How to Embrace ‘Dopamine Dressing’ and Shop Your Own Closet

https://www.self.com/story/dopamine-dressing-tips

JULY,22,2022

The last couple of years have been a lot to deal with, so we don’t blame you if you’re not feeling particularly cheerful lately. There’s a barrage of not-so-great news to absorb on the daily, so it’s understandable if you’re clinging on to anything that fuels a bit of joy right now, whether that be your daily walk, your morning coffee ritual, or wearing an outfit that makes you feel freaking fantastic. Enter: dopamine dressing, which has been all over social media lately.

First, a little context: Dopamine is a chemical messenger in the brain that reinforces behaviors that make you feel good, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. That’s why it’s often called the “feel-good” hormone—it’s released when you’re doing something enjoyable and also gives you a sense of pleasure, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Research shows that activities such as meditating1, petting a dog2, and listening to your favorite song3 can release dopamine.

The thinking behind dopamine dressing is that wearing clothes you love will boost your mood. There aren’t studies definitively concluding that everyone releases dopamine when wearing a specific type of clothing, but experts say there’s something to this trend. “What we wear impacts our self-image4 and what we think of ourselves,” Matt Johnson, PhD, a neuroscientist and professor of marketing psychology at Hult International Business School, tells SELF.

In fact, a great outfit can ignite a positive feedback loop5. If, for example, you feel super confident in blue and you receive compliments from others while wearing the color, your dopamine response can signal that good things happen when you wear blue. "Dopamine is responsible for anticipating how the outfit is received from others, and for gauging the feedback we’re getting from the social world,” Dr. Johnson says. “When the overall experience is positive, we experience a general boost in our overall mood.”

If you search the hashtag #DopamineDressing on Instagram, you’ll see that people often choose bold colors and patterns when following the trend. That can be a good way to start for some people, but the key is to wear items that make you feel amazing—including neutral basics if that’s your thing!

It’s also worth noting that you don’t need to spend money on new clothes to try dopamine dressing. You can shop your closet by mixing and matching pieces you already own in new ways. If your wardrobe isn’t exciting you and you don’t want to or can’t spend a lot, try shopping at local or online thrift stores, look up local community share groups on social media, or host a clothing swap with your friends. There are tons of ways to get creative and give items a second life.

Now, here are a few tips to consider when choosing your feel-good outfits:

1. Take note of how certain items make you feel.

Let’s be real, many of us fall victim to impulsive shopping and end up with a closet full of trend pieces we don’t truly love. So if you need to do a bit of a wardrobe audit, try keeping something of a clothing journal to help pinpoint those items, Daniel Benkendorf, PhD, an associate professor of psychology in the department of social sciences at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, tells SELF.

Reviewing your notes can help you spot trends in the type of clothes that bring you pleasure (and help you figure out what you should probably donate).

2. Choose colors that excite you.

3. Experiment with textures.

Wearing your favorite, worn-in cotton T-shirt can feel as inviting as a hug—and there’s a reason for that. The tactile effects of clothing texture can make you feel a particular way. For example, soft fabrics like flannel can put you in a cozy mood,9 while silk can make you feel sensual9. Try wearing clothes made of different materials and pay attention to how you feel in them. Doing so can help you pick the right texture to match the mood you desire.

The visual and audible effects of material can affect how you feel too. For instance, research suggests that visually, satin gives a sophisticated vibe. In contrast, opaque fabrics tend to look sporty. Clothes that make a faint rustling sound, like taffeta, can make a person feel elegant9.

Regardless of the fabric you choose, it’s important to feel comfortable. If a particular item feels scratchy or stiff against your skin, then you probably won’t feel very good in it, Dr. Benkendorf says.

4. Capture your personality with accessories or undergarments.

Research10 shows that you likely try to balance two competing forces when deciding on how you want to present yourself: the desire to fit into a social group and the need to be recognized as an individual, Dr. Johnson explains. You may grapple with balancing the two, for instance, if you wear a uniform or suit to work. Outfits devoid of your personality may not foster any strong positive emotions, but you can inject pizazz with accessories, like a colorful handkerchief or a bold necklace.

5. Play dress-up.

Don’t pressure yourself into dressing like a fashion influencer. It’s okay to make small tweaks and try new styles at a pace that works for you. You can start by wearing a bolder outfit at home before debuting it in public, Otto von Busch, PhD, a researcher of fashion and emotion and an associate professor of integrated design at Parsons School of Design in New York City, tells SELF.

Dr. von Busch also recommends coordinating a night out or a dress-up party with a group of friends that you feel comfortable with. “You’re in a safe space with your friends, and this is where you can try to push the envelope,” he says.

There is ultimately no right or wrong way to practice dopamine dressing—it’s all about embracing the power of clothing to make you feel like your best self. “The fashion choice that’s right is the one that makes you confident,” Dr. Johnson says. “Whatever works for you is all that really needs to work.”