who you are,
before style.

In the previous article we talked about “enclothed cognition” – the way clothes influence our thoughts and emotions. If you haven’t read it, you can find it here. Today we take the first step, moving from theory to practice.

I’m Mihai, founder of GLITZ&GRAF, and before building this brand I went through very different professional environments. Sometimes the dress code had to be impeccable – suit, shirt, shoes. Other times I could go casual, in jeans and sneakers. But I noticed something interesting: depending on how I dressed, I felt like a different person. On formal days I was more focused, more decisive. On relaxed days my mind was more creative, but sometimes too laid‑back for what I had to tackle.

It wasn’t just a feeling. Psychologists Hajo Adam and Adam Galinsky demonstrated in 2012 that when we wear a garment associated with a certain trait, our brain can activate that trait. In their study, 58 students performed a selective attention test (Stroop Test) – half of them wore a white lab coat, the others wore their regular clothes. The result: those wearing the white coat made half as many errors as the others. In another experiment, the same coat was described either as belonging to a doctor or to a painter. Participants who wore the “doctor’s coat” showed better sustained attention than those who wore the identical coat but believed it was a painter’s coat. The researchers concluded that the effect depends on two things: the symbolism we attach to the garment and the physical experience of wearing it.

So if clothes shape our thoughts, the question becomes: how do we consciously choose what to wear?

how to find
what defines you?

The answer doesn’t come overnight. Any change starts with small steps. It’s okay not to have all the answers from the beginning – you’ll discover them along the way, if you give yourself time and observe your behavior and moods. The first step is simple, but it can also be the hardest: look inside and notice what truly resonates with you.

If you don’t know who you are, it’s easy to let your wardrobe be dictated by trends, friends, or the salesperson who says “it fits you perfectly,” “it really brings out your eyes,” or “wow, it looks so good on you.” The first step is to stop listening to what others think about you and start listening to what you feel. You don’t need to have the answers ready by tomorrow. It’s a process, and slowing down is welcome.

1. Go back to the moments when you felt completely at ease. Think about the last few months. In what situations did you feel fully yourself, not pretending, being authentic? What were you wearing? Maybe a T‑shirt with a message that represented you, maybe a jacket that gave you confidence. Write it down without judgment.

2. Choose three words that describe you when you’re at your best. Not the words others would use, but the ones you feel. For example: curious, persistent, empathetic, ironic, calm, rebellious. Once you have them, look for garments that resonate with those words. A rigid texture can suggest strength, a soft one – gentleness, an ironic print – humor.

3. Ask yourself what message you need to send to yourself each morning. Sometimes we need a reminder that we are good enough, other times a nudge to take action. Choose a piece that becomes your daily anchor. At GLITZ&GRAF, that’s why we put so much value on the messages in our designs: they are not mere decorations, but inner triggers.

start with small steps

An exercise that might help you is the “three mirrors test.” In front of the mirror, try three completely different outfits: one that makes you feel strong, one that makes you feel creative, and one that makes you feel at home, comfortable. Observe your posture, your breathing, your thoughts. Which one speaks to you the most? There’s no right answer, only your own.

Don’t forget: personal style isn’t about fitting into an imposed aesthetic, but about building a system of symbols that support you. If you’re the type who laughs at absurd situations, maybe an ironic illustration on your chest is the right choice. If you need stability, maybe a clean cut and neutral colors become your anchor. There are no universal rules, only alignment with who you are.

The first step – identification – isn’t finished in a day. You’ll contradict yourself, you’ll change your mind. That’s normal. What matters is to give yourself time and analyze how you feel in different outfits, on different days. At your own pace, you’ll start to see patterns. And your wardrobe will slowly become an authentic extension of yourself.