Did you know that the clothes you’re wearing can have an indirect yet subtle effect on your anxiety and stress levels? Yes, you read that right, certain types of clothing can significantly decrease your levels of anxiety, while other types of clothing can increase your anxiety as well as negatively impact your self-confidence. I’m personally a strong believer in the notion that wearing fashionable and well sought after clothes can make you more charismatic and likeable, and in turn, more confident.

So how come a lot of people don’t invest more money and/or effort into their wardrobes?  The answer is that a lot of people don’t feel motivated enough to invest in their wardrobes or simple cannot afford this luxury either in terms of time or money.

You probably noticed that there are people who always manage to look confident and happy and wonder what their secret is. The fact is that anyone can do that with the right advice and enough of a commitment to this cause.

Here is what you need to do:

Determine what makes you look good

You should be able to determine in what type of clothes you look good in and vice versa. You can let other people such as personal shoppers help you out with your decisions but ultimately; your clothes should make you confident and happy.

Get Fashionable On A Budget

You don’t need to break the bank to look good, a lot of online stores now sell pre-owned watches or brand new watches on a budget, as well as pre-owned designer clothes and luxury bags. In addition to this, sign up to your favorite store’s newsletter to get their sale notifications. Finally, if you cant afford that Valentino dress and really feel like it can change your confidence levels, rent it. Countless companies in the US like Rent the Runway and others offer affordable rent options for luxury brands.

Whether the trend is cropped jeans or bamboo watches, keep a lookout for trending accessories and get creative.

Get Inspired

Put some outfits together before you go out in order to avoid stress and pressure. That way you will have more than once choice. For example, you can get some outfit ideas from Pinterest or Instagram to get inspired.

Think Comfort Vrs. Attractiveness

Avoid wearing clothes that don’t make you feel comfortable or that actually put you in pain, if possible. There are certain types of clothes that make you feel uncomfortable either by causing you physical pain or by forcing you to make a big physical effort. Uncomfortable clothing are known to have a direct negative effect on your charisma and a lot of people would feel stressed, irritated and tense while wearing them. That being said, at times, certain types of clothing that are inherently uncomfortable can help you look distinctively attractive (think high heels or tight dresses). In Olivia Fox Cabane’s best-selling book, “The Charisma Myth: How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism”, she talks about how people should make a smart decision regarding whether or not to wear uncomfortable clothing by evaluating the trade-off between level of discomfort and level of attractiveness which can be translated into self-confidence.

Confidence Is In The Mind

Remember that in order to look good, you must feel good. Once you achieve that, you will be able to get rid of the physical and emotional stress and feel confident.

To put it in a nutshell, wearing clothes that make your features pop help you feel good about yourself and help you gain a certain level of self-confidence. It’s true that low self-confidence is not completely and totally attributed to fashion solely, but research has proven that the way you dress can majorly reduce your stress hormones. So, make sure you choose comfortable and fashionable clothing, and if possible, colors that will make you feel calm and relaxed.