Mental health and fashion may not be found in the same sentence too often. But when it comes to improving your mental well-being, it could start as simply as making a few changes to your daily outfits or fashion habits. Here are four fashion-shaped ways you can improve your mental health.
Express yourself
The easiest way to use fashion to feel better about yourself is to put more time and effort into your outfits. Fashion has long been used by celebrities and influencers to express themselves but using fashion to express your personality isn't just reserved for the rich and famous.
Nowadays, it's increasingly common to see experimental fashion on our streets. Gen Z consumers in particular are becoming more individualistic with their fashion choices. If you feel like you're constantly trying to replicate current trends and conform, try taking a step back and finding your own, individual style.
Rocking clothes that you actually like as opposed to clothes that are just considered on-trend should leave you feeling more relaxed and boost your confidence.
Shop sustainably
Sustainable shopping has become a popular trend in recent years as more and more consumers look to factor in the impact that their shopping habits have on the planet. For years, fast fashion brands have dominated the online fashion world by manufacturing high quantities of clothing at a low cost.
However, times are changing and sustainable clothing brands are seen as trendy and modern. But this isn't the only advantage of using sustainable clothing brands. Making more ethically minded decisions when treating yourself to new items will reward you with a feel-good factor, allowing you to benefit from improved mental health as well as an improved wardrobe!
Save for something expensive
Is there an item that you'd love to own but can't justify spending such a large amount of money on? Maybe it's a Rolex watch, a pair of designer cargo pants or an expensive pair of trainers. Instead of giving up on your dream purchase, make it your goal. Set yourself a realistic date that you want to own the item and work out how much money you'd need to save each month.
This way, if you're able to make sacrifices and put away a bit of money each month, your new purchase will feel like a reward for your smarter financial habits instead of simply feeling like an expensive purchase. Often, expensive purchases leave a feeling of regret but sacrificing other things in order to save will give you a sense of accomplishment to go along with your new item.
Make/repair your own clothes
Learning new skills or picking up new hobbies is a great way to improve your mental health. You can combine this with your love for fashion by learning how to make your own clothing or even repairing old items of clothing.
If you've got an old jumper in need of some water damage restoration, repairing yourself will be far more rewarding than simply spending money on replacing the item. It will also give you a great way to spend your spare time which is crucial for our mental health.
