How to Boost Your Happiness with Dopamine Dressing

What does dopamine dressing mean for you?

Carmen: “Dressing joyfully; bold colors, loud prints, full skirts you can swish around in! Basically, wearing what makes you happy.”

What do you like about it?

Carmen: “Spreading joy wherever I go because of what I’m wearing. I’m often met with surprised looks and big smiles from a passerby. Children especially are amazed to see a grown-up wearing such a playful outfit. I usually catch them staring in awe as I walk by. It’s magical.”

Anything else you would like to share with the Spoonflower community?

Carmen: “Don’t be afraid to wear “that” color, “that” shape, “that” print. Give it a go! Even if it’s just on your way to the local supermarket, you will feel liberated.”

Carmen’s Top Dopamine Dressing Tips

Get out of your comfort zone

Head over to your local charity shop and grab the first item that truly excites you and makes you feel happy. Incorporate this into your next look.

Get creative

Pull out an item from your wardrobe that you no longer wear and rework it. Think cheerful, sunny, energetic; this could be painting florals onto it, adding rhinestones, sewing Spoonflower fabric patches onto it, or all of the above!

Start small

If you’re new to dopamine dressing, start with accessories. Coloured tights, chunky jewellery or a funky headband are an easy way to begin your dopamine dressing journey.

What does dopamine dressing mean for you?

Katie: “Dopamine dressing is wearing clothes that excite you and being joy! Whether it’s the style, the color, the newness, or trying something you have tried before, it can create happy feelings!”

What do you like about it?

Katie: “I’m a huge advocate for “wear happy color,” because I have found in my adult life that so much color is missing in clothing. Children already are drawn to and wear color, but why not adults? We want to match the brown, beige and black surroundings? We want to blend in? It’s far more joyous to glance down or look in the mirror and see a bright color thank it is to look and see khaki. Promise! Color has psychological effects. I’d rather dress like spring and summer than winter!”

Katie’s Top Dopamine Dressing Tips

Try new colors together.

Put new colors together and use a color wheel to help.

Don’t be afraid to wear colors you love. 

If you want to wear a color you love, but don’t think it looks “good on you,” then wear it on the bottom or as an accessory.

Be brave.

Wear something “daring.” This can mean a style that’s not your norm, a color you’ve never worn or even just bright lipstick. See how it makes you feel.

Additional Tip: You can find a guidebook and online class about how to “wear happy color” on my website.

What does dopamine dressing mean for you?

Geri : “I get a huge dose of dopamine making my own garments, then another dose whenever I am wearing and styling them. This is why I am excited about promoting DIY fashion. It’s a fabulous creative outlet, and in the process, we learn to love our bodies as they are. We also begin to understand, and create our own style, and how to express ourselves through what we choose to wear. I’ve discovered that my personal style involves lots of color, and pattern mix-and-matching. Before making my own clothes, I used to wear lots of black, grey and neutral colours, and I think it reflected my old mentality of needing to blend in, and not wanting to be too loud, or to make mistakes. Those colours were “safe”. In contrast, I now wear bright colours and loud prints. Some garments border on the theatrical, and most of them make me stand out in the crowd. I take risks. I don’t really care what other people think anymore. And that attitude, when expressed through my clothes, is dopamine inducing.”

What do you like about it?

Geri: “What I like about dopamine dressing is that our garments can affect how we feel. So during the times when my mood is lacking, or the outlook is shifting towards the negative, then I can lean on my garments to keep me optimistic and positive-thinking. The garments help in “faking till I make it”. They work like emotional or spiritual protection, a kind of armour that wards off energy-draining inner thoughts or outside influences.”

Geri’s Top Dopamine Dressing Tips

Willingness to experiment

Figure out what works for you, and don’t cave to another’s opinion of what you should wear.

Flexibility

Remain flexible and keep an open mind. Often, we are set in our preconceived notions of certain colours or prints. And I say, try that neon green or hot pink blazer. You maybe surprised that you like how you feel while wearing it.

Self-love

Love your body, and get to know the different cuts of garments that highlight what you love about it.

What does dopamine dressing mean for you?

Romy: “Dopamine dressing to me is about wearing clothes that you have a connection with emotionally, or wearing something you hope will evoke a certain emotion. Like wearing something that reminds of you happiness on a day when you’re not feeling particularly cheery. I dress depending on my mood and how I want to feel that day. I love colour and think of it as a natural mood booster.”

What do you like about it?

Romy: “I love how it can change my mood or change others’ moods around me. It can start conversations with strangers and it can make people smile. The connection between clothing and our mental state is very real and I love that dopamine dressing encourages people to wear what truly speaks to them as an individual. Dopamine dressing isn’t just about colour. It’s about wearing what feels right for you in colour and style. It’s unique just like each person is unique. It’s a movement that allows people to be free with expression and in tune with their emotions. “

Romy’s Top Dopamine Dressing Tips

Choose correctly

Wear colours that you connect with.

Feel comfortable

Choose styles that you are comfortable with. Nobody has time for uncomfortable clothes, and that varies for everyone.

Accessories!

Don’t forget how much a look can transform, or go to then next level, once you add shoes, jewellery and/or belt.