Over the past couple of months, I’ve been conducting unofficial research into the source of women’s confidence. It all started in South Africa. My friend Claire showed up for a meeting in THESE BOOTS. I actually noticed her stance and expression when she first sauntered into the room. She sported a look that said SUCCESS. The second thing I noticed was her boots. They were awesome. And it didn’t hurt that she is 6’2” barefoot. She was literally on top of the world. When I asked her about the boots she confessed: whenever she put them on, she felt invincible.

Fast forward almost three months and a couple of time zones away in Bahrain. The women there don’t follow a formula for dressing for success, but they certainly know how to do it. What we would call ‘bling’ in the U.S. was REAL there, from the gems to the branded bags. And the SHOES. HOT. I continued my informal investigation and every woman I talked to reported an increased level of confidence when she felt good about how she looked. For some, it was a special pair of shoes. For others, it was new jewelry or even the entire outfit. It didn’t matter what anyone else thought, it was all about the way they felt.

Right or wrong, how we feel on the outside can affect how we feel on the inside. At least it can for the women polled in my un-scientific completely subjective survey.  So what makes you feel confident? Does how you dress change the way you feel?