Dopamine Dressing

By Jane Gleeson, Fashion Editor

Okay, I admit it: I love colour! I love waking up in the morning and seeing how random a combination of the colour wheel can I throw together to defer the male gaze. I believe that orange and pink go perfectly together, that my green handbag is a neutral piece, and that there is no such thing as two colours that don’t go together (sorry blavy police). But while I know that this is not for everyone, I am a firm believer that bright colours can be for everyone and not just for summer. Colourful outfits are a source of joy that should be embraced, especially at this time of year. Whether you are still stuck in the library or wondering where the sun has gone at 4pm, I want to show you that incorporating a pop of colour into your life through your clothing could be the answer to your winter woes.

What is Dopamine Dressing?

@novasistas

So, can the colours we wear actually affect our mood? Several theories on colour and its psychological associations have all come to the same conclusion: the personal connotations that we have with a colour impacts the way that we feel when we wear it. However, very few people actually reach for these bright joyful colours when they are getting dressed, hence the need for education on ‘dopamine dressing’. The term is coined from the neurotransmitter dopamine which, when released in large amounts, acts as a ‘feel-good’ chemical, stimulating feelings of pleasure and reward. These emotions motivate us to repeat actions that replicate this feeling of happiness. Fashion psychology shows that when we wear our ‘happy colours’ and clothes that bring us joy, this area of the brain is activated, flooding us with a joy that our body wants to continuously replicate. But if it is proven that wearing bright colours boosts your mood, then why don’t we do it more often?

How to Create a Dopamine Menu

Colour confidence is an issue for many people when choosing what to wear. Neutrals are often seen as a comfortable safe haven where everything automatically matches without putting any actual thought into the planning of your outfit. But the physiological effects of our clothing dictate that continuously choosing these beige shades will leave us feeling just as gloomy as the winter weather - pathetic fallacy at its finest. As the darker days of the year are upon us, dopamine dressing seems like something we should be thinking about every morning. However, not everyone's wardrobe is bustling with a variety of bright neon options, and neither do they want it to be, but incorporating elements of colour into your outfit is proven to make all the difference. Taking inspiration from the theory, start by pulling out items of clothing that spark joy or have a positive connotation. Your favourite pink jumper could look really well with that red bag that has been strewn over the back of your door since last Christmas. The possibilities for colour blocking are endless and this phenomenon is not just for those with an eclectic fashion sense. Drenching yourself in a colour makes you feel confident is the easiest way to lift your spirits and express yourself through your clothing.

Dressing for the Festive Season

I know that it seems a rite of passage each December to reach for your sequin skirt on Christmas nights out, but I want to show you a way to incorporate this theory of Dopamine dressing into your festive wardrobe as I know all too well the feeling of trying to tone down your glittery choice by sandwiching it between a black jumper and tights. However, I am here to tell you that sequins are neutral, at the centre of the colour wheel; they go with everything! The perfect accompaniment to the bold skirt choice is to pair it with an even bolder statement accessory, such as colourful tights. While I don’t expect you to rock up to your Christmas dos in Blair Waldorf’s iconic red stockings, I think that there is a wearable alternative hitting the market. Maroon has turned out to be the colour of the season, and the shade seems to have hit every clothing item imaginable. The burgundy hue is taking the fashion industry by storm this autumn/winter and if it’s the new norm for bags, shoes, and other accessories, then why not tights! This simple addition will step up your holiday outfits and hopefully lift your mood in the process. If maroon legs aren’t on your Christmas wishlist, why not start by adding other colourful accessories and build from there. The aim of this phenomenon is to showcase your personality in the form of bold colours and lean into this colour confidence in the process.

Examples of People who Embody Dopamine Dressing

Harry Styles is the definition of a dopamine dresser and he embodies the theory every time he steps out on stage. His tour wardrobe is a kaleidoscope of pinks, patterns, and feather boas. His camp and colourful attitude to dressing is something that the masses can aspire to, giving his fans the opportunity to wear their most special, fun, bright clothing items to his concerts. The flamboyancy of his outfits is reflective of his eccentric personality and the euphoric feeling that he brings to his fans through his music. It’s not only celebrities that enjoy a brighter colour palette. Many of our favourite movie characters rock a signature colour that encompasses who they are as a person and the emotions that they portray to the audience. Bend a snap for hot pink just like Elle Woods, never seen out of her classic monochromatic signature look and her optimistic attitude reflects this. The aspiring lawyer is an emblem of hope for the hyper-feminine that you can achieve your goals while staying true to yourself. Pink is her happy colour and she leans into the confidence that she feels when wearing her signature shade.

As we continue to trudge through the shorter days of winter, I think that we should focus on what we can control - starting with our wardrobes. Injecting some colour into our outfits could be the answer to sparking the joy that the sun would usually bring us. Your sunny disposition should be apparent from the moment you step into a room and there are no hard-and-fast rules with how these pops of colour should appear, just rock it your way! Even the smallest pop of colour can make the difference in boosting our mood and have a transformative effect on how we view colour within our wardrobes.