The Dopamine Edit
The association between bright colours and happiness is not a new concept and neither is ‘Dopamine Dressing’ but after the last two years and the small subject of a global pandemic it’s no surprise that it’s a hot topic right now and the shops are full of colour this spring.
So what exactly is Dopamine and how does it relate to clothes?
The Oxford English Dictionary states that Dopamine 'is a compound present in the body as a neurotransmitter and a precursor of other substances including adrenaline’ In layman's terms dopamine is a happy hormone, when you have high levels of dopamine you feel pretty amazing. When you have low levels of dopamine you don't feel quite so good. There are lots of ways you can boost your dopamine such as exercise, sleep, diet etc. but the excellent news is that colour can also increase the feel good hormone. Colour provides us with a rich sensory input which causes our brains to zing and boosts dopamine, hence why colour makes us happy. This then leads us to the term 'Dopamine Dressing' which is basically dressing in colour to boost your mood.
Colour psychology goes a lot lot deeper than that and certain colours are associated with different emotions. During my Colour Analysis sessions I teach clients about colour psychology and how to dress mindfully to improve mood and wellbeing.
Here’s a whistle-stop tour (believe me when I say I’m not even scratching the surface of colour psychology here) of how each colour can impact on your mood and my top colourful finds on the High Street this spring certain to boost your mood.
As always to shop from the blog just click on the photos and it will take you directly to the retailers website.
RED
Red affects us both physically and emotionally, it's a colour that forces us to pay attention, hence why it's used for stop/danger signs. So if you want to be seen, wear red! Red shows confidence and passion and is also known to give you an energy boost. On the other hand red can also be seen as aggressive so be careful in which situations you choose to wear it.
BLUE
Blue is the colour of calm. You know that sense of ease you feel when you are near a body of water such as the sea or a lake, that's what blue does for you, it relaxes you. It's also the colour of communication and by wearing blue you are showing honesty and integrity, making it a good colour to wear in professional situations.
YELLOW
I always describe yellow as the happy colour, the colour of joy. That uplifting feeling we get when the sun shines, that's what yellow can do for you. Yellow is a fabulous colour to wear to celebrations such as Weddings, Birthdays or Christenings due to the positive vibes it brings.
ORANGE
Orange combines the energy and excitement of red and combines it with the optimism of yellow making it a warm, fun and friendly colour. It's a colour that stimulates social interaction so a fantastic colour to wear to any gatherings that you may be a little nervous about as we head back into socialising again.
PURPLE
With 'Very Peri' being announced as Pantone's colour of the year for 2022 it's no wonder purple is under the spotlight in the shops right now. Purple is often a colour associated with spiritual awareness and also the colour linked to royalty. It's a healing colour and shows intuition.
GREEN
Green is everywhere this season and there's no surprise as it signifies new growth and beginnings. It's the colour of vitality and balance, all those feelings that you get when you're out in nature. If you need some balance and harmony in your life then green should help.
PINK
The colour of nurturing, empathy and love. By wearing pink you are showing people that you care about them, it's like a hug in colour. This can also relate to self love and if you feel like you need to give yourself some extra love and attention wear pink.
Do you love the idea of colour in your wardrobe but you're not sure where to start, maybe you love colour but are not sure which colours suit your skin tone or maybe the thought of colour absolutely petrifies you, either way a Colour Analysis is a great place to start. You will find out which colours work in harmony with your skin tone to make you look younger. You will also learn how to introduce colour into your current wardrobe, and which shades of make-up work with your skin tone.
I also offer Colour Analysis Parties which are a fun and stylish way to spend time with friends and also a more affordable way to have a Colour Analysis.
In the interest of honesty this blog contain affiliate links meaning that if you choose to buy any of the items shared I will earn a small amount of commission.