"Dressing 'professionally', what does that even mean?" Virtual conversation panel.

This conversation panel took place on the 28th of April 2021. It featured Professor Carolyn Mair PhD, fashion psychologist Joanna Kamaramanis and Curator Shasti Lowton, and was moderated by our in-house social media strategist Trishna Gokliani. This event was the first of our free Vestiary series, which encompasses conversations around specific corporeal and dress topics by groups of guest speakers, mainly UK-based. "Dressing 'professionally', what does that even mean?" drew on the possible meanings of 'professionalism' when it comes to dressing one's body for work: the genderization of standards, working place policies, the psychology of colour and shapes, the emotional impact of specific garments in ourselves and in the way others perceive us and more! Featured Panelists Professor Carolyn Mair PhD is a Behavioural Psychologist working as a consultant in the fashion industry. She is a Chartered Fellow of the British Psychological Society and recipient of their 2017 Distinguished Contributions to Psychology Education Award. Carolyn has published broadly in academic journals and is frequently featured in popular press and media. Her book, The Psychology of Fashion, was published in 2018. As Professor of Psychology for Fashion at the University of the Arts London, she created the world’s first Masters degrees to apply Psychology in the context of Fashion. She has a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience, MSc Research Methods and BSc Applied Psychology and Computing. Among her earlier careers, she worked as a window dresser and graphic designer. More information here. Joanna Karamanis is a creator Community Manager at TikTok and founder of The Fashion Psychology site. Combining a lifelong interest in fashion and an appreciation in its social, intellectual, and psychological aspects, in 2016 Joanna was one of the first to complete the London College of Fashion’s Pioneering Masters’ degree course in Applied Psychology in Fashion. With over 5 years of experience in social media, influencer marketing and consumer behaviour within the fashion industry, she writes, reviews and researches for The Fashion Psychology, journals and fashion magazines. Shasti Lowton is an innovative curator who uses cultural projects as a tool to promote social change. Her work has included collaborations with Southbank Centre, Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Horniman Museum and Gardens and Black Cultural Archives. Shasti curated the Science Museum Group's award-winning exhibition Illuminating India: Photography 1857 - 2017 and shaped the concept for the Design Museum's upcoming exhibition Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street. Shasti is also the creator of TRINE, a free resource for artists, designers and creatives that fuses business planning, wellness and astrology tools. About Wearers Festival Wearers Festival is a permanent multidisciplinary art festival that celebrates and explores the diversity of London and the UK through the dress codes of its communities.