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What Your Clothes Say About You - Forbes

 

We spoke with her to figure out why clothes are so revealing (of our personalities, that is), what messages they're sending and how you can use your wardrobe to change how others perceive you—and even how you think about yourself.

How We Use Clothing as an Aid ... and a Weapon

Americans rely on clothing as an economic and social indicator because there aren't official marks of rank such as a caste system or aristocracy, says Dr. Baumgartner.

"When you don’t have a specific system, people come up with their own," she explains. It's what "helps you figure out where you fit in. Especially now, with the economy, with people losing status, maintaining a sense of who we are becomes even more important. Our clothes help place us where we think we want to be. "

She cites the Real Housewives TV series as an example: "Look at the way they focus on money. When they fight, they use logos and designers as a way to put each other down. They're using clothes and accessories both as a tool to know where they fit in and as a weapon against others."

Clothing That Projects a Good or Bad Image

Have you ever been told that you can judge a man by his shoes? Unfortunately, it's not that simple. There's no one piece or style that makes a person look successful. Dr. Baumgartner recommends the basics when trying to project a positive image: the little black dress, the blazer, the pumps. "With classics, history has done the work for you. It has lasted throughout time, so you already know it works," she says. And what is it that makes a classic a classic? "It has multiple functions, and it's appropriate for different age ranges and body types. It became a classic because it works no matter who you are."

(To help you choose the best wardrobe items to use and reuse, LearnVest created the Essential Outfitter.)

On the other hand, there's no one piece or style that makes a person look unsuccessful. "Anything where it looks like you didn’t take the time or make the effort comes across badly," says Dr. Baumgartner. "The worst clothing is the kind that tries to undo, ignore or hide where or who you are, or the kind that shows you didn't pay attention to your body/age/situation ... Any clothes that prohibit you from doing your job well send the wrong message."

What Your Clothes Say to You, Not About You

A study this year from Northwestern University examined a concept called "enclothed cognition." Researchers define it in their report as "the systematic influence that clothes have on the wearer's psychological processes," meaning what your clothes are saying to you, not about you. And how they make you feel.

The researchers distributed standard white lab coats to participants, telling some that it was a doctor's coat and some that it was a painter's smock. All participants performed the same task, but those wearing the "doctor's coat" were more careful and attentive. Their actions were influenced by their clothing.

5 reasons why you need an image consultant - Times of India

Only an image consultant can help people project a winning image in all aspects.

An image consultant helps people in the following manner :

- Dressing as per roles and goals to create an appropriate clothing communication : An image consultant takes the client through a process of lifestyle evaluation, identifying the roles and goals and then suggesting levels of dressing in different situations to create a communication necessary in terms of authority, stability, trustworthiness approachability, etc.

- Dressing as per your body shape, variations and personal colours : There are eight different body shapes and many variations within them. Most people are not aware of this. An image consultant is equipped to identify your body shape and suggest ways and means to counter negative variations and enhance positive ones to create an attractive image.

- Incorporating personal style in dressing : Very often people find themselves uncomfortable while dressing as per the advice of other related professionals. This happens because their personal style is not incorporated in the clothing solution. Every individual has a personal style which they are not aware of consciously. An image consultant has the knowledge and the tools to identify the personal style of an individual and then suggests a clothing solution which incorporates the same to create an authentic image.

- Buying clothes in cluster and smart shopping : When it comes to clothing, affordability is a big issue and people often buy on impulse and then regret their purchases. Also, many people suffer from the syndrome of buying lots of clothes and yet complaining of not having anything to wear for an important occasion or meeting. An image consultant guides a client on how to build their wardrobe in a cluster to create variety in an affordable manner. After evaluating the client's wardrobe and creating cluster plan sheets keeping in mind roles, goals, body shape and personal style, an image consultant may also accompany the client to buy clothes.

