Unless you live in an unconventional part of the world, then you’ll be socially obliged to wear clothes. As such, it makes sense to go through the process of putting together a wardrobe that allows you to feel comfortable and confident. After all, while there are plenty of things that can help nudge your confidence levels in the right direction, there’s nothing that’ll work quite as well as wearing an outstanding outfit.

Alas, it’s not always so easy to get to that point. It takes time to find the clothes that allow you to feel like “you.” There are, however, plenty of things you can do that’ll nudge you in the right direction. We’ll take a look at some of the most effective strategies below. 

Don’t Live in Fear

There are a few places around the country where it seems that everyone’s wearing something colorful. But they’re the exceptions, not the rule. In general, style seems to be concentrated on just a few basic colors — or perhaps it’s better to say the absence of color. That’s fine if you feel at your best wearing gray, black, navy, and white, but if you don’t, then you’ll need to break the mold.

Incorporating colors into your wardrobe can be an invigorating experience, one that can transform not only how others see you, but how you see yourself. You’ll never feel as confident as you do when sporting a bright outfit that stands out from the crowd. 

Develop Your Sense of Style

Developing your sense of style is a process. You won’t change your entire wardrobe overnight. Instead, you’ll slowly develop your style over time. This might happen by accident, but more likely than not, it’ll be because you put in some time and effort. Not sure where to start? Take a look around and see the outfits of other people that you like. 

Invest in Quality, Comfortable Pieces

People often think that they have to choose between what looks good and what’s comfortable. But that’s not the case. If you buy correctly, then you can absolutely blend the two. The trick is to commit slightly more cash to your clothing spending spree than you usually would. There are items out there that are comfortable and which will turn heads, but you’ll need to spend a bit more money to make them yours.

The upside of spending more cash is that you’ll have better quality clothing that both looks better and lasts longer. 

Wear Clothes That Reflect Who You Are

Clothes are about more than keeping us warm or preserving our modesty. They’re also a reflection of who we are as individuals — or at least, they should be, anyway. If you’re a free-spirited soul, then wearing the same old outfits that you see everyone else wearing won’t make you feel comfortable. It’ll make you feel like a stranger in your own skin. Hippie skirts, on the other hand, will allow you to really feel like yourself. You can apply this principle to anything; if you see yourself as a modern, sophisticated city-dweller, then wearing standard student clothing will be out of sync with who you are. Figure out your personality, and then find clothes that match it. Trust us, those clothes are out there; you just need to know what you’re looking for. 

Buy for Your Body Shape

You could have the nicest wardrobe of clothing on the planet, but if the items you’ve bought aren’t suitable for your body shape, then it’s unlikely that you’re going to feel too confident and comfortable when you’re wearing them.

There are a number of body types, and figuring out which one you have will make it much easier to buy clothes. The five types are:

• Inverted Triangle
• Pear
• Hourglass
• Rectangle
• Apple

Whatever you have, there’ll be clothes that suit you down to the ground. 

Experiment with Your Style

We gain confidence when we do things that are outside of our comfort zones. Of course, when it comes to wearing clothes in public, we don’t want to be too far out of our comfort zones. Nobody wants to look like they’ve come straight from the runway of Paris Fashion Week when they’re picking up groceries from the supermarket.

The key to building confidence is to pick clothing that’s just outside your comfort zone. Essentially, it’s about incorporating a bit of experimentation into your outfits. Not everything you try will be a hit, but you’ll be surprised at how many of your more outlandish ideas become wardrobe staples. Plus, you’ll likely find that you gain confidence simply by trying new things that require a bit of bravery. 

Keep Things Fresh

If you’re going through the effort of putting together a wardrobe that you love, then you should also dedicate some time to keeping your clothing in tip-top condition. Allowing your clothing to show signs of wear and tear can majorly impact its capacity to elevate your comfort and confidence. If you spend a fair sum of money on an item of clothing, spend some time figuring out how to look after it properly. Your sense of style will thank you. 

Observe Other People’s Outfits

We mentioned earlier how it can be useful to look at what others are wearing when you’re putting together your sense of style, and this is something that you can continue to do even if you have a sense of what clothes you like to wear. You’ll find that you can pick up new ideas just by looking around. Don’t forget that fashion is a lifelong pursuit. 

Remember: No One Cares About Your Outfit as Much as You Do

Finally, if you’re feeling a little shy about wearing clothes that can elevate your style, then keep in mind that no one cares as much as you do. Even if your outfit doesn’t turn heads, it’s unlikely that anyone will pay any attention. Ignore the negative inner voice that tells you that you look ridiculous — it’s not a fair reflection of reality and isn’t helpful in the slightest.