I don’t know about you, but my workout clothes tend to be either white, black or grey – much like the rest of my wardrobe. I’d never really given much thought to what colour they were until I started training for a marathon a few years ago, and I found that popping on a calming shade of blue seemed to soothe my anxiety over those (very) long training runs.

Fast forward a few years, and while my ability to run long distances has diminished, my sensitivity to colours seems only to have increased. I find patterns jarring but love calm tones of sage, duck egg and pink. So, when I discovered that psychologists think that the colours we wear affect how we feel, I was intrigued. Could brightening up my workout wardrobe give my lacklustre energy a much-needed boost?  

It’s called ‘enclothed cognition’

“Psychologists use the term ‘enclothed cognition’ to describe the way that the clothes we wear affect how we think, feel, act and interact with others,” explains chartered psychologist Catherine Hallissey.

 “Enclothed cognition is based on both the symbolic meaning of the clothes and the physical experience of wearing them.” 

Imagine turning up to a job interview in scruffy, dirty clothes or a black-tie event in jeans. You probably wouldn’t feel comfortable, which would affect your confidence. It’s the same for workout clothes, as Hallissey explains: “When we wear clothes designed for a specific purpose, such as workout clothes, they can influence your psychological state. When you put on workout clothes, you’re not just getting ready for the gym, you’re putting on the identity of working out.”

So, it’s not just a case of all the gear and no idea: choose the right workout clothes for you, and you’re already some of the way to a successful workout.

And the positivity becomes self-fulfilling. “When you wear workout clothes that make you feel good, you enhance the positive associations with your ‘workout identity’, which can give you just the boost you need to hit the gym again the next time,” she explains.

Excited to try out my hypothesis, I donned an eye-wateringly neon pink sweatshirt for my morning run. And you know what? I really did have more of a spring in my step than usual. Buoyed by my family’s reaction to my bright attire, I felt bouncy and energetic (despite the rain) and even managed to shave a minute off my 5k time (it wasn’t a PB, but it was better than last week).

However, I was distracted by the sleeves, and it was annoying to keep hoicking them up. Note to self: workout clothes still have to be fit for purpose, even when they’re bright.  

It turns out I’m not alone in using colour to calm or energise myself. “Colour psychology is an emerging area of research,” explains Hallissey. 

“However, there are general trends. It’s thought that wearing red can increase feelings of confidence, wearing yellow can evoke feelings of optimism, blue tends to be associated with calm and spending time in a green room can be relaxing.”

Think about your sleepwear – chances are that you’ll gravitate towards muted, softer tones for your evening wind-down, and with good reason.

“Pastel shades of blue, green or cream are known for their calming, balancing and restorative influence,” advises personal stylist Lindsay Edwards. “These colours are perfect to wear during yoga or pilates classes.” 

Baby pink for pilates

With this in mind, I tried out a gorgeous, butter-soft baby pink set for my evening pilates practice. Soft, pastel tones are thought to be soothing, representing neutrality, peace and softness, and I did find myself leaning into my stretches a little further and easier than usual. Perhaps it was a placebo, but anything that enhances my flow is fine by me.

Red for strength training

Based on my research, there were only two colours to choose from: red or orange. I was running out of clothes to try, but found a bright sports bra lurking at the bottom of a drawer which proved just the ticket for my full-body strength class.

“Red and orange are strong, vibrant colours and, when worn, increase our self-esteem and energy levels,” says Edwards. “These fiery shades are great to wear for high-intensity workouts. When you wear yellow, orange or red, onlookers will perceive you as a sociable, cheerful and confident individual.”  

And confident I felt, despite having to dig deep for the final few reps of the aptly named Devil’s press… but that’s how we’re supposed to feel during strength training, right?  

So, did it really make any difference?

As with most things purporting to boost mood or energy, I firmly believe that it’s all to do with your mindset. I was open and curious about the influence colour might have, and as such, took more notice of how I was feeling than perhaps I normally would have.

It’s all too easy to sail from workout to workout with little to no regard of how we’re feeling. So being a bit more aware of my body and energy levels, and being able to tailor our workouts accordingly, seems a gentle and holistic approach that could surely benefit us all.

Hallissey agrees that the potential impact of wearing different shades is individual. “While there appear to be some universal responses to colour, the effect of colour on mood varies from person to person and is influenced by culture and personal experience,” she explains.

“It’s much more important to focus on wearing colours you love and feel good in than ones you feel you ‘should’ be wearing, as this can have a significant impact on your mood and confidence.”

And if that means we need a new additions to the old workout wardrobe, well… who are we to argue with that?  

Images: author’s own