Fashion psychology
Clothing can instil positivity in people for effective performance. We hear from six women who reveal the wardrobe piece that makes them feel the most confident and empowered.
Pictured: Saenguin’s pinstriped wide-leg trousers
The wide-leg business pants
Svenja Tegtmeier, 25
CEO/ co-founder of Saenguin
Berlin
“I have this pair of wide-leg pinstriped business pants that I swear by. I almost bounce when wearing them. Every step I take is a bit bigger than usual, and I love pairing them with chunky boots, so that they don’t become too formal. The stripes make legs look like they are two metres long, and they make me feel like I can conquer the world, just by walking. I actually wore them the day I quit my corporate job; it was a scary and empowering step in my career, and the pants gave me wings to fly. They’ve also been my power piece in the home office; my productivity doubles when I wear them.”
Pictured: WE Fashion mustard suit
The mustard suit
Christelle Olivia Zitu, 26
Journalist
Antwerp, Belgium
“The outfit I feel most confident in is my mustard yellow suit from WE Fashion. It [allows me to] express myself true self and is the kind [of look] that will make you smile as you put it on. I love it because this colour is a great way to convey presence and dynamism. When picking an outfit, I always look for one thing: authenticity. I try to achieve that mostly by wearing bright colours. For me, wearing a colourful suit radiates power, true identity and joy – it’s a great confidence booster!”
Pictured: Balmain high-waist pants
The high-waist pants
Demi Karanikolaou, 27
Channel partner manager at Google
Dublin, Ireland
“I love this classic pair of black Balmain high-waist pants that make me feel fierce and confident. Olivier Rousteing is the master of subtle sexy elegance [and clothes] that feel like second skin. I love colours, but I personally gravitate more towards black clothes with standout accessories. A hero handbag from a heritage brand never goes out of style and it maintains its value. I personally love Dior.”
Pictured: oversized blazer
The oversized blazer
Olivia Roseanna, 29
Founder & creative director of The Modern Style
London
“I always feel most confident and empowered wearing an oversized blazer. There’s something about a masculine silhouette that feels very chic. We all have both masculine and feminine energies within us and wearing a suit allows me to channel my more masculine side. If I have an important meeting or presentation, I always throw on an oversized blazer, like this Julie Blazer by The Frankie Shop, and it instantly makes me feel like I can take on anything. I buy most of my designer pieces secondhand, but when I do buy something new, The Frankie Shop is my go-to for affordable luxury that’s made to last.”
Pictured: alligator-style boots
Afro and alligator-style boots
Chi Ilochi, 21
Stylist
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
“This is one of my favourite looks to date. It didn’t require too much colour, accessories or pizzazz, but, ironically, made me feel the most beautiful. I felt empowered in my natural state. This outfit reminded me that I can wear a pair of jeans, or a hoodie and sweats, and still be beautiful. This memorable moment [gave me] confidence, and I hope that young black women will see this photo and believe that they, too, are beautiful in their natural state.”
Pictured: signature balanced look
The biker jacket
Lucy Zhao, 22
Legal assistant
Pheonix, Arizona
“My Kooples biker jacket is my wardrobe pièce de résistance. I first saw this jacket on @sincerelyjules floating around on Pinterest back in the summer of 2015. I was still a baby at the time, not even eighteen, but I loved it and swore I would do whatever it took to get my hands on it.
“Unfortunately, the jacket in question had retailed over a thousand dollars, so was astronomically out of my budget at the time. It also immediately sold out – it seemed like the rest of the internet loved the jacket as much as I did.
“In the following years, I spent forever checking every resale site in hopes of finding one in my size and price range. I finally found it being sold by a British seller on Depop and begged her to ship it to the US; securing it was so worth it.
“The jacket has definitely seen better days, but, even now, I always feel like a total badass whenever I wear it.
“For me, a key factor of my style is balance: tailored mixed with casual; edge to complement an otherwise girly ensemble; something tight-fitting paired with something loose. This jacket is my go-to piece to bring an edge and elevate my look, no matter what I’m wearing.
“It’s safe to say, I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of this jacket; this one’s coming with me to my grave. Just kidding – kind of.”