Do you think there is some happiness hiding in your wardrobe? I don’t mean Narnia otherworldly things either beyond the the hangers, I mean literal home grown happiness in your clothing items? Psychology says YESS girl! And, the good news is, there’s hope for us all, if the solution to extracting some well needed feel goods, lays in our fashion files! It could be the lazygirl good mood fix you never knew you needed!

The Term Dopamine dressing was coined in 2020 by Fashion Psychologist, Dr Dawwn Karen, in her book, Dress Your Best Life: How to use Fashion Psychology to Take Your Look — and Your Life — to the Next Level. Wherein She has a whole chapter dedicated to Mood Matters (chapter 5) and does a deep dive in to colour theory( book link here if youre interested). Colour theory, in essence, is a well studied science how colours make you feel and act– therefore adding certain colours to your wardrobe, can have the same effect on you and people around you… I‘m all ears for the dating and professional girlies and boys who want to make an impact with just a bomb outfit!

So what colours can do what for us?

1. Black: Timeless and classic, Black oozes confidence associated with sophistication, elegance, and formality. But too much can make you seem serious and we don’t want to be serious Sandra’s all the time!
2. White/neutrals: Symbolizing purity, simplicity, and cleanliness, white is commonly worn during weddings and is the staple of the new Clean Girl aesthetic, providing a fresh look with minimal fuss.
3. Blue: A calming colour, blue is known to reduce stress and promote relaxation. It’s associated with trust, loyalty, and stability. There is a theory if you want to seem approachable and dependable, blue is the go-to.
4. Green: Green gives off a vibe of earthy rejuvenation. Associated with nature, growth, and harmony. Wearing green can convey a sense of balance and well-being. Its fab in situations where you want to give off a calming energy (Green is also my favourite colour, so I’m a bit biased on this one).
5. Red: Bold and attention-grabbing, red is associated with passion, energy, and excitement. It can boost your mood and make you feel more vibrant. However, be mindful not to overdo it, as too much red might come across as aggressive( A red lip can do wonders for confidence and take a neutral outfit to the next level, don’t believe me? throw on some red lipstick right now and see how you feel? Look at you, you sexy red lipped vixen).
6. Yellow: Yellow is sunny, cheerful, and optimistic. Cheery, positive and creativity. Incorporate yellow into your outfit when you want to feel uplifted. Great for down days for a quick fix!
7. Orange: Like a burst of energy, orange is lively and enthusiastic. It’s a great choice when you need motivation or want to stand out. Bold orange exudes confidence and individuality(Statement orange power suit for next business meeting anyone?).
8. Pink: Pink is often associated with femininity, and softness. Pastel shades can be calming, and girly while brighter pinks spell Barbie fun (I would often wear pink on a date myself to seem more feminine and soft).
9. Purple: Royal with a hint of mystery, purple represents creativity, spirituality, and luxury. It has an element of both elegance and individuality. The Emperors in Rome wore purple to show regal-ness, why cant we do the same to the local Costa?
10. Brown: Brown gives off a grounding vibe, it is as safe as black with none of the coldness. It’s a colour associated with reliability and stability, and can make the wearer feel settles(especially if life has been chaotic lately).

So, is this psychological theory a reason to only dress in a certain colour all the time to feel happy, content, grounded, vibrant etc? The short answer is, no. Picking colours/patterns/accessories to enhance(or counteract) your mood that day, is far more likely to have a better effect on your wellbeing, than just sticking to a block colour.

Similarly, dressing in a way you feel comfortable, is going to work better for you. I do think, personally, we have colours/patterns we are more drawn to than others, and we feel more confident in stuff we like. In the same way, that different styles of clothes represent our personalities perfectly! There is further exploration gathering momentum as well, where colour palettes and whether you are a warm tone or cool tone person can enhance your style(read about it here) But, what harm can it do to fool around with your wardrobe and give Dopamine Dressing a try? You might just increase your mood as well as shake up your style!

Love K xx