Why people try “dopamine dressing” and how it affects morning mood

Recently, a friend of mine was dealing with some pretty serious mental health issues. She was having great difficulty getting out and about with people, and felt uncomfortable whenever she left her own apartment. And although the complications that caused this were multiple, one of the main reasons was clothing. It may sound silly, but it wasn’t until talking to a psychologist that she discovered this fact. She simply didn’t feel comfortable in what she was wearing. And it was also severely limiting her.

I wasn’t familiar with the concept of dopamine dressing until recently. It wasn’t until a friend made me realize how important it is to be comfortable. For some people, it can have a very significant effect on the psyche. Now, many of you will probably say to yourselves that you should dress cheerfully and colourfully. But that’s not always true. On the contrary, colourful clothes have a very negative effect on some people.

It’s not about trends and the combination of fashion pieces, but about taste

Dopamine dressing is basically based on the fact that a person is completely free from what is trendy and what others like. I personally often see people dressed very similarly on the street. And although I know that sometimes one wants to fit in and be part of the crowd, sometimes we simply need to show our originality, our own style.

My friend tried to walk among people in what was in. She wore what other people wore, she also tried to wear colorful things because she thought colors made her mood better. That can sometimes be true, but not always. It was only through talking to her doctor that she realised that she was actually doing these things automatically, but very much against her will. Normally she tends to wear black clothes, longer warmer coats, very alternative clothes compared to what is in today.

Increase your dopamine levels

Dopamine dressing, as the name suggests, is simply dressing according to what makes a person feel better and what gives them dopamine. Several important elements matter:

• the style of clothing
• colour
• the material
• accessories and combinations

Sometimes people feel good in colourful things. But I often meet people who simply wear black. And it doesn’t mean that they are permanently in a bad mood. It’s simply their style that makes them happy. It’s important to remember that even things that don’t seem to go together can sometimes make a person happy. My friend’s example speaks volumes. In fact, she feels best when she can wear a unicorn t-shirt and Pokémon socks but cover it up with a black coat and heavy metallic boots.

“Dopamine dressing is all about wearing what makes you feel good. It’s not about dressing for an occasion, it’s about achieving the mood you want,” says psychologist Dawnn Karen. Simply put, it can be said that a person should dress more often for themselves than to please their surroundings.