When you really need a boost, wearing your favourite outfit usually does the trick, but why? According to fashion experts, dopamine dressing involves tweaking and even curating your wardrobe to create or enhance positive feelings. In a nutshell, this means ‘dressing to feel good’.
How does dopamine dressing work?
When you wear an outfit that stirs positive feelings, your happy hormone dopamine is activated. This could happen if you wear bright colours, different clothing textures or patterns – whatever you feel your best in. Most importantly, your unique style should be celebrated, so choosing pieces that you truly enjoy wearing is key.
Why is it trending?
Fashion trend spotters suggest that the pandemic greatly impacted how we go through certain processes, including the way we dress. Many of us began to live on autopilot, uninspired by ongoing isolation, so little to no thought actually went into our wardrobe choices. Fast forward to the present, we’re all trying to take back our pre-pandemic lives and dopamine dressing is just one way to live more mindfully. It also allows you to have a fresh outlook on an otherwise mundane activity, provides a healthy outlet for self-expression, and offers an opportunity to spark some joy in everyday life.
Style yourself happy
Go through your wardrobe
There’s no need to spend money to get your dopamine fix! What you’re looking for is probably in your closet. Sift through your clothing items and identify pieces you regularly wear. Use these to identify your favourite looks and then simply build from there.
Find inspiration from your feed
Scrolling through social media could help you to dopamine dress. Save or screenshot outfits you like for inspiration. Platforms like Pinterest are great for creating fashion mood boards, but you could keep it old school with magazine cut-outs!
Practise colour therapy
Take a look through your clothes and you may find similar colours. From neutrals to bright hues, everyone gravitates toward specific palettes, so find yours. Play around with patterns and prints too.
Experiment with textures
From soft velvet to breathable cotton, texture plays a role in how clothing makes you feel. This could mean cosy wool knits when you need comfort or playful cotton shorts on a summer’s day. Whatever feels good to you! Textures alone can help you feel great and give you a confidence-boost.
Words by Aaqeelah Floris
Photography: Gallo/Gettyimages, Courtesy Images
