September 6th, 2009 – The Back to School Wardrobe Part II
Recently I was asked by a student to assist with his senior project. He had a plan. His goal and mission was to not only share a message but to educate other students, faculty, and parents in understanding the challenges that individuals face with autism. He sought my input as an Indianapolis based Image Consultant and Occupational Therapist to contribute to his educational video.
The information that I compiled was not only applicable to people who require accommodations but can benefit and “empower” all across the life span, those in grade school, middle school, high school, college, and even returning adults! Hopefully Part II will not only benefit you but your family and friends as well. So pass it along…..
The Back to School Wardrobe Part II:
There is a Positive Connection between How We Dress and present ourselves and How We Feel about ourselves!
3 Simple Steps can make this all possible:
- Know your best colors to build your wardrobe around
- Know what not to wear – Avoid clothing that doesn’t make you feel good
- Know what to wear — Discover a style or brand that works well with your personality and body build
1. Knowing Your Best Colors provides the foundation for your wardrobe and helps you feel your best when you get dressed!
Identify your favorite color! Chances are that color is your favorite because it makes you feel good! You may want to build your wardrobe around that color! Colors of your clothes, colors of your room or closet, and colors of your sheets and bath towels can impact how you feel! When you look at the rainbow, the reds, oranges, and yellows are energy colors that can excite you! Using a red towel in the morning can give you energy but wearing red all day can make you excitable!
Through research we know a lot about colors. Yellow makes us talkative. Green is in the middle of the rainbow and is cleansing and balancing. A green towel can make you feel clean and wearing green can make you feel balanced. Wearing blues, indigo, and violets calm us. Wearing turquoise, blue or white pajamas or putting sheets on your bed in those colors can calm you and help you sleep. Wearing blue or white may help relax muscles and ease asthma.
When I perform a color analysis with you, you can learn about what colors you look best in and what colors will help you feel your best as well. Then we can build your wardrobe around these colors. We can remove what does not fit anymore and start building a wardrobe that you can wear everything interchangeably. Until that time, you can put a special mark with a permanent marker on it to identify clothes that go together.
2. Know what not to wear – Avoid clothing that doesn’t make you feel good
When you go shopping take time to feel the clothing. Read labels to learn what the clothing is made of, eliminating potential sensory problems. Learn to avoid clothing textures that make you feel uncomfortable. While you are learning how to read labels learn about how to care for the clothing. Read the labels to learn about whether you can put it in the washer and dryer or whether or not it requires dry cleaning. Moms and dads this is what your son or daughter needs to learn as he or she transitions. Students this is part of the process of learning how to choose clothing and dress for success in a job.
3. Know what to wear – - Discover a style or brand that works well with your personality and body build
When you look at yourself in the mirror look at the texture of your hair and body build. If you have fine smooth hair and a petite body build wear smaller prints, smooth textures, and smaller jewelry. If you are tall and have a larger body build, you can wear larger stripes/prints and larger jewelry. Knowing your body build will help you know how to dress your body.
Guys you may feel more comfortable in a button down shirt OR maybe you feel more comfortable in a polo shirt. Find a brand that you are comfortable with and buy a few shirts in your best colors that you can wear with jeans, khaki pants, navy blue or black shorts. Girls find a brand of blouses that you like. Chances are there are a few different styles that you can mix and match with pants or a skirt. (That is referred to as “capsule” dressing) Wearing a particular style is a form of expressing yourself!
When you go to buy undergarments or socks stick to one style and buy several pair, then when one sock gets a hole in it you can simply throw it away and wear the other one with another. If you buy 8-12 pair in one color or brand at the beginning of the school year it should last you the year through.
Go to your closet and clean out the things you do not currently wear. Give things that are too small to a younger family member, donate it, or throw it away. You really only need 5-7 shirts or blouses and 3-5 pairs of pants, skirts, or shorts. Don’t forget to have fun and practice what I call “retail therapy in your closet”, have fun discovering new outfits to wear from what is already in your closet (or in your sister’s or brother’s closet, but sh-h-h do not tell them I sent you!) Once you have cleared your closet of things you can’t or won’t wear make a shopping list.
Mom and dad, engaging in shopping activities teaches lots of skills from how to dress yourself with style, comfort, and self-expression; money management; community mobility; and so on. To prevent anxiety and create a successful activity, consider the timing. Avoid busy times, talk with a store manager to learn when the best times are. Shop at a smaller store. To avoid anxiety with the vast array of choices, parents you may possibly want to have some things pulled out ahead of time and put on hold so your son or daughter can still make the final decision but lessen the anxiety with too many choices.
And don’t forget to praise your son or daughter on how he or she looks. Helping them to discover how wonderfully made they are, is exciting and rewarding for both you and them!
Should you have any further questions about how an occupational therapist can assist you, visit: www.aota.org
With simple knowledge, inspiration and praise every child, woman and man can go on recreating herself/himself endlessly!
This “Image Builder Signature Style Tip” was provided by Julie Carson, Color, LIFE-style, and Image Consultant & Speaker. Let Julie assist you and your company through a 60 Minute Makeover incorporating the Art and Science of Signature Self-Packaging. You will not only save time and money but you will learn the difference of simply being “in style”, that is dressing in the moment, vs. “having style” presenting a consistent and timeless outward appearance and effective personal/professional “Signature BRAND”! For further information call today, Julie at 317 527 9046.