Fashion isn’t just about looking good, it’s about feeling good. As we celebrate Pride Month, a time that honours identity, self-expression, and inclusivity, mental health experts say your wardrobe can play a surprisingly powerful role in how you feel.
“Fashion can be deeply therapeutic. It’s a non-verbal way of saying, ‘This is who I am,’” says Dr. Gorav Gupta, Senior Psychiatrist and CEO of Tulasi Healthcare, New Delhi. “When people dress in a way that aligns with their inner identity, it gives them confidence, reduces anxiety, and even helps manage depressive moods,” he further said.
In recent years, mental health has taken centre stage in public conversations and rightly so. As more people seek ways to care for their emotional well-being, the role of fashion has quietly emerged as a healing tool. Whether it’s wearing bright colours on a gloomy day, putting on a favourite outfit during a tough week, or dressing in a way that reflects gender identity, what you wear can shift your mindset.
Dressing with purpose
Experts say dressing with intention sets the tone for your day. “Clothing helps anchor a person emotionally,” explains Dr Gupta. “For someone going through a tough time emotionally, even the act of choosing an outfit becomes a moment of control in an otherwise chaotic day. It’s a signal to the self that ‘I matter.’”
Wearing clothes that feel like “you” can make a person feel more grounded. This is especially relevant for individuals from the LGBTQ+ community, many of whom may have grown up feeling pressured to hide or suppress their identities.
“When someone dresses according to their true self, whether that means wearing makeup, a pride pin, or traditional wear that speaks to their culture, it becomes a soft but strong form of resistance and healing,” says Dr. Astik Joshi, Child and Adolescent and Forensic Psychiatrist at Fortis Hospital, New Delhi.
How clothes reflect and improve your mental health
From a clinical perspective, changes in grooming or dressing are often the first visible signs of a mental health issue. But experts believe the reverse is true as well—improving one’s appearance can become part of the healing process.
“When someone who has been withdrawn starts dressing up again, it’s a very positive indicator,” says Dr Joshi. “It’s not vanity, it’s self-care. It’s a step toward re-engaging with the world.”
Clothing can even help boost motivation. Wearing formal clothes while working from home, or gym clothes to kickstart a workout, mentally prepares you for the task at hand. “It helps align our mindset with our goals,” adds Dr Gupta.
Fashion as identity and belonging
Clothing also builds bridges between individuals and communities. Whether it’s through colours, fabrics, or style choices, fashion offers people a way to express individuality while also feeling part of something bigger.
“This is especially important for young people exploring their identity,” says Dr Joshi. “A rainbow scarf, a favourite band tee, or a cultural outfit—these aren’t just clothes. They’re statements of acceptance, exploration, and pride.”
And in moments of low self-esteem or anxiety, even a small compliment on how one looks can lift spirits. But more importantly, dressing well gives people internal strength even when no one else notices.
More than what you wear
In the end, fashion isn’t just about what you wear, it’s how it makes you feel. “It’s a daily opportunity to show up for yourself,” says Dr Gupta. “To say, without words, ‘I care about me.’”
So this Pride Month, whether it’s glitter or grunge, high fashion or homemade, wear what makes you feel like you. Your outfit might just be your most stylish form of self-love.
Because fashion doesn’t just change how you look, it can transform how you feel.
