Happiness Is On Trend: A Guide to Dopamine Dressing

Dopamine dressing is the trend that looks like it’s here to stay. Everyone could use a little boost of happiness, and your approach to getting dressed might be the key. Find out what dopamine dressing is and how to start dressing for joy.

What Is Dopamine Dressing?

Dopamine dressing promotes wearing clothes that make you happy to influence your mood. The brain’s “feel-good” chemical is behind dopamine dressing psychology. When you feel pleasure, you may experience a dopamine rush or release. While dopamine can be associated with harmful activities — such as drug use and other types of addictive behaviors — people can also intentionally trigger dopamine rushes by engaging in healthy activities, such as meditation. 

1. Start Small

If your wardrobe is full of different shades of black, emulating a rainbow overnight may not be feasible. That’s OK — dopamine dressing is all about dressing with happiness in mind, which means different things to different people. 

Start small by incorporating color or whimsy in your accessories or footwear. A red ballet flat, polka dot scrunchy or turquoise scarf can help you test the waters. You may want to dive in deeper, or you may find that you’re happy at the shallow end of the pool. Either way, you’ll increase your daily joy by changing your approach to getting dressed.    

2. Understand Color Psychology

Color psychology is the study of how color impacts human behavior. There are some general concepts about how particular colors affect your mood. For instance, red, yellow, orange and other warm colors may motivate or give you energy, while cool colors like green or blue tend to have a calming effect. 

However, different colors can affect people differently. Your best friend may feel immediate joy when she puts on pink, but you might not experience the same reaction. Luckily, there are so many colors to choose from. If pink isn’t your jam, try another warm color like red or yellow. You can also consider a different shade — swap pastel pink for a bold magenta and see what happens! 

3. Consider Texture

Dopamine dressing examples often rely on color. However — at its heart — dopamine dressing is about dressing for joy, which means you have plenty of other tools. Texture can be joy-inducing and whimsical — just like color. Try wearing a bit of sparkle on your next coffee run or some fun fringe on a jacket or bag for your next night out. 

Interesting details can even come in the form of bag charms, which have quickly gained popularity. Throw a little stuffed animal charm onto your everyday bag or repurpose a charm bracelet into a decorative purse chain. There are many ways to get creative and express your personality through dopamine dressing. 

4. Find Inspiration

Inspiration can be everywhere if you know where to look. Today, Pinterest and social media platforms like Instagram are popular sources of fashion inspiration. The tried-and-true people-watching method is also great for spotting fun color combinations and trends in the wild.  

Unconventional sources of inspiration can kick-start your brain’s creativity, making you think like a stylist or designer. Look to sources like artwork, architecture, home decor and even food for inspiration. Foods like watermelon impact your brain’s dopamine production, so if you want to double down, take a cue from watermelon’s color when creating your next outfit and snack on some while you’re at it to enhance your mood. 

5. Rely on Your Go-To Silhouettes

If your usual professional look consists of a simple white shell blouse under a blazer, consider trying a shell top in a more dopamine-inducing color, like yellow or orange. Alternatively, you could pick a blazer in an eye-catching color or pattern. Sticking to the silhouettes you’re familiar with while changing the color or pattern is a great way to gradually incorporate dopamine dressing without giving up the styles you already know and love.   

6. Celebrate Your Favorite Color

If you’re already a color-lover or just ready to jump into dopamine dressing, try wearing your favorite bright color from head to toe. You’d be surprised how chic wearing a single color or shades of one color can look. You’ll be expressing yourself, boosting your dopamine and likely bringing some joy to everyone around you.  

7. Mix In Your Regulars

 Professional stylist and author Allison Bornstein often refers to your “regulars” — the pieces you reach for most often. When figuring out how to wear things you aren’t reaching for in your wardrobe, she suggests pairing those hard-to-style pieces with your regulars. The same can be said for dopamine dressing. 

Instead of starting from scratch with a brand-new, colorful, dopamine-approved wardrobe, try incorporating one piece at a time with the things you always wear. For instance, pair that bright green dress with your go-to sneakers and favorite denim jacket, or pair a cherry red sweater with the jeans you wear almost daily.   

8. Shop Secondhand

Check out thrift stores or online secondhand clothing retailers to try more colorful or fun styles without breaking the bank. Host a clothing swap with friends for an even more budget-friendly and sustainable option. Everyone can bring over a few items they’re no longer wearing and hopefully walk away with a few new-to-them pieces. 

You can also look up clothing swaps in your area to find a local organization already hosting one. Most local clothing swaps are free and only require you to bring some clothes you’re ready to part with. However, some may charge a small fee to help with organizing costs.    

9. Take a Cue from Child You 

Think back to when you were younger — before trends or social pressure told you wearing that pink tutu every time you went to the grocery store with your mom might not be a good idea. You were likely drawn to wearing whatever made you happy. Was there always a sense of rhyme or reason? Maybe not, but that’s the point. Letting go of the expectations that govern how you dress can be freeing. It’s like saying “yes” to your inner child. 

Of course, it’s normal to encounter situations where a pink tutu doesn’t exactly align with the dress code. However, there are still ways to incorporate dopamine dressing into your everyday life. A brightly colored bag for work or multicolored earrings for your cousin’s black-tie wedding will make you smile whenever you glimpse yourself in the mirror. 

Dressing for Joy 

Dopamine dressing is a way to let sunshine in — even on the dreariest winter days or in the longest work meetings. Whether you’re a color-lover or a neutral clothing fan, try out these tips for dopamine dressing and watch your day get that much brighter.