We all have a favourite piece in our wardrobe that sparks joy. Whether it’s those perfect-fitting jeans or a pink dress that you bought on holidays, these clothes can instantly boost your mood. This feeling has a name – “dopamine dressing” – and has become a growing trend on social media as we wave goodbye to minimalism and neutral colour palettes.
Embracing the power of bright outfits can help you get through the cooler seasons while also spreading the joy during summer. Clothes affect your mood with bright colourful clothing giving you an instant confidence boost.
Dopamine dressing is grounded in self-perception theory and colour psychology which suggests that wearing certain colours and clothes stimulates your body’s dopamine production, known as the ‘feel good’ chemical.
Whether you want to refresh your closet or inject more of your personality into your outfits, embracing bright outfits and the power of dopamine dressing can unlock your inner confidence. In this article, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about how clothes affect your mood and how to build a capsule wardrobe inspired by the dopamine dressing trend.
Do Clothes Affect People's Mood?
The clothes you wear can impact your mood – in both a good and bad way. Fashion is the ultimate form of self-expression and wearing dark colours or ill-fitting clothes can be a mood downer. The winning combination for any outfit is clothes that feel comfortable and make you feel confident with colours that suit your personality.
While dark colours have their place in every wardrobe, bright outfits are the secret to improving your confidence and exploring your personality through fashion trends. The idea of colour impacting our mood is long established with colour therapy dating as far back as ancient Egypt with the psychology of chromotherapy influencing everything from interior design to seasonal trends.
Clothes – regardless of their colour – impact our self-perception. We all have pieces that make us feel confident and excited to get dressed, whether it’s a new outfit or an old-time favourite. “Power dressing” is a 1970s trend that’s transitioned into a styling practice, but the rise of athleisure shows how comfortable clothing can have just as big of an impact on our mood.
Clothing and fashion trends aren’t superficial. Dopamine dressing promotes the science behind wearing bright outfits and how fun clothes that speak to your personality can build your confidence, act as a form of self-expression and regulate your mood.
What is Dopamine Dressing?
Dopamine dressing is a trend that’s been on the rise over the last five years and increasingly becoming mainstream. After years of the ‘quiet luxury’ trend and a focus on minimalistic colour palettes, the growing focus on dopamine dressing on Instagram and TikTok isn’t just about jumping on a fashion trend, but on changing how you approach your wardrobe.
Choosing bright colours and fabrics that speak to your personality can spark joy. Wearing your heart on your sleeve may sound like a cliché, but dopamine dressing may even have psychological benefits. If you want to start adding bright clothes to your wardrobe, dopamine dressing is a win-win as the dopamine your body creates associates the feeling of joy and pleasure with wearing similar colours.
It's important to remember that colour theory is subjective. Many cultures associate specific colours with different meanings. For example, red is a colour with varying meanings – representing everything from good fortune to passion and danger. We also associate our own meanings and memories with colours. A certain colour might remind you of a friend or a moment in time.
It isn’t a coincidence that dopamine dressing is on the rise on social media. It goes hand-in-hand with fitness, wellness and self-care for exploring your personality and getting out of your comfort zone to find what works for you.
Building Bright Outfits
Now you know about dopamine dressing and how clothes affect your mood, it’s time to start incorporating bright outfits into your closet. Dopamine dressing is subjective and looks different for everyone. Before you start shopping and curating your closet, search for clothes with purpose by focusing on colours, fabrics and textures that align with your needs.
While it’s easy to get caught up in the ‘proper’ meaning of colours, it’s best to approach dopamine dressing as something that’s personal. Whether you’re shopping for workwear or activewear, focus on choosing bright outfits that are comfortable, stylish and speak to your personality. Search for functional fabrics, especially if you’re building an activewear capsule wardrobe.
Here are three things to look out for when shopping:
Bold Colours
While colour associations are subjective, colours which are synonymous with the warmer seasons of spring and summer can have mood-boosting properties. Pastels, including soft pinks and bright yellows, instantly improve your outlook and can improve your confidence.
Bright outfits with yellow and red hues can give you an energy boost, while cooler shades of green and blue can make you feel calmer and more focused. Choose bold colours that align with your goals for the day and how you want to feel.
If you’re experimenting with bright outfits for the first time, bright leggings are a great way to have fun with colours and get comfortable with a bolder colour palette.
Abstract Prints
If bright coloured clothes are already your go-to, change things up by exploring dynamic prints and shapes for a fun twist. These patterns make a bold statement and inject a little of your personality into every outfit.
Our abstract leggings include celestial-inspired prints like ‘Pink Galaxy’ and avant-garde styles like ‘Neapolitan Swirl’ and ‘Neon Swirl’. Go all out by styling these leggings with a bright t-shirt or go more low-key with a neutral shade.
Wonderfully Wild
Dopamine dressing will have you wanting to live on the wild side! Embrace the spirit by experimenting with animal prints. As a statement piece, animal prints can also be paired with bright colours, from soft pastels to bold neon hues.
Animal print leggings aren’t just your classic leopard print or zebra stripes. These quirky patterns incorporate your favourite animals, from ‘Butterfly Garden’ to ‘Jungle Giraffe’.
Find Mood Altering Bright Clothing at Llama Leisure
Dopamine dressing isn’t just about self-expression. It’s a fashion trend that has wellness and confidence building at its heart. While it can take a little trial and error, finding the colours that speak to your personality can help you curate a closet that makes you excited to get dressed in the morning.
At Llama Leisure, our leggings collection is the perfect place to start exploring the power of dopamine dressing with super soft fabrics that feel like a second skin and multi-fit stretch that gives you the perfect fit every time. Explore our new arrivals and save with our multi-buy leggings deal.
