How Fashion and Mental Health Are Connected: A Personal Journey Through Style and Self-Worth
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How Fashion Affects Our Lives Every Day
The Link Between How Your Clothes Affect Mood and Mental Health
Rebuilding Confidence Through Clothing
Style After Motherhood: Regaining Identity Through Wardrobe
Building Self-Esteem and Body Image with the Right Tools
Fashion and Identity: What the Stats Say
Cultivating a Healthy Self-Image Through Styling Support
Final Thoughts: Why Fashion Is More Than Vanity
In this episode of the Style for Life podcast, Stephanie Rumble, a renowned fashion stylist and accountability coach based in Christchurch, New Zealand, sits down with Charlotte Cummings, a counsellor and fellow podcaster. The two share a deeply personal conversation about how clothing can be a powerful tool to support emotional wellbeing. The episode reveals how personal styling and identity go hand-in-hand, especially during life transitions like motherhood, weight changes, or career evolution.
This article explores the top themes from the podcast and highlights how style can serve as more than just surface appearance—it can build confidence, support mental health, and promote a healthy self-image.
How Fashion Affects Our Lives Every Day
Your wardrobe choices say more than you think. Stephanie and Charlotte discuss how we dress isn’t just about looking good—it’s about how we feel in our skin.
From school pickups to corporate boardrooms, Charlotte shares that clothing helped her feel ready for the day. That shift allowed her to fully show up for herself and others. Dressing well allowed her to tap into a version of herself that felt strong, competent, and grounded—something many women, particularly mothers, can relate to.
Why this matters:
Clothes can either weigh us down or help us rise up.
When we dress with intention, we feel more purposeful.
How we appear influences how others respond to us—but more importantly, how we respond to ourselves.
Even small tweaks in how we dress—choosing a blazer over a hoodie, or tailored trousers over trackpants—can psychologically prime us for success. Our appearance often reflects our internal narrative, and when we shift the outside, we begin to influence the inside.
If you're ready to take a closer look at how your appearance aligns with your goals, consider starting with a personal styling session to begin building your confidence from the outside in.
The Link Between How Your Clothes Affect Mood and Mental Health
One of the most powerful insights from the episode is how style can be used as a daily mood booster. For Charlotte, wearing bright colours during winter helped her combat seasonal lows and regulate her emotional state.
Stephanie reinforces that certain garments (like a favourite blazer or fitted trousers) can make you feel powerful, while others drain your energy. This connection between what we wear and how we feel isn’t accidental—it’s chemical. Colour psychology, fit, texture, and style all influence our hormones, our self-talk, and our interactions.
Practical takeaways:
Wearing colour can lift your mood instantly
Comfort doesn't mean shapeless—it means confidence
Fit matters: it helps reconnect you with your body instead of hiding from it
Being intentional with your clothing choices creates a habit of self-awareness. It’s not about impressing others—it’s about showing up for yourself with dignity and self-respect.
Rebuilding Confidence Through Clothing
Charlotte shares how her journey with Stephanie helped her feel confident after significant life changes. From pregnancy to returning to work, she used clothing as a way to redefine her sense of self.
Stephanie explains that building confidence through clothing isn't about trends. It's about identifying what suits your unique shape, tone, and lifestyle. That’s where the support of a professional can make all the difference.
"When something feels good on you, it's actually precious. You're curating a wardrobe that supports who you are." ~ Stephanie
The key is understanding that style isn’t shallow. It’s the language we use to communicate who we are before we speak. And rebuilding that language gives us back a sense of agency when life feels chaotic.
Style After Motherhood: Regaining Identity Through Wardrobe
Many women feel lost after becoming mothers. Charlotte discusses how postpartum changes affected her body and identity. Navigating your style after motherhood can be overwhelming without support. Working with a fashion stylist helped her:
Find postpartum clothes that flattered her changing body
Define a style that reflected both her mum-life and work-life
Rebuild wardrobe staples on a modest budget
The emotional toll of postpartum identity shifts can be significant. It's not just about body changes, but about rediscovering who you are. Style can help anchor that transition. Through personal style coaching, Charlotte moved from just surviving the day to thriving in her skin.
The process of discovering her new style also helped her regain a sense of personal power. She felt more seen, more capable, and more herself. It wasn’t about hiding—it was about shining, even on hard days.
Building Self-Esteem and Body Image with the Right Tools
Stephanie highlights that poor body image can lead women to hide behind ill-fitting, uninspiring clothes. But clothes aren’t the enemy—they're the solution when used intentionally.
Charlotte explains that learning about colour theory, fit, and layering gave her tools to feel good in her body. Even small details like how to tuck a shirt or pair accessories made a big difference in her self-perception.
"Now, I actually like myself. I can really say that I like being me in the world." ~ Charlotte Cummings
A lack of awareness around self-esteem and body image is common, especially during major transitions. But with education and support, it's entirely possible to shift from critical to compassionate self-talk.
Tips to boost self-esteem with style:
Use a style consult to discover what suits your unique features
Identify your best colours and build around them
Focus on fit rather than size
This section of the journey is not about fixing flaws—it's about celebrating your individuality. Clothing becomes a tool for empowerment, not a disguise.
Fashion and Identity: What the Stats Say
The relationship between fashion, mental health, and personal expression isn’t just anecdotal—data from New Zealand supports it too.
Feeling more comfortable in clothing and taking pride in one’s appearance plays a key role in recovery for those navigating eating disorders (source).
Nearly 40% of New Zealanders now factor in ethical and environmental values when buying clothing—a sign that self-expression is becoming more conscious and considered (source).
