Clothing is one of the best types of self-expression, especially in adolescence when finding your identity is important.

When students are comfortable dressing in ways that will show off their personality, their confidence and mood can grow because it makes them feel more connected to themselves.

Unfortunately, the impact of social media has changed how teens see themselves and others, often creating pressure for them to follow a certain style or trend. 

Furthermore, social media also makes it easy to compare yourself to others, which can make fashion feel more like a competition than a choice.

By not worrying about what others think and just wearing what you like, you get rid of the stress of following trends.

According to the Indian Institute of Fashion Technology (IIFT), the influence of clothing on your mindset is a proven phenomenon known as enclothed cognition, a behavioral pattern where what you wear can change the way you think, feel and behave.

IIFT even says “When you consciously dress in a way that aligns with your goals and feelings, you are actively engaging in a powerful practice that reinforces a positive mindset.”

After starting to think about what I like and putting more thought into my outfits, it helped give me motivation to actually want to be more like myself.

Until recently, clothing wasn’t something that I focused on. Throughout middle school and part of freshman year, I would just throw on some jeans and a t-shirt without even thinking about it. 

Not only does spending time thinking about my outfits boost my mood, but it also makes shopping for clothes more fun because I enjoy finding something I like and trying to build an outfit around it. 

Fashion is a simple but effective way to express yourself. When you wear something that you love, you can feel more comfortable with yourself.