Pictures taken from my recent visit to the wonderful Street Art Museum THE STRAAT in Amsterdam.
In my teenage years! ( l always used to dress in black! maybe it was a sign of growing up with a lot of Gothic bands and being a Cure groupie! ). However, even years later, much later! in my early days of yoga teaching, l would still only wear black most of the time!. Whilst yet immensely practical and timeless, there are times when a bit of colour is needed not only to uplift your complexion but to also boost your mood.
Enter colour…….
MANTRA - LET ME BE MYSELF
Over the last three months shall we say, l’ve noticed subtle positive changes in my general mood. Even through dealing with a lot of life stuff going on! Including my journey with perimenopause and depression (not me) but someone very close to me. One could say it has been a bit of a challenge at times. But throughout it all somehow l’ve being feeling different, but couldn’t quite put my finger on why?
I began to notice it more through improving my exercise routine but that l feel only played a small part. Being inspired by other artists and stylists including the delightful
and her laid back approach to styling. l somehow re found my love of clothes (something l had not really felt since my New York days!)Being reconnected to shapes, textures, colours has offered me different insights into my thoughts and behaviours and thus conclusions (although nothing is ever set in stone). During this experience l began to cultivate new levels of acceptance which re-enforced that it is really ok to have your unique style regardless of your age or body. If you have a connection to what your’ve put together and wearing then simply put you are boosting your dopamine levels.
Dopamine (as l’m sure you know) is a neurotransmitter in your brain that reinforces behaviours that make you feel good, often affectionately referred to as the “feel-good” hormone. In other words when you’re doing anything enjoyable your dopamine levels start to increase.
“What we wear impacts our self image and ultimately represents and reflects what we think of ourselves”.
Matt Johnson, Neuroscientist
Studying the psychology of colour in my Uni days it’s clear that the science and psychology of colours has been around for a quite a while. In Eye Health, Vision Science, Interior & Exterior Design and Art.
And scientists are now saying there is a real trend emerging in terms of the impact of “#dopamine dressing”.
When l talk about “dopamine dressing”, of course l’m not suggesting you max our your credit cards on the latest trend, because you don’t need to spend money on new clothes to try dopamine dressing. That’s the beauty of it instead you can simply do what l’ve being doing, which is an edit of my existing clothes, selling some, giving some to charity, using what l have. Buying a few key pieces here and there that l can mix and match throughout the seasons. Thus saving landfill and doing my bit for the planet in the process.
Components of Dopamine Dressing
The Psychology of colour and clothing
However, as well as exploring how colours are relatable to certain feelings and behaviours we should also consider cultural meanings. As colours from culture to culture can sometimes differ in their symbolic meaning. A classic example of this is how ‘White ‘in the West is often interpreted as purity and new beginnings. In India and most Asian cultures it can also be used to symbolise death.
We can also look at how colour is depicted through the ‘Chakra System’ to help us understand where our energy maybe blocked and the emotions and behaviours that are related to specific colours, indicating why we may need to direct our attention too as a result.
A great resource for this area would be one of my all time favourite books Anodea Judith’s Eastern Body, Western Mind - Psychology and the Chakra System as a Path to the Self. Link below.
The theory of ‘Enclothed cognition’
‘Enclothed cognition’ refers to the systematic influence that clothes can have on the wearer's feelings, thoughts, and behaviours through their symbolic meaning. Back in 2012 two Psychologists lead some ground breaking research and coined the following: The theory of ‘Enclothed Cognition’ they used this phrase to describe and note the influence that clothes have on the wearer's psychological processes.
More than just colour, using our sense of sight, is the sense of touch. How something feels also affects how we feel. So putting both sight and touch together in dressing can be a powerful healing tool.
You can read more below.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2012.02.008
My top 8 Dopamine Dressing Edits
#DDE1 - Have a notebook, journal or even a sketchpad to note down and/or draw what you have and what you might like to look for. Jot down suppliers that you like to go too as well as some new ones you might like to try. H&M and ARKET (are a couple of my favourites for the last year) where you can get many key pieces to replicate a designer look for a fraction of the price.
#DDE2 - Note how you really feel about what you have chosen to wear, Why did you choose the items? What influenced you? How do you really feel in them?
#DDE3 - Has anyone mentioned how you look in a positive way?
#DDE4 - Consider other colours as well as the basic palette of creams, beige’s, white’s and black’s.
#DDE5 - What textures do you like to touch and feel on your body?
# DDE6 - Try and encapsulate your personality by adding, some accessories to the outfit.
#DDE7 - AUDIT AND EDIT YOUR UNDERWEAR this is something l did at the beginning of 2024 and l can’t tell you how liberating it was and how it boosted my confidence in this perimenopausal body!
#DDE8 - Experiment, take photos, put them out there if you feel comfortable enough. I’m not fashion influencer, but l’ll let you into a little secret l started a mini pet project over on instagram and l cannot believe the number of views l’ve had of my reels!
All of which goes to show we are visual creatures by nature we see first and everything else comes second.
PROMPT
So what draws you in?
I’ll want to leave you with this quote as l feel it perfectly encapsulates the essence of this piece.
“Whatever works for you is all that really needs to work.”
Dr. Johnson
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