It’s easy to feel good about yourself when you slide into a pair of jeans that fit just right and there’s now research that supports the idea that when you look good, you feel good, too.
New research published in the Journal of Macromarketing found a significant association between having clothes you like and having higher levels of well-being. Not only that, the researchers discovered that the right clothes can have a trickle-down effect that supports your social health, too.
“What started as a shared frustration – ’Nothing fits like it used to, and nothing feels right for my age’ – led us to ask: ‘Is there real psychological harm here?’” says Jekaterina Rogaten.
Here’s what her research discovered, plus why it matters.
Meet the experts: Hillary Ammon, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at the Center for Anxiety & Women’s Emotional Wellness; Jekaterina Rogaten, PhD, lead study author and senior lecturer in fashion psychology at the London College of Fashion; and Thea Gallagher, PsyD, clinical associate professor of psychology at NYU Langone Health
What did the study find?
For the study, researchers surveyed 252 women between the ages of 38 and 67 who were living in the United Kingdom. The women were asked to answer a mix of questions from standardised psychological questionnaires and an open-ended question.
The researchers asked the participants how easily they could find brands that they felt catered to their style, along with questions about their overall mental well-being and anxiety they felt about their appearance and getting older. Participants were also asked to describe their shopping challenges in a written response.
After analysing the data, researchers found that women were more likely to report better overall well-being when they were satisfied with their clothing choices. The participants who were happy with their clothes were also more likely to report feeling optimistic about their future.
They also discovered that when women could find outfits that they felt fit well and were age-appropriate, they were also less likely to skip social interactions – and that boosted their mood.
“Clothes aren’t vanity,” Rogaten says. “They’re a tool for belonging, self‑expression and staying connected to the world.”
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How does this translate to health?
There are a few things happening here. “If women feel good about their appearance, they may feel more confident in social settings and overall, feel more confident in themselves,” says Hillary Ammon. Middle age can be a particularly vulnerable time as women may be struggling with a slew of challenges that impact their body image – lingering weight gain from previous pregnancies, changes in metabolism due to perimenopause and limited time to exercise, Ammon says.
Thea Gallagher agrees. “For many middle-aged women, finding well-fitting clothes becomes more difficult at the exact stage of life when their bodies, roles and sense of self may already be shifting, so those experiences can become emotionally loaded rather than simply inconvenient,” she says.
As women go through these changes in their bodies, they may not know how to dress in a way that still works for them, Ammon says. “No matter your current shape or size, finding clothes that fit your body well and feel stylish can improve confidence while wearing them,” she says.
Why Style Is Your Social Anchor
Fashion can also foster a woman’s social identity, Rogaten adds. “Clothes are one of the most visible signals of group membership,” she says. “When middle-aged women can’t find fashion that reflects their professional and social roles, they feel excluded, which directly harms their well-being.”
But the social avoidance part is especially concerning, Rogaten says. “Women who are dissatisfied with fashion options start avoiding social situations – work events, meetings with friends and other social gatherings – because they don’t feel good in their clothes,” she says. “That withdrawal fuels loneliness and lowers well‑being.” (Loneliness and social isolation are linked to a higher risk of developing a range of health issues, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and dementia.)
“Social engagement is strongly tied to both mental and physical health as we age,” Gallagher stresses. “When women feel uncomfortable in their clothing, unseen by the fashion industry, or frustrated by sizing and fit, it can subtly contribute to [social] withdrawal, lower confidence and reduced participation in social life over time.”
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The Takeaway
Rogaten says the study reinforces that it’s OK to prioritise yourself. “Don’t feel guilty about caring what you wear. Fashion isn’t shallow,” she says. “Our research shows that satisfaction with your clothing choices directly predicts your well-being, and it is not because you’re vain, but because clothes help you show up, belong and make you feel confident.”
Ammon says this should make you feel more comfortable refreshing your wardrobe, if you have the budget for it. “Consider if you need a closet refresh – even if it’s just a new pair of jeans or one or two staple outfits,” she says.
But, again, it’s important to think about clothes as more than something you put on your body. “It’s not vanity,” Rogaten says. “It’s about removing a barrier to connection. And connection is the bedrock for well-being.”
This article by Korin Miller was originally published on Women’s Health US.
