jeans, splurge items in my book, which I don´t wear because they too, flatten my bottom. It took me long to find the jeans that really fit well on me. For a long while I rarely wore jeans, until recently when I found the brand of jeans, the Hilfiger jeans, which cut mostly fits me well.
Now I´m not saying that the jeans from high street brands aren´t good, they may not flatter me but they may flatter you, what I`m saying is it pays off if you take time to look for clothing that really fits you well and flatter your shape.
Nothing beats a well-cut piece that fits you well.
2. It´s comfortable.
We all have different definitions of comfort, but when I say comfortable, I don´t refer to shapeless clothing and un-stylish shoes (so long as they´re flat!). For me, what makes an outfit comfortable is when I can walk and move comfortably and smoothly while wearing it. I don´t mind closed-toe stilletos for a whole day provided that they don´t wound my heels and toes. And most importantly, they don´t fall off my feet every time I walk.
The fabric is equally important to me in terms of comfort. Especially in summer, I steer clear of fabrics that feel hot on my skin such as jersey. It can trigger my sweating easily.
3. It makes you feel beautiful.
It´s difficult to tell what exactly it is in an outfit, or apparel, that makes you feel beautiful. It can be the print, the style, the perfect fit, the color, the feel of it on your skin, or the mood that it sets, but there simply are pieces – or a combination of them – that makes you glow. The compliments you get just confirm this.
4. It´s well put together.
Getting creative in mixing and matching the pieces that you already have is a skill that you can learn and master. Some people have an inner eye, they´re just naturally good at it, but they too had to develop and master the skill. The good news is, everyone can learn it! There will be some miss-es along the way, but sooner and surely, you´ll get a hold of it.
The moment you´ve mastered the science of mix and match, and once you know that what you´re wearing is a well-thought and well put together combo, you´ll naturally feel confident in it. This is true whether you´re putting together an outfit for the office or for an evening party, or you´re going bold and totally daring!
5. It´s suited for the occasion.
Between being overdressed and under-dressed, which one do you prefer? Most of the time, we dress the occasion. But there are times when we aren´t sure if we did. When you see that everyone in the room is smartly dressed and you´re wearing casual, you will feel uncomfortable. You´ll also feel the same if your outfit goes overboard.
The trick I do if I`m not certain of what I wear, I pack in my handbag a lightweight sequined cardigan which will quickly elevate a simple jeans and t-shirt combo, or a statement shawl – preferably in bright print – that will easily turn a rather toned all-black look into a stunner.
How about you? What are the things that make you feel confident in an outfit you wear?
