Can You Merge Fashion and Psychology in Your Career? Two Fashion Psychologists Share How
Conscious Career Chats Series
by Stella Hertantyo
What we wear affects how we feel about ourselves.
Perhaps you can relate to the feeling of putting on an outfit that doesn’t feel like you. Or, feeling low and putting on an outfit that instantly picks up your mood.
These simple examples show the connection between our minds and what we choose to adorn our bodies with — and how this impacts our identity and self-image.
Beyond a functional need, clothing is emotive and a medium for self-expression. Personal style shapes who we are and shows who we are.
What Are Fashion Psychologists?
Fashion psychologists work to take us on a journey of self and societal understanding to uncover the psychology behind:
Our consumer habits,
Style choices,
And the ways we can harness style for our wellbeing.
They help us engage with our clothing more mindfully and holistically.
If you're curious to learn more about how to merge a passion for psychology with your interests in fashion, read below for the career journeys of two fashion psychologists — Dr. Dion Terrelonge and Shakaila Forbes-Bell — who are showing us how important it is to unpack the psychology behind fashion.
Dr. Dion Terrelonge
Dion Terrelonge is a doctor of psychology specializing in learning and fashion psychology. She has over a decade of experience in the field of psychology which has included work in mental health, education, research, and most recently teaching aspiring fashion psychologists.
Dion also runs The Style & Well Being Consultancy which is a personal style development service aimed at people going through periods of change — physical and/or emotional — and offers a guiding, empathetic hand through the often daunting world of fashion.
She is particularly passionate about the positive power of fashion and how we might harness this power to support the everyday wellbeing of individuals.
How did you get your first job in this field?
When it comes to sustainability, I still wouldn't say I work in the field per se.
But my work as a psychologist has allowed me to offer psychological insight and perspective to an important movement.
What led you to your current position?
I came to fashion psychology unknowingly. While completing my professional doctorate in psychology, I took an interest in style and decided to complete a personal styling course.
It was during my time on this course, and while studying, that I recognized that there was a gap between the work of those who attended to our outsides — for example, stylists — and those who attended to our inside selves — for example, psychologists.
This led me to create a consultancy to support people going through periods of change in their lives that might affect their style, confidence or expression. From there, I began researching and offering insight to the media regarding fashion and style and its impact on well-being.
Did you need a specific degree or qualification to get started? Where would you suggest someone interested in a similar position start looking for work?
For the lecturing part of my role, yes. I teach Fashion Psychology at the London College of Fashion for which you typically need a Ph.D. But the role of the fashion psychologist itself is currently unregulated. So there isn’t a set route into the profession.
For anyone interested in the field I would suggest studying some level of psychology and considering working with sustainable brands that consider general wellbeing.
Another option is to complete an undergraduate degree or master's degree in fashion psychology at University of the Arts London College of Fashion.
This is an evolving industry, so it’s up to you to be creative and figure out how to apply your skills.
People are more concerned now with how and why we interact with fashion and how and why we consume. This means that there are an increasing number of fashion psychology-related opportunities to be seized.
What is the biggest misconception about what you do?
The biggest misconception is that as a fashion psychologist I am interested in what is — and is not — in fashion or on trend. I am more interested in the individual and personal experiences we have with clothing and how it makes us feel.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of the job is the variety and the constant learning. I never know who is going to contact me for comment or insight from week to week. This often requires me to apply my psychological knowledge in a way that I may not have considered before!
That is the flexibility of psychology — it can be applied anywhere that there are humans and human behavior.
What are some challenging elements of your job?
The biggest challenge is finding and carving out your niche.
If you could give your younger self and those wanting to get into this field some advice, what would it be?
Be confident. There are many people out there potentially less qualified and knowledgeable, but doing great work because they have belief in themselves.
Read a lot of research articles. But also question everything, because being able to evaluate and think critically is a useful skill — particularly in a world full of greenwashing.
***
To learn more about Dion’s fashion psychology journey and work, listen to this Conscious Style Podcast episode.
Shakaila Forbes-Bell
Shakaila Forbes-Bell is a published fashion psychologist, writer, consultant, and owner of FashionisPsychology.com — a platform dedicated to making academic research into fashion psychology more accessible.
As a fashion psychologist, she has worked with international companies like Next, Afterpay, and Hubbub.
And she recently authored a best-selling book — titled “Big Dress Energy” — that unpacks how fashion psychology can transform your wardrobe, confidence, and wellbeing. It helps readers cultivate a mindset that helps readers engage with their clothing in a more mindful, sustainable, and inclusive way.
How did you get your first job in this field?
My first paid job as a fashion psychologist was with Next. I delivered a talk outlining how imposter syndrome can impact women’s workwear and the styling choices they can make to build confidence for their “dress like a boss” campaign.
What led you to your current position?
I’m working as a fashion psychologist after earning a book deal and several brand partnerships which enabled me to turn my side hustle into a career.
Did you need a specific degree or qualification to get started? Where would you suggest someone interested in a similar position start looking for work?
My undergraduate degree in psychology and my master’s degree in fashion psychology were great stepping stones that led me to where I am today. But getting a degree in this field doesn’t directly lead to a job as a fashion psychologist.
I would advise anyone interested in getting into this field to understand what area of fashion and psychology they are interested in first.
For me it was social psychology, consumer behavior, and style. This understanding enabled me to forge connections with the press and brands.
As it’s such a niche field with only a handful of people working in the profession worldwide, there are no job boards or specific networking groups. But, my platform, Fashion is Psychology, has published the work of many upcoming fashion psychologists and has allowed them to get their research and work in front of a global audience.
What is the biggest misconception about what you do?
Many people assume that I'm a stylist or that I can make intuitive judgments about who a person is based on what they're wearing.
My job is twofold. With my book Big Dress Energy, I’m speaking to the everyday person and encouraging them to think about their personal style in a meaningful way.
I show them how they can approach fashion in a way that helps them use clothes as a vehicle for self-expression and improvement.
With my work with brands, I show them how to use psychology to get into the mind of the consumer, I provide the why behind fashion data and provide meaning to data-driven trend stories.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
I love doing TV appearances as it enables me to fulfill my original goal, which was to have the world understand the value of fashion psychology.
What are some challenging elements of your job?
When I first started, it was challenging for people to understand what I did and what value I brought to the table. Now as my public profile grows, this is less of an issue and I know how to handle naysayers better.
What is the one or two pieces of advice that you wish you could have received?
Saying yes to everything is a short-term strategy, not a long-term solution, as it will eventually lead to burnout.
And that honing your elevator pitch can decide whether or not you get picked for a campaign.
***
To learn more about Shakaila’s fashion psychology journey and work, listen to this Conscious Style Podcast episode.
For more sustainable fashion career resources:
Join us in the Conscious Fashion Collective Membership!
About the Author:
Stella Hertantyo is a slow fashion and slow living enthusiast based in Cape Town, South Africa. Stella finds solace in words as a medium for sharing ideas and encouraging a cultural shift that welcomes systems change and deepens our collective connection to the world around us. She is passionate about encouraging an approach to sustainability, and social and environmental justice, that is inclusive, intersectional, accessible, and fun.
Stella holds a B.A. Multimedia Journalism from the University of Cape Town, and a PGDip in Sustainable Development from the Sustainability Institute. She currently works as a writer, editor, and social media manager. When she is not in front of her laptop, a dip in the ocean, or a walk in the mountains, are the two things that bring her the most peace.
