Why Getting Dressed Is an Act of Self-Respect — Not Vanity

The psychology behind intentional dressing and what it quietly teaches your brain about your own worth every single morning

 We are all guilty.  Waking up tired, in a hurry, not really thinking past our morning coffee.   We throw on whatever clothes are quickest and easiest to wear. I am also guilty of this. Especially for those of us who work at home we think, I’ll just throw on sweats.

In the post pandemic era, it seems everything is dumbed down. I am all for casual, but when did we stop putting any effort into our outward appearance?  Yes, it reflects how we feel internally. Not caring about how we look or what we wear says we don’t really respect our lives or believe in our highest capacity.

When I was crushed by a bus in 2009, one of the oddly most traumatic pieces of my recovery was giving away all my shoes. With a newly defamed leg, I was no longer able to wear cute shoes, boots, wedges or even sandals. I pretended I moved past it, but when it’s time to get dressed I still feel surge of resentment and rage at always wearing sneakers.

This got me thinking about the power and self-care of fashion and personal style.   Have you noticed the things you pack for a vacation when you want to look cute? The choices may be simple and flexible but the fact that some effort went into what to wear says it matters.

In an increasingly casual and internal world, intentional dressing, as coined by author and stylist Erin Walsh, seems ever more important. Even working remotely, when I put effort into what I am wearing or add a bit of glam or color for a zoom call, I sit up straighter. I feel more like an executive running a business than a weekend couch warrior. I have even noticed this in the gym. As a lifelong dancer and fitness instructor, much time is spent in the gym. In past I would throw on whatever was close, ripped, torn, baggy, mismatched. At some point I realized I wanted to hide. I decided to stop hiding and invest in the pride I take about maintaining health and fitness.

I am a woman with a visible disability and deformity.  It admittedly took time to accept my new leg.  As my mobility and confidence grew, I decided I would no longer hide under long, baggy pants. This is how the #loveyourscarsmovement started. We are all struggling in one way or another with internal or external scars.  Rather than back down, I jumped forward, even embracing my new sneaker laden wardrobe with a sense or appreciation and joy.

As I began to embrace a new sense of style and started caring about how I looked, even at home, I felt lighter, more powerful, and stronger.  Even in casual mode, I now work to put some effort into how I look, not for anything external, but for myself.

If you are like me, and embracing anew chapter for whatever reason, try implementing the power of fashion and personal style. It may change and evolve over the years. Let’s embrace our bodies right now, as we are. This is what it means to #wearitliveit, the motivating and message of Victory Gear Lifestyle.

This is how we Create Victory in Any Moment.