- A new trend of “fashion therapy” called dopamine dressing has emerged.
- Research associates this trend of feel-good fashion with happiness and sound mental health.
What Is Dopamine Dressing?
Dopamine dressing means wearing clothes that boost our moods or feel-good fashion. While there is no scientific evidence to suggest a strong association between wearing specific clothing and dopamine release in the brain, experts contend that confident dressing enhances our moods and performances.
Dopamine Dressing And Mental Health
Research has long affirmed the reality of “enclothed cognition” or the systematic influence clothes have on the wearer’s psychological processes and behavior.
Clothing of certain colors is associated with specific emotions, such as red is associated with love and seduction whereas blue and blue-greens are considered smart clothing colors for fighting stress.
Dopamine dressing additionally reinforces the idea that your favored types and colors of clothing make you feel confident and happier. Such an approach of wearing clothes you love and dressing for your happiness can prevent issues associated with body image, self-esteem, and poor mental health. In fact, dopamine dressing can help:
- Boost confidence and moods
- Boost self-esteem
- Combat body-image issues
- Keep in check mental health disorders like eating disorders, depression, social anxiety, etc.
Pitfalls Of The Dopamine Fashion Trend
Having an idea of your personal style and comfort forms the basis of dopamine dressing. However, dopamine dressing can trigger habits of impulsive shopping for clothes and compulsive buying disorder (CBD).
In an attempt to dress for positive moods and happiness, people can develop pathological tendencies to shop for clothes. This shopping addiction for clothing can result in several psychosocial problems, such as:
- Debt
- Financial stress
- Emotional dysfunction
- Poor impulse control
- Pathological hoarding
- Broken relationships, etc.
Balancing The Dopamine Dressing Trend
Balancing the dopamine dressing trend and your budget can be a bit tricky but not impossible. You can start by understanding your personal style. Avoid the compulsion of “body-appropriate clothing” and try researching clothes you like to wear.
Make a monthly budget and stick to it while creating your dream wardrobe. If necessary, maintain a clothing fund and a clothing diary to keep track of your closet purchases. Shop with a plan in mind to dress for your happiness.
For instance, when you are shopping for clothes, look for versatile wardrobe staples that last longer and serve as long-term investments. This can help you enjoy the benefits of dopamine dressing sans financial worries.
