psychology.fashion, suggests
I won’t be the only one feeling
this way. “As we emerge from being
indoors for a year and a half, many
of us want to express a different
identity, one that is outgoing, fun and
frivolous. What we wear allows us to
negotiate our identity by expressing
it differently through clothing. This
can influence not only how the
wearer thinks, feels and acts, but also
changing how others relate to us.”
She continues, “Party clothes have
always been popular during the
festive season, but this year we may
be even more motivated to dress
up as an expression of celebrating
freedom and embracing life.”
Actively choosing clothing that
makes us feel good is known as
“dopamine dressing.” A 2012 study
found that when participants wore
clothing of symbolic meaning, their
perceived confidence increased.
When we have a strong belief in
the potential "power" of a piece of
clothing, Dr Mair explains, it can
influence our behaviour and the
behaviour of others. “[When we’re
confident] we stand differently and
use more expressive mannerisms,
as well as being more alert to
opportunities. These lead to more
positive interactions with others.
“Dressing up shows we want to be
seen and to engage positively with
others. When we believe these things
will happen, we are more likely to
experience them. As the party season
approaches, we can use the power
of belief in what we wear to help us
feel great and have great interactions
with others.” The perfect antidote to a
tumultuous past year and a half.
The fashion world certainly seems
to agree. From sequins and sparkle
at Valentino and Isabel Marant to
faux fur galore at Stand and Anna Sui
and a roaring 1920s redux at Chloé
and Khaite, the autumn/winter
21 collections provided us with a
plethora of partywear inspiration.
And, the recent fashion season
showings for next spring suggest
joyful fashion will last long beyond
Christmas and New Year, with hiked
up hemlines, high-octane glitz and
glamour being a common theme
among many of the collections.
As for the exact direction my
Christmas Day ensemble will take,
I haven’t yet decided. All I know is I
want velvet, I want sequins, I want
faux fur and marabou trims.
I want everything fine, fun
and frivolous to celebrate
Christmas. That said, I can
guarantee you’ll catch me
swapping my stilettos for
Ugg ’s finest slippers as
soon as I’ve finished my
Christmas pud! Q