Why do we all need a power outfit?

Power outfit: Have you found yours yet?

We all have it. And it doesn't matter whether we wear it often, whether it follows current trends or is only brought out for special occasions: the power outfit. A look that does something to us more than anything else in our textile repertoire. Namely: makes us feel really good - strong, sensual, perhaps even fashionably sublime. These special outfits can be divided into two categories. In some we feel so powerful that we don't care about any feedback; a cocoon that doesn't conceal but exposes, so to speak. No sooner have we tried it on or discovered it on the clothes rack than we already knew: This is it! The other type of power outfit is those whose effect we only become aware of through extrinsic stimuli. For example, through compliments . Don't you also have that one item in your closet that people comment on more than average?

Let's not kid ourselves. We've all reached for a look like this when the need to really shine was strong. Fishing for compliments, but subtly. My goal: I want to own more looks like this. If there are certain fashionable combinations in which I not only look better, but also feel better, why not simply wear those outfits? To avoid getting into a habit, it naturally makes sense not to always opt for the same thing. So I started to think about the qualities of my previous top looks. For example, my personal compliment-guarantee in my wardrobe is a tomato-red wool coat . Dozens of people have asked me about it; they all seem, just like me, to be tired of the comatose wave of winter fashion in gray, navy, and black.

Equally suitable for quickly starting a conversation is my black shirt by JW Anderson , created in collaboration with the artist Michael Clark. It features an oversized hand making a peace sign—and the two fingers forming the "V" are dipped in silver glitter. Peace-affirming fashion courage that brings joy to those around me. (Except for the one time I wore an open jacket over my shirt—and realized after a day that it covered my index finger. So the peace symbol transformed into a one-meter-high middle finger on my chest. Another zeitgeisty message.)

"Ultimately, it's about attitude and a 'what does the world cost?' mindset that gives us power looks."

But a power outfit doesn't always have to be conspicuous. For example, I have a few suits that fit so well that I feel much stronger and more confident when I put them on, as if I were putting on armor. Or a pair of boots with such an outrageously elegant cut that I walk differently in them—more assertively, more uprightly, more confidently. Ultimately, it's about attitude and a "what's the price?" mindset that power looks give us—in contrast to ordinary clothing. Whether these looks send positive signals to those around you or exclusively make you feel particularly good is irrelevant. After all, they enforce a wonderful, psychological quality of fashion: namely, its ability to influence our mood in a lasting way.

If you're wondering how far I've gotten in my search for new power outfits: A few weeks ago, I purchased a fantastic statement coat from one of my favorite German designers, William Fan . I haven't been able to wear it yet due to the weather. But I already know it will have a real impact. Because it's extremely rare for me to be excited about a cold snap.

This article is part of the brand-new November issue of VOGUE, available starting October 25. Order it here!

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