EVEN if you don't technically have to get dressed right now, that doesn't mean you should forgo it completely. Fashion isn't just about aesthetics and vanity – it can also have a huge impact on your mental health.
"As tempting as it is to stay in your pyjamas all day, according to psychology and the theory of 'enclothed cognition', it is important to get dressed in the morning, to get the most out of your day," explains fashion psychologist Shakaila Forbes-Bell.
"Enclothed cognition essentially suggests that we embody the meanings we associate with our clothes. For example, would you feel more active and ready to work out if you put on a pair of trainers or if you put on a pair of dress shoes? The same logic applies to your daily attire. You're more likely to feel productive and ready to tackle the day ahead if you wear a clean and presentable outfit, than if you stay in pyjamas all day."
What we wear is how we express ourselves and what we present to the world, even if the world doesn't necessarily get to see us right now. Forbes-Bell is a strong believer in using clothes to put you in a positive mindset – it literally is about starting the day as you mean to go on.
"The same way we associate clean and presentable clothing with work and productivity, is the same way we associate pyjamas with relaxation and sleep," she says. "Staying in your pyjamas all day can force you into a perpetual state of inactivity, and studies have shown that a lack of stimulation has been proven to negatively affect your mental health."
The pandemic has brought about so many changes in the way we work. For a lot of us, it means a shift to working from home, and for others it means a decreased workload or being put on furlough.
Even if you're not working right now, getting dressed will help keep you in a positive state of mind.
Forbes-Bell says: "You'll be more willing to engage in hobbies or activities that stimulate your mind if you dress the part."
The psychologist does admit that one of the benefits of staying at home is that we're afforded the opportunity to dress more comfortably. "Comfortable clothing – like lycra and loungewear – has been shown to positively impact our ability to focus and process information, while uncomfortable clothing increases the likelihood of us getting distracted," she adds.
However, she adds: "It's important to remember that comfort doesn't begin and end at loungewear."
Even though you might be working from home, most of us are still connected to the rest of our office with video chats and Zoom calls. With this in mind, Forbes-Bell says: "Dressing up once in a while is also encouraged. You're more likely to present yourself in a more professional manner if you dress more formally."
As for fashion after the pandemic, she predicts: "We'll shift to a more minimalist lifestyle, where we only buy and wear clothes that we're strongly attached to."
Considering the huge environmental impact of the fashion industry, an unexpected positive to come out of the pandemic could be a more eco-conscious approach to shopping.
