by Tom and Olivia In Love Island Season 9
Love Island season 9 has us hooked on our TV screens, but not just for the drama – we’re watching the show for some fashion inspiration. eBay has partnered with Love Island for the second season in a row, in a bid to promote sustainable fashion.
Additionally, eBay has partnered with fashion psychologist and author Shakaila Forbes-Bell to take a closer look at the fashion worn by islanders in this Love Island series and encourage people back home to consider more conscious shopping habits.
Coined by eBay for this new Love Island series, ‘Reflective Dressing’ is a way of thinking that encapsulates both the notion that everyone should put pre-loved ones first and a recognition of the power of fashion as a vehicle for self expression.
“Reflective clothing allows you to think about how your dress represents you beyond a superficial level, how it affects your relationships and the world around you,” says Forbes-Bell.
“Studies show that considering the style of the people you’re connected with, even unconsciously, helps build a stronger bond and signals that you’re ‘part of the team,’ which bolsters your confidence and creates natural attractiveness” .
“Last year, we saw Danica and Indiyah develop a close bond, and they were also shown wearing the same Poster Girl dress in different colors.”
Forbes-Bell has uncovered the psychology behind the four fashion trends eBay pre-loved fashion stylist Amy Bannerman selected for this year’s villa wardrobe: ‘Tutti Frutti,’ ‘Business vs Party,’ ‘Dressed up Denim’ and ‘Heavy Metal’. and what she might suggest about the contestants who choose to dress in each of these styles.
Tutti Frutti
Tutti Frutti fashion style
Tutti Frutti fashion style
Tutti Frutti brings color and joy, it’s all about pinks, yellows, oranges and blues, integrated with an explosion of blazers, dresses and bright neon two-pieces.
“Brighter, saturated colors are more exciting. Studies have determined that the shine of your clothing may be more important than facial expressions when people are judging your ability,” said Forbes-Bell.
She continues: “Brightening up your wardrobe has numerous benefits, including the ability to enhance ‘opportunities for creative expression.'”
“As we saw during the first episode, Olivia and Tanyel looked to make a statement in brightly colored bikinis and opted for sparkly dresses at night. On the first night, Olivia wore a bright orange White Fox ensemble and Tanyel opted for a fuchsia yellow Meshki dress, both from eBay. Olivia also kept it bright for the pre-loved ’90s party, opting for a standout neon Miscreants dress that screamed Tutti Frutti!
Business vs Party
Business vs party fashion style
Business v Party is all about fusing partywear with slouchy tailoring and creating unique looks that can be worn day and night.
“The Goldilocks principle is essentially the idea of taking a little of this and a little of that,” Forbes-Bell said.
“Goldilocks correctly recognized that psychological well-being is often not found in extremes, but rather when there is a sufficient balance between the simplistic and the extreme.”
“Research shows that while people feel more authoritative and competent when wearing formal clothing, they are friendlier when wearing casual clothing,” explains Forbes-Bell.
“Call it high-low or casual chic. For example, as we saw last season with Tasha’s black prom dress with lace gloves, black is linked to confidence, something we certainly saw her gain throughout her time in the village.”
“So far in this series, farmer Will Young has been playful with his choices, opting for dressy pants paired with casual sneakers. Recently, after breaking up with Zara, Tom dressed to impress both Olivia and the stunning Ellie, opting for dressy pants and sneakers during the evenings,” he adds.
dressed jean
dressed jean
“Casual clothes like denim and jeans are go-to items when you want to appear approachable and relatable. Studies show that people who wear jeans scored high on sociability and extroversion and were considered more interesting,” says Forbes-Bell.
Dressed Up Denim is a timeless staple and it’s no secret that it’s so much better than fresh off the shelf.
“According to the endowment theory, recycling our clothes can be incredibly beneficial.”
“The theory goes that we feel more attached to and value more things that we’ve customized and added our personal touch to, and because denim is one of the most durable materials, it’s a great choice when it comes to customization.”
“In the last series, we saw Paige wearing pre-loved jeans at eBay’s Blue Party, and with the colder nights in South Africa, Ron adopted the double jean look at eBay’s ’90s pre-loved party the last week,” says Forbes Bell.
Heavy metal
Heavy metal fashion style
“Embracing vintage clothing is beneficial because it allows us to experience the positive benefits of nostalgia. Anything that triggers nostalgia can make people experience higher self-esteem, feel less alone, more optimistic, more socially connected and more creative,” said Forbes-Bell.
Inspired by Kourtney and Travis, Heavy Metal brings back rebellious dressing with metallic skirts, leather jackets and vintage tees.
“Heavy metal could also be a great trend to adopt if it’s different from your usual style,” he says.
“Research has shown that dressing outside the norm can release tension by helping you experience escapism. We’ve already seen some great Heavy Metal looks in this series on Lana and hope to see more daring outfits as the series progresses.”
How to Introduce ‘Reflective Clothing’ Into Your Own Wardrobe
If you want to practice reflective clothing, Forbes-Bell reveals its 4,3,2,1 rule of reflective clothing:
4 years
Before you buy something, ask yourself: will you still be using it four years from now? Mindless shopping sprees often tend to be fashion items with no longevity. Avoid this waste by imagining your future self in the outfit. If that picture doesn’t look good, walk away.
3suits or occasions
If you can imagine yourself wearing what you plan to buy on at least three different occasions or with three different outfits, that’s a surefire way to tell if you have longevity.
2deep breaths
It enters through the nose and exits through the mouth. All that dopamine and adrenaline flooding your system before you buy makes you lose focus, and mindful shopping is about being present. Taking a few deep breaths signals the sympathetic nervous system in your brain to calm down. The result? Less anxiety and greater concentration.
1 night sleep
Put down the laptop, put the hanger back on the rail, and lay your head back. It’s the same rule I have when I’m about to send a long essay text to someone who has made me very angry. After a good night’s sleep, that text looks ridiculous, and the same could be true of the coat you’re planning to buy. If you wake up and can’t stop thinking about it, that should indicate that you are making the right decision.
