Fashion for our Mental Well-being

When I am asked what I do for a living, and answer that I own Yoke x Hem, a clothing store, the typical response is “Oh, that must be fun, playing dress-up all day!”. 

The truth is, how we dress can have a direct impact on our self-confidence. Fashion is an expression, you choose it, it’s up to you. Sometimes a person needs a boost. As a fashion stylist, it’s my role to help you look past whatever it is you’re going through and help you cultivate a routine of self-love. It’s helping you present your best self in a way that can invoke confidence that transcends beyond bad days, outlooks or attitudes. We’re in the business of making people feel good. So, how do I say modestly that the time I spend with our Yoke x Hem customers may actually change how they live their lives?

Many of our customers come seeking wardrobe advice for an interview or a new career! Some are looking to get back into the dating scene and get a post-divorce confidence boost. Others need clothing to fit after giving birth or undergoing a mastectomy. 

I recently had a customer come to the store for the first time through a recommendation from a friend to shop for a formal event. Her body language quickly told me she was frustrated, it was getting late and she was still empty handed when she came into Yoke x Hem. She had decided she’d settle for a skirt and a top, because “she had tried on every dress in the city”, and hadn’t found one that fit her the way it should. She mentioned her body had changed recently, and her shopping experience that day had put it on display. We started to look around the store together. She was drawn to a gorgeous red Frank Lyman dress with a chiffon cowl that cascaded down the back. I selected it from the rack, as well as 5-6 other options (including a skirt and a top) and had her start with the red dress. It fit her body, her personality, and her event, perfectly. She tried on all of the other dresses, each one fitting her perfectly, and each one improving her mood. The skirt and top were absolutely stunning on her as well, but after slipping back into the red dress, we both knew it was the one. 

It doesn’t matter what type of day you’re having, there is power in dressing for your life’s successes. We’re real people and sometimes all it takes is one positive interaction to change someone’s self-image. This belief drives all our relationships with our customers whether it’s their first time in the store or they have been with us since the beginning. We help them see the very best version of themselves.

​As humans, we can be incredibly hard on ourselves. What makes your life and your outlook better is that feeling that comes from inside, not the size of your jeans or the price of your outfit. We know being confident in your clothing helps you be the best version of yourself enhancing your well-being.