Experts share 5 ways to better your mood with clothes

Clothing is moving away from an aesthetic standpoint to being a means of elevating the wearerrsquos mood This has led to the emergence of a new trend called lsquosadwearrsquo which is defined not by specific looks but rather by clothing that offers emotional support and elevates your moodPriyanka BajariaPsychologist Priyanka Bajaria explains ldquoWe have a bidirectional relationship with our clothes What we wear is influenced by how we are feeling or how we would like to feel The pandemic has taken away a lot of control from us in our daily lives Add a layer of disconcerting local and global political events and the feeling of helplessness becomes further amplified Under these circumstances our clothes become both a shield for us to seek comfort in and weapon for us to express our disagreement Our clothes can become tools of resilience if we leverage this understandingrdquoFor no reasonldquoAs we emerge from months of being locked in at home clad in pyjamas all day the simple ritual of getting dressed can refresh your mental state It makes you feel good and reminds you of the life you had while inspiring hope about being able to have this life againrdquo says Dr Dave Fashion influencer Sonam Babani shares that once she realised that getting dressed up to go out was what she missed the most during the lockdown she began to dress up to even the most mundane chores such as running errands ldquoFashion makes me happy and I have realised that I donrsquot need an event to look and feel my bestrdquo she saysMake a statementAnuradha MohanldquoFor many going through an intense experience such as the pandemic has propelled them to speak up about issues they believe inrdquo explains Dr Nahid Dave a psychiatrist at Thought Matters Fashion blogger Anuradha Mohan reveals that her frustration with fake news and realisation about the importance of accurate sources led her to style a newsprint top with distressed jeansReinvent your lookSujata BiswasThe feeling of being stuck in a rut can lead to listlessness and mounting frustration says Sujata Biswas cofounder of apparel brand Suta ldquoWhile bingeshopping is a common response to such an emotional state it is far more exciting and costeffective to repurpose items you already have in your wardrobe Simply changing the way you drape your saree and pairing it with atypical accessories such as a shirt combat boots or a corset belt can lead to you feeling like a new person Besides the exercise is also an excellent outlet for creativity Do experiment with your makeup and jewellery choices as wellrdquo she suggestsComfort clothingSonal KharadeWith a growing realisation about the importance of selfcare many men and women are choosing comfort over style in their clothing choices says Dr Dave Softer fabrics oversized clothing boxy fits and distressed finishes are therefore gaining popularity Costume designer Sonal Kharade says that when she is feeling particularly stressed out and anxious she tends to pick oversized sweaters with a loop at the end of the sleeve to slip her fingers through ldquoHolding on to the soft fabric helps me to tide through a tough time while the thicker material feels reassuringrdquo she explainsRelive memoriesVincent HWearing a particular item of clothing could take you back to a specific day or a special memory you share with someone you hold dear It may lift your mood as you relive those moments Dr Dave explains ldquoMy tactical jacket is one of my most prized possessions This was a gift from my father who knew my love for army surplus goods I take this jacket to all backpacking expeditions despite having bought many more It instantly gives me a warm fuzzy feelingrdquo says corporate trainer Vincent H He adds that he keeps changing his accessories to keep his look fresh