- Appropriate body language and etiquette : Body language is one of the biggest factors in visual communication and an image consultant advices a client on appropriate body language based on roles and occasions. Etiquette is a big part of creating an image. Correct etiquette in business and social situations goes a long way to create a powerful image. An image consultant takes the client through appropriate etiquette, be it dining, corporate meetings or any other.

The image consultant - Vogue.it

This process leads into choosing the clothing and accessories that best fit the client’s physique, personality, tastes, commitments and lifestyle. The consultant studies the physical characteristics of the individual, establishes the horizontal proportions of the figure (from the relationship between the circumferences of the chest, hips and waist) and the vertical proportions (from the relationship between the length of the chest and the length of the arms), as well as the physical characteristics that determine the individual’s uniqueness (such as shoulders, neck and arms). The clothes must be analysed in terms of their external lines (the outline) and their internal (sewing, buttons and the different details), which can be horizontal, vertical or diagonal, each of which can – to a greater or lesser degree – creates a slimming effect. Colour is essential to the construction of a wardrobe, so the consultant must understand the different types and the physical attributes of psychological perception. Much in use in the English-speaking world is a test that establishes for each individual the colours and colour combinations that will illuminate the face and make the person look younger and brighter. Colours have their own symbolism, as explained in Loescher’s theory on the perception of colour, and their own communicative value.

You should also remember that there are various universal theories that tie that perception of colour to a series of variables, ranging from an individual’s culture to the practical problem of the availability of a shade in the boutique. The use of colour and their combinations can be learnt by studying the designs on the catwalks and looking at the magazine articles, which show with the choices made by different fashion stylists.

19th-Century Insight Into the Psychology of Color and Emotion

Though hardly a work of science, Theory of Coloursstands as an absorbing account of the philosophy and artistic experience of color, bridging the intuitive and the visceral in a way that, more than two hundred years later, continues to intrigue.

How 'Thin Slicing' Clothes And Color Psychology Can Effectively Determine Certain Personality Traits

Color Can Trick You

The color red in particular is known to evoke strong emotions, passion, and intensity — and it may be the easiest to judge on men and women. A study published in the journal Biology Letters found men wearing red in athletic settings can inspire aggression and competition. Even in neutral settings, men wearing red were perceived as more aggressive and angry than men wearing blue or gray. In a 2009 study, Dr. Juliet Zhu found the color blue suggests “knowledge, power, integrity, and seriousness. It evokes a sense of calmness while stimulating creativity.”

Women wearing red, on the other hand, are perceived differently. In fact, men report feeling more sexually attracted to women in red clothes and lipstick; they’re even willing to spend more money on their date. Similarly, a study from the University of Rochester found waitresses who wore red lipstick earned greater tips than those not wearing lipstick.

That’s not to say red can’t signal aggression between women. Women perceive other women wearing red as more of a threat, perhaps because it’s so tied to sexual attraction and provocation. The general draw to the color among both sexes is considered biological, especially for women who seem to wear this color more during ovulation. The point is that color gives off a distinct vibe and its implication may be best reserved for certain settings.

Dress to Impress

Business Insider (BI) recently reviewed several studies relating to first impressions. Among these studies were a couple that found the quality and cut of clothes are capable of communicating your status and level of intelligence.

For example, people wearing name-brand clothes are perceived as higher status than those wearing conventional brands. And people who have their clothes tailored are considered to be more successful than those who wear clothes that aren’t as fitted or flattering.

Interestingly, business-wear is a bit more complicated for women.

“Women generally have a wider choice of dress style for work than men, but still have to maintain an identity that balances professionalism with attractiveness,” researchers of a 2011 study wrote. Their solution is a “skirt suit,” an outfit that “may achieve that balance without appearing provocative.”

These kinds of clothes don’t only influence what others think of you, but they influence what you think of yourself. An interesting study recently published in the journal of Social Psychological & Personality Science found people in formal clothes think more abstractly and experience more feelings of power, thus affirming the idea of a power suit (or skirt). Abstract thinkers are better able to solve problems, analyze and evaluate complex subjects and theories, and understand relationships between verbal and nonverbal ideas.

