Life is too short to never wear beautiful things, but you’re not wearing them. You’re waiting for some mythical event to appear. Meanwhile you’re wearing your “everyday” casual clothes, feeling boring and invisible, waiting for something to cause you to kick it up a notch. Those kinds of events only come along when you have to go to a meeting or an interview or a wedding, which you must admit to yourself isn’t very often. Your good clothes languish in your closet, with no purpose, wasting space. You might as well not even own them because when an event comes along, you go out shopping for a new outfit! I’m not here to tell you to get rid of the good clothes. Rather, you should start wearing them, event or not.
I'm only going to the store!
Only?! My friend, every interaction with other humans counts. You should start dressing with more intention (yes, even to the grocery store) because the way you present yourself is your business card to the world. If you are looking put together well, you start feeling put together well, then you begin to believe your life is put together well, and that’s what other people vibe off of. When you feel “together”, others also believe it and find it inspiring. People suddenly see you as someone they can respect and they remember you. When people respect you, you feel it. You will be treated differently out in public. You will start to believe that life is good and that good things are meant for you. And when you truly believe that, the good things just flow to you.
Won't I feel overdressed?
Overdressed is much more preferable to underdressed for any occasion. Suppose you’re “overdressed” for an event. When you walk in, people are going to wonder what important place you just came from. They will see you as someone who has somewhere to go, things to do, whether you do or don’t.
...But wearing your good clothes doesn't matter at all if...
…you don’t radiate kindness and empathy. When you speak to people, really listen. Ask your grocery store clerk a question about their earrings or their life. They are usually happy that someone cares enough to be interested. They leave that interaction feeling like someone cares. Not only will boosting someone’s spirits bring you joy, but they will probably notice your good clothes and think, “that person has really got it together and I want to be like that.”
What are "Good clothes"?
Good clothes have great fabrics and prints, quality design and shapes. But none of these things matter if your clothes don’t fit you PERFECTLY. Even if you’ve got a Chanel suit, if it’s too big or small, it won’t look or feel right, and neither will you.
In order of importance:
- fit is key
- fabric and design are tied for #2.
Good clothes fit in a way that you don’t have to pull at them or constantly rearrange. Good clothes are comfortably long enough when you sit down. Good clothes don’t accidentally show any undergarments when you’re going about your daily activities.
Good clothes are not exactly fancy clothes, but they are of such quality and design that everyone can tell they are a level up. Here’s an easy good clothes test: when you go out in them, strangers compliment you.
If you don’t know where to start, here are some substitutions you can make:
Swap / For
yoga pants / linen pants
hoodie / chunky knit sweater
gym sneakers / a bright or interesting pair of sneakers
t shirt / blouse
cheap stretchy long skirt / flowy cotton skirt with a nice print
stretchy wrap cover up / cardigan
shorts and t-shirt / dress
Accessorizing
You can wear all the good clothes you want, but you won’t look finished until you’ve got at least some small, basic accessories. A simple necklace, earrings in a nice quality metal like silver or gold, a delicate bracelet. If you don’t usually wear accessories and would like to start, I’ve created lists of inexpensive yet higher quality accessories that you can view below. I’ve curated these lists of items that look good with everything and on everyone. I only choose items that are gold-filled, gold plated, or sterling silver and exude class, simplicity, and elegance.
My Curated List of Subtle Everyday Accessories
Earring picks: https://a.co/62aPRS6
Are you ready?
That’s really it. You’ve got a few nice, perfectly-fitting outfits, your simple accessories and you’re ready to go out and be outwardly nice to everyone. Slowly, people will start to change their attitudes when they interact with you, you’ll start to feel worthy of the good clothes, people will believe you are worthy of good things, and more good things will automatically come your way.
Watch how your life changes. I can’t explain it, you’ll just have to see for yourself.
*This article contains some affiliate links, which means if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. This helps support my blog and you get a nice, curated list of lovely things to choose from. Thank you for the support!*
Ron Oneal
What a remarkable way to present such a simple-yet-vastly-intimidating subject. To view “good clothes” this way transforms the implied “fashion sense” into an expression of spiritual advice and swoops the reader out of their cubicle and escorts them on a cloud-cushioned stroll through what really matters about how one dresses most, how we feel. Bravo!