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.
The fuschia silk Galvan dress
Amelia Shean, 28
PR manager, UK and international, at 111SKIN
London
“For me, confidence and happiness come from within, and sartorial choices are the icing on the cake, to elevate my mood day to day. When I’m feeling blue, I put on a bright colour-block outfit and immediately feel lifted; it’s that instant for me. A good outfit can transform my disposition, and my whole day.
“I’d say my style has evolved over the years to be more in tune with my stage in life. At a time where my work and personal life have become more blurred, my style choices have reflected this. I’m lucky to say that so much of my time is spent at work-related events, which translates to a more refined approach to my outfit choices (for the most part).
“As for my number one piece that empowers me and gives me that ‘joie de vivre’, it would have to be this fuschia silk Galvan dress. This dress has the ability to take me to ‘evening ready’ in one full swoop. I truly feel a million dollars in this dress. In thirty minutes I’ve previously gone from the sea to shower, applied a quick 111SKIN facial treatment mask for that instant rejuvenation, thrown this dress on and been ready to go. Oh, and a lick of mascara and gloss, lest we forget!
“Out with the notion of ‘little black dress’ – it is now ‘little silk slip’; everyone should have their own to feel sexy and event ready.”
The Max Mara blazer
Rafina Schmid, 26
International policy officer
Canberra, Australia
“One of my favourite quotes is by the American author, Gore Vidal: ‘Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.’ For me personally, I feel strong and empowered in any outfit I’ve carefully considered before investing in it, using the money I worked hard to earn. Day to day, you’ll find me sporting a blazer, a key piece in my wardrobe that makes me feel empowered, energised and strong. I use fashion in my position as an international policy officer to shake up my mood and make sure I’m ready to take on whatever task is thrown my way. Putting on my favourite tailored blazer before I start another working day brings me a sense of composure and empowered femininity.”
In this photo, Rafina is wearing her Max Mara blazer.
The special occasion dress
Ryle Kaleïa Tuvierra, 27
Fashion curator and digital talent
Barcelona, Spain
“As a fashion curator and digital talent my style is always evolving depending on how I feel, but it’s based on the principle of quality over quantity. As a teen, I was obsessed with secondhand shopping and would go thrifting every weekend. Even so, the way I consumed fashion was borderline excessive. Over the years, I’ve stopped looking for new things to buy and instead look for new ways to dress up the pieces I already own. I gravitate towards everyday pieces that are versatile enough to be worn in multiple ways and for all sorts of occasions.
“This dress is very special to me and I’ve only worn it twice, on special events in my life. I am sentimental when it comes to my clothes and accessories; I always make it a personal choice rather than a brand or stylist choice whenever I dress up for a special event. I like to keep my whole style DNA clear with the looks I choose to wear, and to exude confidence and [give a] fierce glance. This is my way of sharing my sustainable style with practical solutions.
“I always keep it classy, chic, sophisticated and on point no matter what. I feel like whenever I reach for a polished look, I try to break it up and remove something to make it imperfect. Perfection is boring so I always try to make things uneven. Dare to be different, bold and [wear] everything with sass.”
The classic black dress
Patricia Dungca-Searle, 37
Creative director, photographer and owner of Passions of Patty
Between Asia and the UK
“Travelling always played a huge part of my life, so I’ve always found inspiration for my style from anywhere you can imagine. Being adventurous, outgoing and on-the-go, I think of my style as sexy with a modern take on classic pieces. For me, there’s nothing better than a good statement piece, neutral coloured outfits or a little pop of colour, and, of course, pieces that have a story behind them and that allow me to inspire people.
“A classic black dress along with the perfect classic accessories are definitely a must-have for me; they’re pieces that I believe you can never go wrong with.”
The custom-made dress
Donna Scully, 56
Lawyer and Co-owner of Carpenters Group Wirral, Cheshire
Dublin, Ireland
“I love fashion, always have. I blame my Mum & her many sisters for this. I’m not a serious person but I am serious about my job, so I look for clothing that is professional, comfortable and stylish but ‘me’, too. I got Cheshire design duo @philiparmstrongcom to design this dress for me. I call it my nun dress because it looks serious, but I don’t wear it in a serious way. I can wear it for public speaking, but to dinner and drinks later, too. It’s a ‘don’t be fooled’ kind of dress. I’ve had so much wear out of it! It’s a few years old now.”
The discreet but strong self-designed blazer
Alexandra Tsenkoff, 24
Founder of womenswear brand TSENKOFF
Paris
“I feel very confident in this suit; I designed it to make women feel modern and confident.
When I wear it I feel very proud and powerful, mostly because it’s one of the first pieces I designed for my brand.
“I love the sobriety of the black and the elegance of the cut. This blazer refines and aligns the silhouette, and the pants are adapted to my daily movements; I feel very comfortable in this tailored set.
“The minimalism of this set suits me and reflects everything I love in an outfit: it’s discreet while being very strong, in that it’s both simplistic and voluminous.”