Smart Girls Rule: Stop Dressing for Stress

Did you know that anxiety disorders top even Depression, taking the lead as the most common mental illness in the U.S.? These disorders affect a whopping 40 million adults, which accounts for 18.1% of the U.S. population, according to the ADAA. And some anxiety disorders are twice as common in women as they are in men.

While clothing is rarely, if ever, the root issue of anxiety, it can certainly contribute to it. When you wisely choose your overall wardrobe as well as your daily clothing choices, you can avoid adding unnecessary stress to the equation, thereby reducing your anxiety levels.

Be Considerate

Yes, of course we all need to be considerate of others. However, when you’re putting clothes on your own body, you need to mainly consider one person: yourself! What looks good on someone else, even someone you admire or love, may not look good on you. And even if someone else thinks it looks good, it may not feel right to you. If your personal style preference is different from your mother’s, your best friend’s, and your significant other’s, that’s okay. In fact, it’s more than okay!

You’re an individual, and the clothing you wear accounts for one of many ways to express the beautiful person that you are! As you dress intentionally to reflect your best self, you’ll learn to be more assertive and make other choices that you can feel good about.

Be Confident

Now, if the main topic of your thoughts ends up being clothes, that’s not a good thing at all. There are certainly more important things in life. But when you don’t take time to think through your wardrobe and clothing selection, you add unnecessary stress to your mornings and other times. Look through magazines, put items on and see how they look on you, and make sure each piece is clean and free from any damage or wrinkles. Then pair complementary pieces together in your closet.

When you can reach for an already assembled outfit that you know looks great, you’ll be able to get out the door not only more quickly, but also more confidently. Without the stress of having to select, iron, or repair pieces when you’re in a hurry, you’ll find your anxiety levels decreasing.

Be Comfortable

Instead of worrying about what others think of you or whether you look as good as you hope you do in a certain ensemble, wear what you’re comfortable in so that you can focus on what’s really important to you and makes you who you are. When you’re not thinking about how you look or come across, what will you be free to think about and do? Who will you encourage and support? What problems can you solve, and what amazing things can you create?

The customer service professionals at the Penny Pincher Boutique can help you select pieces that will help you look and feel great, helping lower your stress levels in the process.

Penny Pincher Boutique

We’re Westchester’s luxury consignment shop offering women’s designer clothing, jewelry, shoes, handbags and much more. Visit our shop at 184 Harris Road in Bedford Hills, New York or visit us online at www.pennypincherboutique.com. You can also find a selection of our items on sale on eBay. We ship throughout the United States.

Images are from the Penny Pincher Boutique Instagram Page. Images may portray consigned items which have already been sold.