You Are What You Wear

Excerpt from Dr. Jennifer Baumgartner’s You Are What You Wear. Reprinted courtesy of Da Capo Lifelong Books.

Discovering the Psychology of Dress Have you ever asked yourself, What was she thinking? after witnessing a fashion flub? Why, after losing so much weight, does a girl continue to wear her oversized sweat suit? Why does a fifty-year-old mom seem to have raided her teen daughter’s closet for leggings and a mini? If you think these are merely examples of fashion ignorance or style apathy, you are underestimating the real meaning behind our clothing choices. Our clothing is a reflection of what we are thinking and what we are feeling.

Often, wardrobe mishaps are simply our inner conflicts bubbling to the surface. Clothing is an extension of who we are. Much like a turtle with its shell, we tell the world the who, the what, the where, and the when of our lives by what we wear on our backs. When we shop for and wear clothing that reflects our best self, we must consider, consciously or unconsciously, our age, size, culture, and lifestyle. We either work with these aspects of ourselves or fight against them.

Continued on page 2: Psychology of Dress »