Have you heard of dopamine dressing to help boost your mood? We have the latest info on dressing to feel happy.
Fashion psychologist Dr. Dawnn Karen, dubbed “The Dress Doctor” by The New York Times, coined the term in her book, “Dress Your Best Life.”
So, what is it exactly? Like the name suggests, dopamine dressing (also called “mood enhancement dressing”) releases a rush of the feel-good neurotransmitter, aka “happy hormones.”
What does dopamine dressing mean?
Dopamine dressing is the belief that dressing in certain colours can improve your mood.
But it’s not just about attention-seeking colours and bold clashing prints, it’s about understanding the power of different hues, and most importantly, understanding the power of feeling good in clothes you love.
“Dopamine dressing refers to a person’s motivation to dress in a way that will result in a positive outcome, like feeling more confident, competent, or happy,” explains Dr. Carolyn Mair.
A 2012 study published by University of Hertfordshire Press found a strong link between clothing and mood, suggesting that people should wear certain clothes — brightly-colored accessories or pieces with heartwarming backstories to lift their mood.
“This isn’t medicine by any means, but I’ve seen people who are normally very shy put on a colorful outfit and become fierce, fabulous and free.”
Similarly, a 2015 study by psychological scientists from California State University, Northridge and Columbia University discovered that the outfits we select can have a direct impact on how we think.
Across five different experiments, they found that dressing in a certain way—in this case, formally—could actually influence the way we make decisions.
“The formality of clothing might not only influence the way others perceive a person, and how people perceive themselves, but could influence decision making in important ways through its influence on processing style,” the researchers wrote in their study published in the Social Psychological and Personality Science journal.
It doesn’t have to be bright colours either, it can be whatever outfit makes YOU feel happy!
Shop some stunning bright and cheerful outfits from Gorman
