Tom and Olivia In Love Island season 9
Season 9 of Love Island has us hooked on our TV screens, but not just because of the drama – we watch the show to get some fashion inspiration. For the second season in a row, eBay has teamed up with Love Island to promote sustainable fashion.
In addition, eBay has teamed up with fashion psychologist and author Shakaila Forbes-Bell to take a closer look at the beloved fashions worn by the islanders in this Love Island series and encourage people to shop more mindfully at home.
“Reflective Dressing,” coined by eBay for this new Love Island series, is a mindset that both encapsulates the idea that everyone should be considered loved first, and also recognizes 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 taking into account the style of people you’re connected to, even subconsciously, helps build a stronger bond and indicates that you’re ‘part of the team’, which boosts your confidence and creates a natural creates attraction.”
“Last year we saw Danica and Indiyah develop a close bond, and they wore the same Poster Girl dress in different colors.”
Forbes-Bell has uncovered the psychology behind the four fashion trends that eBay’s beloved fashion stylist Amy Bannerman has curated for this year’s villa wardrobe: “Tutti Frutti,” “Business vs Party,” “Dressed up Denim,” and “Heavy Metal,” and what it could suggest about the participants choosing to dress in each of these styles.
Tutti Fruitti
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 neon blazers, dresses and bright two-pieces.
“Saturated and bright colors are more exciting. Studies have shown that the brightness of your clothes can be more important than facial expressions when people judge your abilities,” Forbes-Bell said.
She continues, “Sprucing up your wardrobe has numerous benefits, including the ability to increase ‘opportunities for creative expression’.”
“As we saw during the first episode, Olivia and Tanyel wanted to make a statement in brightly colored bikinis and opted for bright dresses for the evening. On night one, Olivia wore a bright White Fox orange co-ord and Tanyel opted for a fuchsia yellow Meshki dress, both from eBay. Olivia also kept it bright for the beloved ’90s party, opting for an eye-catching neon Miscreants dress that screamed Tutti Frutti!
Business against party
Business versus festive fashion style
Business v Party is all about fusing party wear with slouchy tailoring and creating unique looks that can be worn day and night.
“The Goldilocks Principle is essentially the idea that a little bit of this and a little bit of that is the intention,” said Forbes-Bell.
“Goldilocks rightly recognized that psychological well-being is often not found in the extremes, but when there is a sufficient balance between both the simplistic and the extreme.”
“The research shows that while people definitely feel more authoritative and competent when they wear formal attire, they are friendliest when they wear casual attire,” explains Forbes-Bell.
“Call it high-low dressing or casual chic. For example, as we saw last season with Tasha’s black prom dress with lace gloves, black is associated with confidence, which we’ve definitely seen her gain during her time in the villa.
“So far in this series, farmer Will Young has been playful with his choices by opting for dress pants paired with casual sneakers. Recently, after calling things off with Zara, Tom has dressed up to impress both Olivia and bombshell Ellie by opting for dress pants and trainers for the evening,” she adds.
Dressed up denim
Dressed up denim
“Casual clothing such as denim and jeans are favorite items if you want to appear approachable and recognizable. Studies show that people who wore jeans were rated highly for sociability and extroversion and perceived as more interesting,” says Forbes-Bell.
Dressed Up Denim is a timeless staple and it’s no secret that it’s much better than fresh off the rack.
“According to the endowment theory, upcycling our clothes can be incredibly beneficial.”
“The theory states that we feel more attached and value things that we’ve customized and added our personal touch to, and since denim is one of the most durable materials, it’s a great option when it comes to for customization.”
“The last series saw Paige wearing beloved jeans at eBay’s Blue Party, and with the cooler nights out in South Africa, Ron embraced the double denim look at eBay’s 90s pre-loved party 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 sparks nostalgia can make people experience greater self-esteem, feel less lonely, more optimistic, more socially connected, and more creative,” says Forbes-Bell.
Inspired by Kourtney and Travis, Heavy Metal brings back rebellious dressing with metallic skirts, leather jackets and vintage T-shirts.
“Heavy metal can also be a great trend to embrace if it deviates from your usual style,” she says.
“Research has shown that dressing outside the norm can reduce tension because it helps you experience escapism. We’ve already seen some great Heavy Metal looks in this series on Lana and look forward to more daring outfits as the series progresses.
How to introduce ‘Reflective Dressing’ into your own wardrobe
If you want to practice reflective clothing, Forbes-Bell reveals her 4,3,2,1 rule of reflective clothing:
4 years
Before you buy something, ask yourself: will you still wear it in four years? Foolish store purchases are often fad items with no longevity. Avoid this waste by envisioning your future self in the outfit. If that image doesn’t look right, walk away.
3outfits or occasions
If you can imagine wearing the thing you’re planning to buy on at least three different occasions or with three different outfits, that’s a surefire way to know if it’s going to last.
2breathe deeply
In through the nose and out through the mouth. All that dopamine and adrenaline flooding your system before you go shopping causes you to lose focus, and mindful shopping is all about being present. Taking a few deep breaths tells the sympathetic nervous system in your brain to calm down. The result? Less anxiety and increased concentration.
Slept 1 night
Put the laptop down, put the hanger back on the rail and put your head down. It’s the same line I have when I’m about to send an essay-long text to someone who has pissed me off royally. After a good night’s sleep, that text looks ridiculous – and the same could be true for the jacket you’re planning to buy. If you wake up and can’t stop thinking about it, it should indicate that you’re making the right decision.