Better yet, abstract thought is otherwise considered a “psychologically distant state of mind,” wrote Jeremy Dean, a psychologist in the UK and author of PsyBlog: Understand Your Mind . It’s in this state of mind we’re better able to make challenging tasks seems easier, generate self-insight, gain emotional control, and seriously boost creativity.

Formal attire, however, isn’t always favored. Harvard psychologists believe there’s a time and place for jeans and a t-shirt, that the comfortable combination can, in some settings, be perceived as a sign of wealth and celebrity.

Mind What You Wear

If clothes can influence our thoughts, than they can absolutely influence our mood. In her book Mind What You Wear: The Psychology of Fashion , Karen Pine cites research from Adam Galinski, who was the first to coin the term “enclothed cognition.” Psychology Today reported that this term initially referred to the improvements made in “a person’s mental agility when wearing a white coat.” The white coat “primed their brain to take on the sharper mental capacities they associated with being a doctor.” So essentially, psychologists believe “we become what we wear.”

And maybe it’s more the feel of the clothes, rather than the clothes themselves providing insight to our personality. That feeling of confidence. Inc reported that those with higher levels of confidence share several qualities, such as listening more than they speak; freely asking for help; not putting other people down; and owning their mistakes.

Jeff Harden, the contributing editor who compiled the list, wrote: “Truly confident people know that access is almost universal. They can connect with almost anyone through social media. (Everyone you know knows someone you should know.) They know they can attract their own funding, create their own products, build their own relationships and networks, choose their own path — they can choose to follow whatever course they wish.”

Female Body Types and Body Shapes - the ultimate body type guide

There are 8 major female body shapes according to a study of over 6000 women. The major body shapes are:

• Straight Body Type
• Pear Body Type
• Spoon Body Type
• Hourglass Body Type
• Top Hourglass Body Type
• Inverted Triangle Body Type
• Oval Body Type
• Diamond Body Type

Find your body type by most closely matching the description below to your body shape or try our body shape calculator.

10 Nonverbal Cues That Convey Confidence At Work

Patti Wood, a body language expert and author of Snap: Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language, and Charisma, says in a face-to-face interaction with just one person you can exchange up to 10,000 nonverbal cues in less than one minute. “You cannot consciously control all that communication so it can be much more telling than the few words you could exchange in the same amount of time.”

What is a nonverbal cue, exactly?

Wood says nonverbal cues include “all the communication between people that do not have a direct verbal translation.” They are “body movements, body orientation, nuances of the voice, facial expressions, details of dress, and choice and movement of objects that communicate.” Time and space can also be perceived as having nonverbal cues.

“Simply put, nonverbal cues include all the ways you present and express yourself, apart from the actual words you speak,” Price adds. "And they are critically important at work and in business because perception is reality." She says Friedrich Nietzsche was spot on when he said, “All credibility, all good conscience, all evidence of truth come only from the senses.”

“How others ‘sense’ or perceive you significantly impacts your success in the workplace,” Price explains. Otherwise brilliant people with great ideas and exceptional talent are often misjudged, mislabeled, and overlooked because of their ineffective nonverbal communication. Because nonverbal cues are sent primarily from the “emotional brain” rather than the neocortex, they create more honest and revealing messages, Wood says. “Nonverbal cues can help business people determine others’ motivations and analyze business interactions with much more richness, depth, and insight than can come from simply relying on spoken or printed words.”

Professionals who understand nonverbal cues can evaluate what their clients, customers and co-workers are really telling them in order to know how to better meet their needs. “Employers can evaluate the messages their employees are sending to customers, clients or fellow workers and know whether that employee is hurting or helping business,” Wood says. “And employees can learn to read the subtle signals a boss is sending in order to adjust their behavior accordingly.”

