Dress yourself confident

Grazia’s Laura Antonia Jordan asks fashion’s power players which wardrobe weapon gives them perfect poise…

not just of the people we are but the people we want to be. Whether that person is serious or sweet, flirty or formidable, edgy or elegant, depends on your mood, taste and the occasion. But one thing that we are always striving to achieve via what we wear is confidence (nobody has ever said, ‘I must go shopping – I want something that makes me feel terrible about myself !’).

So, can you dress yourself confident? Clothes can certainly help – their transformative power is undeniable. ‘A great outfit can completely change how you feel,’ says Ditte Reffstrup of Danish mega brand Ganni. ‘ When I think back to a day when I felt really good, it usually coincides with a good outfit.’

What constitutes a ‘good outfit’, however, is all down to the individual – there is no one-size-fits-all formula. We asked 12 influential women who work in the fashion industry (and who appear to have cracked the confidence code) what they turn to when they want to be on their A-game. Their answers are as varied as they are: one woman’s slouchy tee is another woman’s spangly dress. The one non-negotiable? Comfort.

And of course, it’s important to remember that clothes won’t do all the hard work for you. ‘I think you have to feel good in yourself to make you feel confident,’ says Tabitha Simmons. ‘A pair of shoes or statement earrings or maybe just a new lipstick can definitely help though’.