The fashion psychologist who investigates how what we wear makes us feel – Positive News

Beloved fashion is flourishing, amid pressure on the cost of living and a rise in ecological thinking. The second-hand market, once a niche market, is now on track to account for 10% of global sales, with eBay just eliminating fees for second-hand clothing sellers.

In our Second Nature series, we unravel this growing trend and meet the beloved pioneers who are helping to take it mainstream. A million miles away from the moth-eaten, austere reputation of yesteryear, they see preloved as stylish, expressive and fun.

Dion Terrelonge is known as ‘the fashion psychologist’ and is a psychologist, stylist, researcher, teacher and media commentator. Fascinated by sustainability and the impact of fast fashion on the environment and on self-expression, she is currently working with the London College of Fashion to explore the link between mood, clothing practices and wellbeing.

Dion Terrelonge

From an overflowing basket came a silk scarf with the print of French castles after Dion Terrelonge at a vintage fair. “Usually when I like something I can’t tell you exactly why, it’s more like I’m attracted to it,” she says.

There is a deeply emotional touch in Terrelonge’s style. The emerald shade of her vintage logo T-shirt (pictured) is her favorite color and birthstone, her chunky second-hand loafers are a nostalgic memory of school in the late 1990s, and she and her pleated skirt (not loved but much loved) have a long history. “I’ve had it for at least fifteen years. I had the zipper repaired, the hook and eye replaced… I really got through it, it got stuck in there,” she laughs.

In addition to emotion, there is a pursuit of quality. “As a child I shopped secondhand, but that was not by choice. I didn’t grow up with a lot of money. I would go with my mother and we would look for good quality pieces,” she explains. “I grew up buying things, but researching and looking at clothes with a critical eye. Now I don’t like the feeling of wearing ill-considered garments on my body.”

Her subtly checked vintage Nautica men’s blazer fits the bill, made from 100% wool and complete with four internal pockets. “With women’s clothing, you’re lucky if you get one,” she notes.

As a fashion psychologist, Terrelonge understands better than anyone how clothing influences how we feel. “It’s important psychologically to feel an alignment between your inner world and your outer world so that you feel comfortable, and clothing is such a big part of your outer world,” she says.

But we need time with our clothes before they truly represent us. “When you buy things for the sake of things, you don’t give yourself time to form an attachment, to assign meaning. The nature of secondhand encourages us to shop more slowly. You have to physically slow down and consider each piece,” says Terrelonge, and by doing that you can boost your well-being.

“It’s about two types of well-being: feel-good and do-good. Slow, second-hand fashion gives you a hit of both. Not only do you buy something that makes you feel good, but you also get that slight ‘smug’ feeling that you have done something good,” says Terrelonge. “You can add it to your wellness self-care kit.”

Tailor’s sums

“Almost a quarter of us say the tension lasts longer if we buy second-hand” – Dr. Carolyn Mair, a cognitive psychologist working in the fashion industry

Terrelonge uses a ‘sustainable fashion equation’: awareness + knowledge x emotional response + empathy = sustainable purchasing behavior.

Former Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman organized a charity flea market in North London in January. Labels on sale included YSL, Chanel, Jil Sander, Prada, Gucci and Manolo Blahnik and prices ranged from £10 to £200.