Confidence is Contour: The Power of Looking and Feeling Good
Written by Kate Dulac
Everyone can recall the iconic “revenge dress” that Princess Diana wore the evening her husband, Prince Charles, admitted to having an affair in a televised documentary. Instead of hiding away, she confidently sported the dress at a fundraising dinner: a bold and powerful statement to the public. Despite the numerous inner battles she was fighting that night, she wore something chic, intelligent, and beautiful. How someone chooses to dress says a lot about who they are. It shows their mood, fixations, aesthetic preferences, and personality.
Every day, we make the active choice to put specific pieces of clothing on our bodies. Even if it feels subconscious, it is very telling of how we want to feel and be perceived by passing figures. So why do we instinctively reach for our best outfit when everything feels like it’s falling apart?
The answer is psychological. Enclothed Cognition is a theory that describes one's outfit choices stating that the clothes we wear affect our thoughts, feelings and behaviors due to their symbolic meaning. It suggests that the clothes we choose to put on our bodies influence our self perception and confidence. When it feels like everything in life is out of our control and going astray, how we present ourselves is often the only thing we have power over. This explains why “looking good” after a heartbreak or failure feels so empowering. Dressing yourself is an act of reclaiming identity when life feels unstable.
There is nothing the media loves more than a powerful “revenge outfit” statement from a celebrity or public figure. Here are three of the most famous post-breakup looks. In 2017, Bella Hadid arrived at the Met Gala red carpet in a sleek, backless catsuit, just mere months after her break up with The Weeknd Hadid’s look was polished and nuanced; her pose and expression exhibit the idea that she feels immensely confident while wearing this outfit, despite previous upsets in her romantic relationships.
The next look is from Taylor Swift’s Reputation Era. After public breakups and fallouts, Swift transformed her brand and identity into snakes, sequins, and unapologetic lyrics. This can be seen in the “Look What You Made Me Do” music video and revenge red carpet looks. She took control of her identity and showed that no matter how famous you are, who is styling you, or what brands you wear, clothing can be used to express oneself.
Lastly is Jennifer Aniston’s elegant Valentino gown at the Rumor Has It premiere. After her breakup with Brad Pitt, she showed up with quiet, understated confidence. Rather than using fashion to make a bold or vengeful statement, she chose timeless, flattering pieces that reflected her composure and strong character.
Fashion is used as a form of empowerment and expression of self identity. Dress for yourself and no one else. Whether it is a simple, timeless look or a maximalist, extravagant piece, wear what feels the most authentically you.
Edited by Claudia Rothberg, Polly Drebin, Ava Palmieri & Isabella Zapata