Women are the backbone of New Zealand’s fashion industry—78% of jobs in 2023 were held by women, showing growth and influence in a space that deeply impacts female identity (source).
And perhaps most telling of our emotional connection to clothing: 49% of Kiwi consumers say they feel happiest when shopping from local New Zealand clothing brands (source).
These figures reflect a broader truth—how we dress isn’t just functional. It’s emotional, cultural, and deeply personal.
Cultivating a Healthy Self-Image Through Styling Support
Charlotte and Stephanie agree that a woman's ability to like herself has ripple effects across her whole life. A confident woman shows up better as a parent, partner, professional, and friend.
"Clothing has been a tool for becoming the person I want to be." ~ Charlotte Cummings
Even on a budget, small investments in your wardrobe can provide emotional returns. Stephanie recommends:
Choosing one celebration meal rather than a whole day of indulgence
Investing in versatile pieces over trendy items
Allowing yourself to spend money on yourself without guilt
The support of a wardrobe stylist can be invaluable in this process. They help guide choices that align with your lifestyle, personality, and emotional needs.
When you feel aligned on the outside, it becomes easier to nurture and value who you are on the inside. And that’s what having a healthy self-image is all about—finding peace and power in your own skin.
Final Thoughts: Why Fashion Is More Than Vanity
As this conversation shows, fashion and mental health are deeply intertwined. Clothes can shape how we feel, how we engage with others, and how we experience the world.
Stephanie's work with clients like Charlotte shows that personal style isn't shallow—it's strategic. It's not about becoming someone else. It's about revealing who you already are.
If you're part of a team or workplace navigating stress or change, Stephanie Rumble also provides expert-led workplace wellbeing and education workshops that incorporate conflict de-escalation, resilience, and self-leadership—helping individuals and businesses thrive.
Whether you're navigating a life transition, struggling with self-worth, or just want to feel better each day, consider working with a professional fashion stylist or booking a style consult. Sometimes the outer transformation unlocks the inner one.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to use fashion as a tool for mental health?
Using fashion as a tool for mental health means choosing clothing that supports how you want to feel, not just how you want to look. It’s about creating a wardrobe that reinforces confidence, comfort, and self-expression, especially during times of change or low self-esteem.
Stephanie Rumble and Charlotte Cummings discussed how even simple changes in what you wear can influence your energy, mood, and self-perception—especially when paired with supportive guidance like personal styling or accountability coaching.
How can clothing impact self-esteem and body image?
Clothing affects how we see ourselves in the mirror and how we interact with the world. When clothes fit well and reflect our personal identity, they can improve self-esteem and reduce negative self-talk. Poorly chosen clothes can do the opposite—making us feel disconnected or uncomfortable.
Stephanie Rumble's styling approach focuses on helping clients understand what suits their body and personality so they can feel empowered, not self-critical, when they get dressed each day.
What is the connection between style and identity after motherhood?
After motherhood, many women feel physically and emotionally changed—and their style often doesn’t reflect who they’ve become. This can lead to a loss of identity or confidence. A new wardrobe, or even just a few updated pieces, can help bridge that gap.
The podcast shared Charlotte’s experience of using styling support to navigate these changes and rediscover a version of herself that felt strong, capable, and authentic.
Can personal styling really help with mental wellbeing?
Yes, personal styling can absolutely support mental wellbeing—particularly when it’s approached holistically. It’s not about trends; it’s about identifying what makes someone feel like the best version of themselves.
Stephanie’s coaching blends style, mindset, and real-life experience to help people regain a sense of control and confidence, especially after life transitions.
Why do clothes affect how we feel emotionally?
Clothes influence how others see us, but more importantly, they affect how we see ourselves. Wearing something that fits well and aligns with your identity can elevate your confidence and shift your internal dialogue.
In the podcast, Charlotte highlighted how even wearing a bright colour during winter had a positive impact on her mood—reinforcing the power of conscious clothing choices.
What are some practical tips to rebuild wardrobe confidence?
Start with a wardrobe audit. Keep what fits well and makes you feel good, and let go of anything that no longer represents who you are. Then, slowly rebuild with versatile pieces that work for your lifestyle.
Stephanie Rumble also recommends colour consultations and body shape guides to help identify the best clothing choices for each individual.
How is fashion linked to emotional recovery?
The article and podcast both noted that clothing is a vital part of emotional recovery—especially for women dealing with body changes, transitions, or mental health challenges. Feeling good in what you wear can be a small but meaningful part of larger emotional healing.
Studies in New Zealand also highlight the role of style in body image recovery, such as in eating disorder contexts where comfort and pride in clothing are part of therapy.
Is it common to feel lost in style after having children?
Yes, it’s very common. Many women experience physical changes after pregnancy and shifts in lifestyle priorities, making their old wardrobe feel irrelevant or ill-fitting.
Working with a personal stylist—like Stephanie—can make this transition smoother by guiding women through a style update that reflects both who they are now and who they want to be.
What makes Bright Red’s approach to personal styling different?
Stephanie Rumble doesn’t just offer style tips—she offers a supportive, whole-person approach that blends accountability, personal coaching, and fashion expertise. She focuses on building confidence and clarity, not just putting people in trendy outfits.
Bright Red also offers virtual colour consultations, wardrobe coordination, and accountability coaching tailored to each client’s goals and lifestyle.
Where can I start if I want to improve how I feel in my clothes?
A great first step is booking a personal styling session or wardrobe audit. From there, you can begin to build a wardrobe that works with your body, lifestyle, and personality.
Stephanie offers styling services and coaching that support this process from start to finish—whether you're in Christchurch or anywhere else in New Zealand.
