the art of dopamine dressing
Welcome to the art of dopamine dressing, In this post I want to give you 5 clear strategic ways to use colour as a way to INJECT life, vigour, sunshine and celebration into your wardrobe.
I want to introduce you to a powerful Fashion Psychology term ‘ DOPAMINE DRESSING’, now this study is not new. In fact it comes from ancient times and psychologist have been studying its affects for the last 50 years or so. There are many interesting studies around how wearing certain clothing that holds meaning influences our perceptions and behaviours. It rally can be a vehicle to transform how we feel. To bring a more positive mood back online.
We have seen on the catwalk since the pandemic began that designers such as Valentino, Alberta Ferreti and Molly Goddard are choosing to embrace brighter palettes to give us all a well-deserved lift!
“Dopamine dressing has been reinforced by Generation Z’s fondness for Y2K fashion, a trend that favours playful clothing in bright colours and pays homage to the early 2000s.” according to the refinery29.
One way to improve our own mood and others we come into contact with is that we can add brighter colour to amplify our clothing and style to create a transmission that affects our ‘happy hormones”. Let us first understand what dopamine does;
“Dopamine is a type of neurotransmitter. Your body makes it, and your nervous system uses it to send messages between nerve cells. That's why it's sometimes called a chemical messenger. Dopamine plays a role in how we feel pleasure. It's a big part of our unique human ability to think and plan. It helps us strive, focus, and find things interesting.” - Hope Cristol.
Do you remember seeing somebody in the street that makes you smile and feel excited? Maybe it was her colours, maybe a statement piece that popped or maybe she was just strutting in full bright tones. Imagine wearing colour as an extension of how you WANT to feel?
Here’s how to bring this tool to life in your collection:
1 - CREATE A LOOKBOOK
Find our what makes you happy + document!
Sounds easy but this is a great place to start. compiling a lookbook of your favourite things just like a scrapbook from our childhood of aesthetics and artifacts that make us happy gives us a great ‘bible’ to keep coming back to.
Notice when you wear an outfit , how you actually feel. Then document the ones that make you feel joyous. Noting what it is about the clothes that bring joy.
“The theory of ‘enclothed cognition’ teaches us that the attributes we associate with specific clothes are incredibly powerful. When we wear these clothes, the associations have the power to change the way we feel and even change the way we act. So, for example, if you associate a yellow jumper with happiness, then you will embody that feeling of happiness when you wear it.” -Shakaila Forbes-Bell
2 -GET TO KNOW YOUR PERSONAL COLOURS
An absolute game-changer for me was understanding my colour palette and gaining clarity around which exact colours bring more radiance to my complexion. I found out after years of trial and error that my ‘warm’ brown skin actually had a cool undertone. I am Bright Winter in palette but because of where I sit on the scale I can also dip into some warmer tones but only if i offset with bright lipstick or accessories. To get a full colour reading book in a session with me!
3 -ADD A POP OF COLOUR
If you are feeling tentative or don’t have much in your collection, a great way to add an injection of freshness is to add an accessory or 1 garment that has a full bright colour explosion. You really don’t have to add much to bring a bit of kapow to your day.
Bright tones will bring extra life to your outfits and create excitement and interest to a rather staid outfit.
You can go all in on headscarves, handbags, socks, shoes, belts, scarves, corsages, coats, tops and neckerchiefs!
4 - DISCOVER THE LANGUAGE OF COLOUR
Colour psychology is something i find fascinating. Learning the deeper language of colour and its impact can gives us a relationship with the colours we are choosing.
“Ancient Egyptians were primarily concerned with a precise language of colour which in spite of being predominantly symbolic later acquired aesthetic connotations. Such a language found full expression through carefully controlled means of production and manufacture.” J. Ragai
Here’s a quick summary of the primary colours from Thrive Global:
Dark blue provides a sense of authority and power. Wearing dark blue is ideal for meetings conference public speaking gigs. Avoid bright yellow in these situations as it produces the opposite effect.
Bright yellow is an optimistic and energetic colour which is suitable for parties and creative, relaxed events.
Dark green is the colour of wealth and growth. Wear this colour when negotiating or going for a job interview.
Red is the boldest of all colours. From confidence to danger, red sends out a wide range of emotions. Prepare to attract attention when you are wearing red.
In my world of Soul Style these are the types of creative discoveries i guide you through in my Homecoming 121 program , developing a symbolic language of you are by anchoring your Mood and Muse honouring your soul colours.
5 - CONSCIOUSLY BUY MORE COLOUR
Enough of the black, grey and nudes already!
When choosing new items to enter your wardrobe temple, opt-in for more WOW tones.
Planning what the next thing you need doesn’t come easy to most women. Slowing down to edit, play and embody your collection is an artform.
It actually is a practice of understanding the process of buying an optimal range of foundational pieces that you can circulate and interchange. This sounds serious but really once you know a few tricks it will become fun and like second-nature.
The key to buying more colour and becoming braver is to PLAY! (and seek out a professional to give you an honest opinion!)
I hope you enjoyed this mood enhancing approach to dressing.
Let me know if you dare to go all-in on colour!- Send your pics to me hello@kerrywilde.com
