Buying clothes and then deciding which clothes to wear in the morning should not be that hard, right?  I mean, I think I know what looks good on me and what makes me feel good. . . or do I?  I have found that dressing intentionally, that is, in a way that not only makes me look “good”, but also makes me feel “good” can be very challenging.  Personally, I have found that picking out and then wearing clothing well has been a challenge for me – 1. I wear a uniform to work most of the time, 2. I try to maintain a minimalist closet, and 3. I don’t like to spend a lot of money on clothes.

But, what we wear is important.  Our clothing provides an initial impression to others as to who we are, what we do, and what we think of ourselves.  Just as importantly, what we wear also determines how we feel.  In this Northwestern University study, researches found that our clothes have a lot to do with how we feel and how we perceive ourselves.  For example, “A pretest found that a lab coat is generally associated with attentiveness and carefulness. . . In Experiment 1, physically wearing a lab coat increased selective attention compared to not wearing a lab coat. In Experiments 2 and 3, wearing a lab coat described as a doctor’s coat increased sustained attention compared to wearing a lab coat described as a painter’s coat, and compared to simply seeing or even identifying with a lab coat described as a doctor’s coat. Thus, the current research suggests a basic principle of enclothed cognition—it depends on both the symbolic meaning and the physical experience of wearing the clothes.” – Journal of Experimental Social Psychology

So, how do we determine what we feel  and look good in while remaining true to our budget and without filling our closet full of clothes?  My journey through clothing discovery offered these lessons as a result:

1. Go through your closet and remove everything you haven’t worn in the past week. Marie Kondo, in her book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, provides an easy method by which we can determine how to de-clutter our closets (and our lives for that matter).  This simple exercise is a powerful way to begin determining what you enjoy wearing.  By pulling out the clothes you haven’t worn in the past week (season dependent of course), a pattern will emerge showing you what you like and feel good in.
2. Find a reputable gender specific clothier that has it’s own tailor.  Arguably, these can be hard to find – you often run across them by word of mouth.  I’m not talking about Men’s Wearhouse, or other “chain” clothing stores.  I’m talking about the smaller shops, which are personally owned.  The men and women who run these shops are masters of their trade and will spend the time to match what you feel good in with what is truly fashionable – not just what the latest fad is at the time.  What I enjoy about these businesses is that you are working with a true craftsman, are supporting a local business, and are establishing a long term business relationship.  For those who live in the Norther Virginia area, I highly recommend Richard Allen Clothing.
3. Keep a minimalist mindset. You don’t have to fill your closet with new clothes.  Personally, I only need 4 pairs of pants – one dressy and one casual pair of slacks, and two pairs of casual or work jeans.  For shirts, I have found that two pairs of long sleeve button shirts with a complementary jacket, plus one suit, are all that one needs for general business wear.  I do keep five to six pairs of short sleeve shirts that are used for both casual and outdoor use – and of course, as a guy, there are just a couple of T-shirts and sweatshirts that are the perfect match for outdoor work or watching a football game.

My journey through learning how to dress intentionally has been fun – my closet is leaner and more organized, my wife makes great comments about the clothes I wear; and perhaps most importantly, I now feel comfortable, confident, and true to my personal tastes.