The Power of Appearance: How Clothing Shapes First Impressions and Performance
In this episode of Here's An Idea Worth Playing With, I cover the science of clothing and appearance.
Your clothes don’t just influence how others see you — they shape your own confidence, focus, and performance. In this episode, I explore the fascinating psychology of appearance: how clothing affects first impressions, why it can boost or drain your confidence, and the science behind “felt power".
Discover how to use simple outfit choices and symbolic “uniforms” to show up at your best — whether at work, in the gym, or in everyday life.
Your clothes don’t just influence how others see you — they shape your own confidence, focus, and performance. In this episode, I explore the fascinating psychology of appearance: how clothing affects first impressions, why it can boost or drain your confidence, and the science behind “felt power".
Discover how to use simple outfit choices and symbolic “uniforms” to show up at your best — whether at work, in the gym, or in everyday life.
We often underestimate the role of clothing in our lives. But science suggests what we wear impacts more than style — it influences how people perceive us, how we perceive ourselves, and even how well we perform.
In this episode, I share:
- Why first impressions are shaped by appearance—and why context matters.
- How clothing boosts self-confidence when it feels authentic and expressive.
- Research on “felt power” and how formal clothing sharpens focus.
- The concept of enclothed cognition—and why a lab coat makes people perform better.
- How to build your own set of symbolic uniforms to trigger focus and performance.
Key Takeaways
- First impressions are contextual. Match your clothing to your purpose, audience and environment.
- Authenticity matters. Wear clothes that feel true to you — confidence flows from alignment.
- Create symbolic uniforms. Assign outfits to important activities and let them trigger focus and flow.
For a much richer article and full bibliography and references, visit the blog article : https://www.cultivatedmanagement.com/the-power-of-clothing/
References
References
- Adam, H., Galinsky, A.D., 2012. Enclothed cognition. J. Exp. Soc. Psychol. 48, 918–925.
- Slepian, M.L., Ferber, S.N., Gold, J.M., Rutchick, A.M., 2015. The Cognitive Consequences of Formal Clothing. Soc. Psychol. Personal. Sci. 6, 661–668.
- Stuart, E.W., Fuller, B.K., 1991. Clothing as communication in two business-to-business sales settings. J. Bus. Res. 23, 269–290.
- University of Ljubljana et al., 2014. Clothes and Costumes as Form of Nonverbal Communication. Tekstilec 57, 321–333.
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Rob Lambert
I help leaders turn communication into their greatest leadership tool—to build creative, agile, and human-centred workplaces. Through books, courses, consulting and coaching, I guide leaders and managers in using communication to unlock clarity, creativity, and better business results.
