Dopamine Dressing | 3 Things You Need To Know

Dopamine Dressing (the idea of dressing to help boost your mood) is nothing new, but the trend of wearing bright colors and patterns became a huge focus in 2022 and doesn’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. Fashion has always been a form of self-expression, so what better way to show how you feel than incorporate your favorite hues into your wardrobe?

There is a slight art to following this trend, however, so I wanted to share 3 things you need to know when playing around with dopamine dressing.

Use Color Theory/A Color Wheel
How colors mix, match or contrast with each other will determine how well your look comes together. Simply put, some colors just work better together, so when in doubt, use a color wheel to help you decide what color combinations you want to try together. A few off the top of my head? Lime green and electric blue (with white to tie it together), pink and red, lavender and teal, fuchsia and neon green. You can also pick one shade in varying hues for a play on color-blocking. If you need help putting together colors, here’s a great source for color combinations that are currently trending.

Ease Into It With Accessories
If wearing a full-on brightly hued fit is just too much for your style, the easiest way to incorporate that dopamine hit into your look is with jewelry, shoes, and accessories. Keep your foundational pieces (dress, top, or bottoms) in a neutral color and then layer in a pop of color with a boldly-hued handbag, shoes, or even earrings. Some people can pull off dressing like the rainbow, but for most, a brightly colored bracelet or shoe will do.

Stick with Silhouettes You Love
Many times, people shy away from dopamine dressing because they fear that they have to go over the top when trying out the trend. This is NOT true! The safest way to try out this trend is to pick a silhouette that you already know is flattering on you, and then just step outside of your comfort zone when it comes to the pattern or color. Trying a new trend doesn’t mean you have to go against your own style rules; still think about the shape and what hues are flattering on your skin tone. There’s no point in trying a trend that you’ll 100% hate because you tried to do too much!

Fashion is meant to be fun, so the next time you need a boost in your mood when getting dressed, try out the dopamine dressing trend to see how it makes you feel!