Gaining Confidence Through Power Dressing

*This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links.

           

Dress practices have evolved over time because of many reasons like protection from the weather and environment, societal and religious reasons, and cultural influences. For me however, fashion and clothing preferences go beyond these factors. More than how people perceive us to be by how we look, dressing up affects how we see ourself as a person and how we behave (Adam Galinsky, 2012).

You might not have noticed it but the clothes that you wear have the power to affect your thoughts, how you see yourself and how you act. One study shows that people who wear formal attire lean towards using formal language when describing themselves. They also act more authoritative and competent (Peluchette & Karl, 2007).

Growing up, I liked blending in and would go to great lengths just to avoid standing out in a crowd. This includes wearing inconspicuous clothing. I felt that if I stayed away from the limelight, no one will notice my flaws and imperfections. Harboring so many insecurities can be tough and boy, I had a lot. And it doesn’t help when people tease you about them.

During elementary and high school days, I was usually the tallest and thinnest girl in the class. That, plus my boyish stature and the puberty induced pimples, I felt lanky and unfeminine.  Took me quite a while before I could truly look at the mirror and liked what I was seeing.

Having a daughter was such a big factor in helping me embrace my own body. I realized that if I want to teach my little girl to love and accept herself, I need to be THAT person who she can look up to as a role model. To teach her how to comfortable in her own skin, I had to learn how to love my own.

She taught me a lot of things like how to project on camera.

How to apply make-up correctly.

And how to rock a bright yellow floral dress without feeling like a walking flower vase.

Kidding aside, I can honestly say that I have come a long way from being that weird kid at school.

Okay, maybe I’m still weird but that’s alright. I am more comfortable with who and what I am now.

However, even with a healthy level of self-image, there are still times when I feel shy and uncomfortable around people especially at work and in blogging events. A jeans and shirt girl by heart, there are times when I need to step out of my comfort zone.

And this is when I rely on power dressing to help me face the world.

Just like what Peluchette & Karl mentioned in their study, I feel an extra boost in confidence whenever I step up my dressing game.

The Little Black Dress

I wanted to feel sophisticated and elegant one February night when my husband and I went on Valentine’s date at a 5-star hotel so I wore this black dress. Now, I am not a person who regularly goes fine dining in posh restaurants but this dress made me feel totally confident the entire night. Never mind that I didn’t know which fork to use on which dish!

Animal Prints

I traveled to Manila in 2015 to attend a blogging awards night as one of the finalists for a certain category and to say that I was nervous is an understatement. I was a wreck! So many awesome nominees and there I was, an unknown blogger from the Visayan region! On top of the jitters, I also had a fever during the awards night. Let’s just say this animal print dress helped me build up a sense of boldness that I direly needed that night!

Feminine Dress

My great grandmother made this gown before I was born so it’s a few years older than me. I kept it to remember my lola Polita who passed away when I was in college and I wear this whenever I want to feel feminine and graceful just like how she was when she was still around. Blue is  color of success and loyalty so it was just fitting that I wore it to my 10th work anniversary dinner last week. Despite the fact that my high-heels were killing me, I felt confident socializing with my office mates the entire night!

So you see, you don’t have to be a super model to enjoy being in the limelight once in a while, even us normal, struggling and anxiety-ridden moms can feel and look good when we want to. You just need to get up, dress up and go.

While I’m saying that dressing up can help you gain confidence, I am not saying that you should go on a shopping spree to fill your wardrobe. You don’t need a gazillion of dresses! I only keep a few classic pieces that I wear to different events, I just use different accessories to change the look.

“Fashion has always been a repetition of ideas, but what makes it new is the way you put it together.” -Carolina Herrera

It also helps if you take good care of the pieces that you already have. I don’t like spending money on clothes so I make sure to give the ones I have proper care. Some of my dresses are over 10 years old but they still look new! Case on point – the blue feminine dress above. 😉

FashionCare Tip

The thought of power dressing can be intimidating to some especially when it comes to fabric maintenance. Trust me, I’ve had my fair share of Googling how to remove different kinds of stains from clothes!

The good news is that we have a partner in caring for our power dresses to ensure that they last long.

Electrolux introduced a new line of washing machines that can give us a whole new way of washing all kinds of garments including delicate designer pieces! With the UltraMix™ technology, our clothes will retain not just their vibrant colors and softness but most importantly, the shape too.

 

The new Electrolux washing machines feature the innovative Refresh program which will allow us to refresh delicates without using a detergent. This feature eliminates the need for dry cleaning!

If one of our country’s top fashion designer trusts Electrolux with his creations then I know that we can definitely trust the global leader in home appliances to help us take care of our clothes, too. Designer or not!

As a designer it is vital for me to know how to take care of my fabrics and garments especially my couture pieces which are very delicate and can be difficult to take care of without damaging them, considering that beadwork can easily be ripped off during the washing cycles. The UltimateCare washing machines have made it so much easier for me to do just that with the ability to dry clean clothes as well!!!! – Rajo Laurel

Electrolux Washing Machine Features

• Unique Electrolux UltraMix™ Technology delivers an exceptional deep clean even at 30°C, keeping your clothes vibrant and newer for longer
• Electrolux Vapour Refresh program, you will get wrinkle-free clothes with less ironing hassle. It refreshes your clothes, leaving them smelling fresh and looking like new
• Electrolux Load Sensor™ automatically senses load weight, determines optimal washing time, water and detergent while guaranteeing maximum energy efficiency
• Electrolux EcoInverter reduces energy consumption by 75%* while guaranteeing long lasting performance and silent operation
• Electrolux Vapour Care reduces allergens by up to 99.9% even at 40°C while taking care of your family’s well-being
• The Woolmark Apparel Care certifies the gentlest treatment and care of hand-wash only woolens.

With 90 years of innovations that combine local insights and global expertise, Electrolux is definitely the number 1 choice when it comes to washing machines.

I love that the brand encourages us to push our power dressing efforts to greater heights. This without having to worry about fabric maintenance.

So step forward with confidence, mommas!

To learn more about Electrolux Fashion Care Campaign, visit the Electrolux Facebook page and follow them on Instagram and Twitter.

Disclaimer: This is my official entry to the Electrolux Fashion Care Blog Writing Contest