In power-differential relationships, such as with superiors and subordinates, successful interactions depend on both parties being able to use and read body language, Wood explains. “Superiors need to know how to make their subordinates comfortable while communicating their desires in order to get results. Subordinates need to know how to read the boss’s subtle signals to discern the best way to approach professional situations.” Effective nonverbal communication is critically important for career advancement, Price adds. “Among the top traits employers look for when hiring or promoting a candidate for management are confidence, professionalism and enthusiasm. Expressing these and other leadership traits requires sending the right nonverbal cues.”

A Guide on How to Dress for Your Body Shape | The Idle Man

How to Dress For Your Shape

Do:

Add a belt for focus around the hips to help break up and outfit while also drawing attention to this area. Wear Breton striped tees- while classic in style, they are also ideal for a man with this shape, especially if the stripes focus around the stomach rather than the chest. Choose V-neck shirts and jumpers as they draw the eye down and take attention away from the chest. Try statement printed legwear to once again draw the eye downward. Opt for unstructured double-breasted jackets as this will widen the torso into proportion with the shoulders.

Don’t:

Wear skinny cut trousers or jeans as this will draw attention to the disproportion of the lower half. Opt for slim-cut instead. Wear structured jackets with shoulder padding or wide lapels. This will just further emphasise the widest area. Wear shirts with scoop necklines for the same reason as above.

How To Master The Art Of Nonverbal Communication - Forbes

Most of us get the value of listening to our gut feelings, but what we haven’t understood up until now is exactly why it is that people automatically place more credence on these more subtle forms of communication — and, more importantly, how we can use this knowledge to become more effective and influential communicators. To become someone whose words have the power to motivate and move others into action, we have to look beyond the face value of what’s happening on the surface level of words and explore what is happening in the invisible realm of energy.

Thanks to ancient wisdom traditions and modern science alike, we now understand that energy is the basis of everything in our physical universe — including things that appear separate and solid, such as the chair you are sitting in — and things that are so intangible that they can’t be seen at all, such as our thoughts, moods, desires, and emotions. In every conversation, there is a continuous exchange of physical, emotional, and mental energy taking place between the participants, and this energy — while invisible to the eye — is registered by us nonetheless, because all energy vibrates at a particular frequency.

If you strike a C chord on a piano, that key will vibrate, and so will every other resonant key on the keyboard. In the same way, as human beings, we register the vibrations of those around us and experience either resonance or discord in response to them. So, how can you use this understanding to make you a more effective communicator?

Before you give your next big presentation, or before sitting down for an important conversation with a child or friend, consider the impact of your nonverbal communications, and decide ahead of time what it is you most want to convey apart from words. Clarify your intention – not just in terms of a specific outcome you hope to achieve, such as making a sale or coming to a negotiation – but in terms of the overall vibe you want to create for your listener. Then, once you’re clear about your intention, put the power of your attention to work for you by deliberately focusing on things that enhance your desired outcome.

For example, if your intent is to create an atmosphere of excitement or confidence surrounding a new product you’re launching, take some time before your presentation to mentally review the list of your product’s attributes; to recall what inspired its creation, and to generate a feeling of genuine excitement within yourself about all the possibilities it holds. By focusing on the positive aspects of any person, project, or situation, you create a positive environment around yourself that can be felt by all who come into contact with you.

When your words and the energy behind your words are in perfect alignment, not only do you engender trust and rapport in those with whom you interact, but you also give them permission to let go of any concerns about you and to focus their attention entirely on your message.

Spring/Summer 2018 fashion trends - summer 2018 style trends

12 Style And Fashion Trends On Our Radar In 2018

Because we’re always looking to stay on top of the newest, coolest, weirdest and most interesting trends, we’ve already got our eyes on the style trends that’ll dominate fashion headlines in 2018.

Though 2017 introduced us to some cool and flirty trends ― like paper bag waist pants and couch florals ― we’re eagerly awaiting what fun and fashionable things we can look forward to seeing on clothing racks in 2018.