Dopamine dressing is the fashion trend that will energize you and your wardrobe

Dopamine dressing remains a key trend for the spring/summer season and encompasses all those mood-boosting brights that bring an instant lift to your look.

Dopamine dressing was one of last year's biggest fashion color trends and the mood-boosting bright trend has made a return as part of the spring/summer fashion trends 2023. The runways were full of bright looks, from purple hues at Ulla Johnson to pinks at PatBo and Naeem Khan and sunshine yellow at Jonathan Simkhai, the spring/summer shows were full of color and optimism. Many designers went for statement, head-to-toe block color looks, while others simply injected hints of brightness to lift their collections for the season ahead.

When it comes to the Dopamine Dressing trend, expect this look to seep into every aspect of your closet, giving a new season boost to your spring capsule wardrobe basics. While we don't expect this trend to dissipate anytime soon, if you're not someone who wears a lot of bright color clothing, opt for more straight-to-market options to trial the trend without investing too heavily. While all bright hues are welcome, runways were filled with bright greens, pinks, yellows, and orange tones, making these the most popular to buy into this spring/summer. You can also consult our what color suits me guide, for some added tips of what shade will suit you. 

Why is dopamine dressing a good idea?

So why should you try the dopamine dressing trend? Because it's an incredibly simple way to boost your mood. As Shaikila Forbes-Bell, fashion psychologist and author of the forthcoming book Big Dress Energy, explains, "Essentially, dopamine dressing is psychological grounding to the ‘look good, feel-good’ concept. When you wear something you associate with happiness, you embody that emotion and feel happy.”

Dopamine dressing isn’t just limited to shopping bright colors though - it’s also about existing pieces that you own and have an emotional connection to. As Forbes-Bell explains, “An easy way to engage in dopamine dressing is by looking at your wardrobe and identifying the pieces that remind you of a particularly happy or rewarding time in your life. Next, see how you can style these items in a new and improved way - that way, you're experiencing both the psychological benefits of dopamine and novelty. Dopamine dressing is a guaranteed mood booster so it's a recommended practice at every stage of life."

Can dopamine dressing really improve your mood?

It may be hard to believe that a brightly-colored skirt or sweater will make your feel happier, but there is science behind it. Shaikila Forbes-Bell explains what happens inside our heads when we wear bright colors or pieces we love. "Happiness stems from the chemical dopamine that mediates pleasure in the brain. It occurs in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) which is located in the midbrain and is an integral part of our brain’s reward system," Forbes-Bell explains. "From there, it is released into the nucleus accumbens and the prefrontal cortex - the area of the brain that is linked to attention, memory, and our ability to think flexibly."

And there's plenty of anecdotal evidence to back up the theory, too. w&h's digital fashion editor Rivkie Baum is known for her love of colorful outfits. "While I'm as guilty as everyone else with having too many dull colors in my wardrobe, nothing cheers me up than wearing a bright color," she told me. "I've recently invested in a red wool winter coat and, even when the sky is grey, I can't help but feel an instant burst of energy every time I slip into it. I think brighter colors make you look and feel more approachable too, and it always suggests and gives confidence, even when you're not feeling 100%."

Dopamine dressing is a great trend for women over 40

Dopamine dressing is a particularly good trend for women over 40 to follow. Bright colors can actually boost the appearance of your skin, making you look - and likely feel - youthful. All too often, we are led to believe that after a certain age, we should stick to a monochrome palette, however, dark hues can look harsh, leaving us looking grey, tired, and older. 

Bright, bold colors will not only offer cheer on the dullest of days, but, if chosen well, they’ll enhance and warm your complexion, giving your visage a new radiance that a black polo neck certainly won’t.

How to wear the dopamine dressing trend

While it may seem daunting, there’s the perfect bright color for everyone. The key is to start slowly - add one of the best cashmere sweaters in a bright hue for a spring-ready outfit, or, dip a toe in with a brightly colored accessory. Injecting color into accessories is an easy way to start working the dopamine dressing trend into your wardrobe and a color pop bag adds interest to even the most basic t-shirt and best jeans combo - the top handbag trends 2023 are full of zingy shades. As with many of the best trends, straight-to-market brands have been quick to embrace brights, meaning that you don’t need to spend a fortune for some feel-good fashion from Mango and Reiss to Revolve and Macy's, there’s something for everyone at affordable prices.

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