Dressing You Based On Your Love Language
The title here doesn’t hold much mystery. However, I’ll still try to impress and maybe even surprise you.
Most of you probably heard the classification of love languages, and probably even tried to figure out your own. The majority of us have 2 or 3 primary love languages (the ones we use more often than the others). But have you ever thought that maybe they can even control your fashion sense a bit? Once you start noticing this pattern, it’s quite fun to follow it. And I recommend embracing all your love energy and wearing your heart on your sleeve.
But let me first introduce you to this beautiful concept, in case you haven’t heard of it. The five love languages reflect your favourite ways to express and receive love in life. It doesn’t necessarily have to be romantic. This theory applies to all aspects of your life. The types are: words of affirmation, physical touch, quality time, acts of service, and gift giving.
So let’s dissect it one by one and choose some form of outfit that might reflect your type. As I said earlier, most people have multiple primary languages. And they can even differ in expressing love vs. receiving it. Last note before we start: this is my subjective vision, so you have the right to disagree and share your own.
Words of Affirmation
Those of you who love to give or receive compliments are pillars of kindness and confidence in our community. You love through kind words, verbal support and tons of cute little encouragements. You tend to notice details and give people a reason to dress vibrantly and put a lot of thought into it. And you try to express yourself very clearly, communicating with the world through all accessible channels.
Since I’m betting that you’re an extrovert, you probably also love to give people a reason to talk about your outfit and maybe even approach you. There has to be something noticeable about your presence, whether it’s a bright colour, an interesting shape or a big accessory.
So for you, I would choose an accent detail to hold on to. Take a look at things that speak for your personality: a balloon-shaped skirt, chunky rings or layering colours. You bring positive energy with words, so let the compliments come to you, too. Tailor these details to your preferences and don’t be afraid to shine. The sparklier the better.
At the end of the day, you’re able to light up anyone’s day. So you might as well do it visually too. If you play with a specific aesthetic, dive fully into it and take inspiration from everything you love and complement.
Physical Touch
To be completely honest, you’re probably the easiest type to dress. You express or receive love through physical contact with your loved ones. But also, you have so many fabrics to touch, accessories to fidget with, and clothes to enjoy wearing. Physical touch doesn’t even have to be about touching someone. It’s our sensory response to everything in life. So choose carefully, as the fabrics or designs you wear can easily irritate you.
Of course, I’ll start with the most important part here - fabrics. Indulge in everything nice you can touch: cashmere, linen, silk and fur. That way, you can even receive some investigative physical contact from curious friends and loved ones. No one can resist touching brushed cashmere, trust me on that one. Clothing also has to give you space and feel nice on the skin, so I would steer clear of turtlenecks (unless you’re into that stuff).
Aside from investing in fabrics, I’d recommend finding some comfortable accessories you enjoy wearing. I know some people have trouble feeling rings or earrings on their bodies. So choose whatever feels right to you. Sometimes it can even relieve anxiety, since you can play with them when nervous.
During summer, invest in linens and silks with some simple cuts and designs. Maybe avoid wearing anything too tight and restrictive, since it’s a sensory nightmare during hot weather. If you feel like experimenting, combine interesting textures and play with your hair and makeup. And of course, don’t forget to give plenty of love to those you adore.
Quality Time
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People who express or receive love through spending time with their partners, family, or friends qualify for the group. Now, this is a tricky one. You truly experience this through giving undivided attention, engaging in meaningful conversations or doing a shared activity. It’s all about adventures, intimate moments and the felt presence of each other. Now I can confess that this is my love language as well.
There’s hardly anything better than a good memory of doing something crazy, fun or bonding for me. But those types of situations require you to be ready at all times. So for us, I would choose something memorable fashion-wise. What I mean is - make your outfits a part of the day or experience that you share. If it’s a club, channel your inner Paris Hilton. If it’s a hike, think about taking inspiration from Lara Croft. We always have to be occasion-ready. Look for some style references and make it your very own clever inside joke.
Of course, your style is primarily about you and your own identity. But I can just sense that some part of you loves dress codes and costume parties. They create a special atmosphere where you’re guaranteed to have tons of fun and create glamorous memories. So, incorporate theme-dressing, take inspiration from the event itself and make it unforgettable. Carrie Bradshaw loved dressing for the occasion, even if it included her situationship moving to Paris.
Acts of Service
You, my friends, are truly underrated and under appreciated. You show your love through doing meaningful things for your partners, families and friends. And also appreciate someone remembering small things that you love, and surprising you with them. I know it can be hard for you sometimes, because it takes someone very special to finally notice all the ways you show love to them.
You let your actions speak louder than words, so let your style support that. “Quiet luxury” is quiet for a reason. It doesn’t need to scream to be valuable and appreciated. So choose pieces that showcase all your glory without distracting with extravagance or logos. You can always play with different shapes and cuts.
You are always very attentive to small details and meaningful ways of showing love. So perhaps think about investing in a capsule wardrobe or a signature piece. Let the clothing be functional, or always leave a reminder of yourself. Whether it’s a bag, a coat or just a signature style of something, you can always leave a carefully placed clue about your favourite design.
Gift Giving
My gift givers and receivers shine brightest around any holidays. These people truly show their love by remembering all the things you love and making sure you have enough of them. The thoughtfulness that accompanies your every token is truly astonishing. Their generous nature has very little to do with materialism. It’s more about making sure that their loved ones are taken care of and have all their favourite things.
I would imagine some of you as people who take shopping very seriously. Whether you’re looking for gifts for yourself or your friends, you stay very in touch with who you are and what you love. So I’d recommend applying the same approach to the way you dress. Every piece of the outfit has to scream about your personality and reflect your identity. Wear everything you like, even at once, and try crazy combinations. All your favourite prints, accessories and colours. Play with layering, combine prints and mix metals.
It doesn’t have to necessarily be maximalist, but at least it should include some pieces with character. Try to imagine yourself as an outfit, with all your quirks and wear it. If you think you’d be a stiletto heel - wear it. Play with your associations till you’re fully confident that it’s very “you”. This way, you’re even giving your friends and partners some great ideas for gifts. Because next time they’ll see stilettos, they’ll definitely think of you.