Have you ever hoped that somehow wardrobe changes would also change your life? I suppose that’s the idea behind every makeover show or Cinderella story. Well, last December I gave an online Visual Style Discovery workshop. One of the participants said something that caught the attention of the others. Here’s what she said: “The movement in my wardrobe kind of translated to movement in my own life.”
Today, we’re exploring how wardrobe changes can be more than just refreshing your look – they can actually become a catalyst for deeper personal growth and transformation. And I’ll share how understanding your personality type can help you make wardrobe choices that support your development journey.
The Connection Between Wardrobe Changes & Life
So, one of the women who showed up to my online workshop last December was someone I’ve known since we were little kids. When I asked everyone to share why they joined the workshop, here’s what she said, “In changing this season’s weather front or wardrobe from summer to winter, I got rid of a lot, and then I went shopping, and I can’t tell you the dynamics it made in how I feel about myself and my approach to things. I really feel like there’s a lot of things that have opened up to me as far as my business is concerned, and also in my personal life. Just recently, just because of that, the movement in my wardrobe kind of translated to movement in my own life.”
Don’t you love that?!? My friend had just been listening to the podcast, getting my emails, and thinking about being more intentional about her wardrobe. She also had recently transitioned from teaching to becoming a self-employed consultant, so the movement in her life is coming at a really exciting time.
Why Wardrobe Changes Create Personal Growth
So what’s really happening when we change our wardrobe in a meaningful way? Here’s what I’ve observed in people’s wardrobe changes:
- First, when we remove items that no longer feel authentic, we’re actually making space – not just in our closets, but in our lives. We’re saying “this isn’t me anymore” and that’s a profound act of self-recognition.
- Second, when we choose new items that truly reflect who we are, we’re making a statement about our identity – to ourselves first, and then to the world. This creates a kind of virtuous cycle.
Think about it this way – when your outside better matches your inside, you actually magnify the impact of your presence. People respond differently to you because they’re seeing more of the real you. This creates a kind of magnetic pull – both in terms of personal charisma and in attracting the right opportunities.
I’ve experienced this myself. Since I began aligning my wardrobe with my authentic self, I’ve gone from having people’s eyes glaze over when I talk about style and color to having them perk up and pay attention. Because what I wear is now in harmony with who I am.
The Connection Between Personality & Wardrobe
Now I want to talk about cognitive functions and how our personality types can help point us toward our signature style.
If you’re familiar with Myers-Briggs, you know that each of us has preferences for how we interact with the world and process information. These preferences form patterns called cognitive functions.
As we mature, especially by midlife, we naturally begin developing and integrating parts of our personality that were less expressed in our younger years. Our wardrobe can both reflect AND support this integration process.
Back to my friend. During our personality profiling session, my friend discovered she was an introvert – something she hadn’t fully recognized about herself. She told me, “I found out I’m an introvert, and I never… you know… It really helps really define a lot of what my motivations are for doing things. And it was an important step for me to figure that out to kind of figure out myself.”
Her wardrobe changes came after this insight. And I believe those changes weren’t just reflecting her introversion, but actually helping her integrate her less-developed extraverted functions – which is exactly what supports growth for introverts.
How Cognitive Functions Show Up in Your Wardrobe
Let’s talk about how understanding your cognitive functions can guide your wardrobe changes in a way that supports your growth:
If you’re an introvert, you have two extraverted functions you’ll naturally want to develop and integrate, two of the following four.
Here’s how they might show up in your wardrobe:
- Extraverted Sensing (Se): This function connects us to the physical world through our senses. If you’re developing this function, you might find yourself drawn to clothes with interesting textures, vibrant colors, or details that create sensory impact. You might start considering how your outfits affect not just the visual sense, but all the senses.
- Extraverted Intuition (Ne): This function helps us see possibilities and connections. As you develop this, you might find yourself experimenting with creative combinations, mixing patterns or eras in unexpected ways. You might feel drawn to pieces that reference different cultures or time periods as a way of expressing the connections you see.
- Extraverted Thinking (Te): This function creates structure and organization in the external world. As you integrate this, you might be drawn to more tailored pieces, strategic wardrobe planning, and accessories that serve a clear purpose.
- Extraverted Feeling (Fe): This function helps us connect with and respond to others’ emotions. As you develop this, you might become more aware of how your clothing creates harmony in social settings, choosing colors and styles that honor both the occasion and your individuality.
Now, if you’re an extravert, you have two introverted functions to develop or integrate, two of the following four options
Here’s how they might influence your wardrobe:
- Introverted Sensing (Si): This function connects us to our personal history and traditions. As you develop this, you might incorporate signature pieces that have personal meaning or that connect to your heritage.
- Introverted Intuition (Ni): This function helps us focus on a singular vision or perspective. As you integrate this, your wardrobe might become more cohesive and you might notice yourself kinda knowing which trends are gonna catch on and work for you.
- Introverted Thinking (Ti): This function creates internal frameworks and precision. As you develop this, you might become more self-referential – wearing what makes sense to you
- Introverted Feeling (Fi): This function connects us to our individual values and identity. As you integrate this, your wardrobe choices might become more authentic to your personal values, even if that means going against conventional expectations.
If you’re curious about understanding your personality type more deeply, I offer personality profiling sessions that can help you identify your cognitive functions and how they influence your personal style. This insight can be transformative for your wardrobe and your personal growth journey. You can learn more here.
Practical Application: Your Wardrobe Growth Journey
So how can you apply these insights to your own wardrobe? Here are some practical steps:
- Notice what you’re naturally drawn to now – not what you think you should wear, but what actually feels right.
- Pay attention to the emotional feedback you get from different clothing choices. That little lift you feel when wearing certain items is valuable data about your authentic self.
- Notice the external feedback too. When people respond to you differently, it’s often because they’re seeing more of your authentic self.
Here’s something I’d like you to try this week: Choose one item in your wardrobe that doesn’t feel quite right anymore, and see if you can identify why. Or just get rid of it.