how to dopamine dress to boost your mood

Small treats make the world go round. Okay, not technically, but spiritually, they sort of do. Say you’re feeling slightly deflated and you go to get a really nice coffee instead of just a coffee from some place nearby, and it picks you up a little more, or for instance, you walk past a little fruit and veg stall and decide, yeah you know what, I am going to drop a fiver on a nice punnet of berries. Choosing to bring nice vibrant things into your day for a little bit of a dopamine boost, that’s what we’re on about.

Dopamine is a chemical in your brain that makes you feel good. It’s released when you’re doing something enjoyable, like having sex, shopping, or listening to your favourite song. It’s sometimes also released when you wear your favourite colours and clothes, too. Maybe you have a new shirt that instantly improves your day. Or a jumper that feels like a warm hug. It could even start with wearing underwear that makes you feel confident and sexy. It’s been all over the internet – dopamine dressing has climbed to 212.6M views on TikTok, and Google searches continue to soar.

Outfits that make you feel good depend on your personal style preferences, of course, but specific fabrics and colours can also prompt positive feelings. Pink is associated with calming effects, whereas orange hues are stimulating and playful. Silk can make you feel sensual (purr) and fabrics like tulle or taffeta that make a faint rustling sound might make you feel more elegant. So yeah, for once, there’s a science to the TikTok trend, too.

“Typically, we’re dressing for external factors — the weather, other people, special events. During the pandemic, there was a shift that occurred. Since no one was around to tell you what to wear, you gave yourself permission to find styles that make you happy,” Dr Dawnn Karen, a fashion psychologist who coined the term, said on the Today show. “This isn’t medicine by any means, but I’ve seen people who are normally very shy put on a colourful outfit and become fierce, fabulous and free.”

If you’re looking to add some dopamine drip to your wardrobe, check the little curation of trendy pieces designed to inject a bit of colour and comfort into your wardrobe, below.

All products are selected independently by our editors from the Woo online store, a carefully curated platform for feel good fashion, beauty, wellness and lifestyle. Discover more here