Does wearing colorful clothing affect our feelings?
Dopamine dressing, the idea of instilling joy through what we wear, has become a universal trend. We are here to dive into more about this idea of dopamine dressing and how can this type of dressing can be accomplished.
“When we wear certain clothes, we embody the qualities we associate with those clothes, which in turn influences how we feel and act.” - Ingrid Fetell Lee
There are a few factors that can play a role in how different colored clothing makes us feel such as our personal connections to specific colors and the context of colors themselves. For example, light colors, such as green, pink, and blue, usually evoke positive emotions and joy while darker colors, such as browns and black, typically represent negative feelings or sadness. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with darker colors, but if we are wearing clothes with the goal of boosting our mood, brighter colors will assist in that. So if you’re not sure what to wear, we recommend wearing something brighter to boost your mood!
“Bright colors reflect more light, so when we see ourselves in bright clothes, it’s little like caffeine for the eyes: a burst of vibrancy that gives us a lift. And as we’ve seen, bright colors are associated with positive emotions, which are naturally energizing.” - Lee
When we surround ourselves with bright colors, we in return boost our moods. We are able to attain this concept in our clothing as well! Throw on your favorite color to assist in giving you the energy and confidence to take on a challenging day.
Wear a color that feels personal to you and will boost your confidence!
We all have a few colors that are our go-to colors that we know will make us feel great. If you have a color you love and know it highlights your features, wear it to help activate this sense of personal power.
There are also colors that universally evoke specific emotions. For example, blues and greens universally give people a sense of peace, so wearing these colors can create calmness around your presence. The colors you wear can affect those around you: “A study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology in 2012 found that even brief exposure to the color green before a task can lead to enhanced creative performance. This suggests that wearing green to work may help spark creativity among your coworkers and clients.” - Lee
“Research we have so far shows that the color and type of our clothing can influence our own and others’ perceptions, behaviors, and emotions in significant ways. clothing is much more than a necessity or even a fashion statement — it’s a tool that can shape our social and psychological experiences for the better.” - Lee
