Imagine you wake up on an overcast Tuesday morning, hoist yourself out of bed and over to the wardrobe to discover a sea of beige.
Now, picture your work mornings when your wardrobe is a vortex of colour and your drawers are vessels of sheer, unadulterated joy. This is dopamine dressing, the sartorial equivalent of a sugar rush, a jolt of happiness served straight to your brain via sequins, feathers, frills and furbelows.
Dopamine dressing is a rebellion against the mundane. It’s your inner child playing dress-up but with the power of a grown-up’s credit card. As dangerous as that may seem, the act of dressing joyfully is a form of self-care. A one way ticket to banking a better day.
Neon pink suits and glitter-clad heels may automatically spring to mind when contemplating dopamine dressing, but the philosophy isn’t just for the extroverts. Dopamine-inducing attire comes in all shapes in sizes, from a cherry red scrunchie or a chunky gold necklace to an unmissable jolt of colour via a tulle Molly Goddard concoction.
© ImaxtreeThe Pinterest Predicts 2024 report has predicted that this summer will be dominated by unapologetically loud style, noting: “Bold fashion allows individuals to showcase their unique personalities and individuality. In a world where self-expression is highly valued, bold fashion offers a means of creativity and confidence, empowering individuals to break free from conventional norms and embrace their own distinct style.”
SEE: The best summer dresses that are perfect for your 2024 holiday
SEE: Holiday capsule wardrobe: 5 easy outfits to take away with you
The stats speak for themselves. Searches for the term ‘batik blazer’ have increased by 280 per cent, while ‘lime green outfit ideas’ have jumped by 460 per cent (thank you, Charli XCX) and ‘leopard print bikini,’ by 410 per cent.
© Imaxtree
© Imaxtree
© ImaxtreeWhy does dressing with happiness in mind make us feel better? Clinical Psychologist and Head of Psychotherapy, Gita Chaudhuri from The Balance RehabClinic says: "What we wear has extremely powerful psychological effects. It has nothing to do with the type of clothes, but how we feel in the clothes."
She adds: "To dopamine dress is to ask the following questions: Do I feel safe? Do I feel comfortable? Do I feel socially accepted? Do I feel appreciated by others? This is what dopamine is about - that and interconnectedness to others. For some, safety comes from dressing differently. They feel empowered by not conforming. Comfort is important but some people might love wearing stiff and uncomfortable things because that gives them the feeling of being put together. The psychological effect is more important to them than the physical experience."
"[Dopamine dressing] is complex and completely subjective to each individual. That might look like exotic colours for one person and a textured all-black outfit for another. The colour is not what matters but rather how we perceive the colour and how we think others will perceive it. It's this balance."
© Imaxtree
© ImaxtreeNo matter the extent of your expertise in jovial self-styling, a glint of flair can transform a dismal day into a spectacular affair. It’s about colour theory, yes, but more than that, it’s about emotional alchemy - turning drab into fab with the swipe of a hanger.
In the end, dopamine dressing isn’t about following the latest trends or slotting into a particular style mould. It’s about dressing for the thrill of it, for the sheer pleasure of brightening up a bleary-eyed morning commute, a drizzly London day or your clinically-lit office block.
MORE: SS24 fashion trends to hop on this instant
MORE: Queen Letizia's ultra-chic crimson suit perfects dopamine dressing in 2024
So, next time you’re tempted to reach for that grey sweater, remember: life’s too short to blend in. Trust when we say, wear the sparkle. Your brain will thank you.
Hello! Fashion shares how to nail the Dopamine Dressing trend:
Start small
Not everyone is naturally comfortable sporting bright colours, so if you're intrigued by dopamine dressing but aren't sure where to start, there's no need to jump straight into the deep end. The beauty of the trend is that it's all about feeling confident. So, why not make your dopamine dressing debut via a vibrant piece of outerwear that you can take on and off depending on the nature of your day?
Take inspiration from the likes of Hailey Bieber and Emily Ratajkowski. Both style muses incorporate dashes of colour into their typically neutral wardrobes, be it in the form of a sunny yellow crochet top or a vibrant bikini.
Even Gucci tapped into dopamine dressing on a smaller scale for SS24. Embellished apple green tops were paired with low-slung boyfriend jeans for the brand's summer-ready collection, serving up fabulous yet composed elegance. The same goes for Molly Goddard, a certified pigment puppeteer. The British designer injected her signature bolts of joyous colour into her SS24 collection, paring the pieces back with black staples that married flair and functionality.
Go wild
Despite the pull of the trends cycle, animal prints never fall into the realm of passé. This is a fact taken on board by brands spanning Dolce & Gabbana to Roberto Cavalli, whose collections are never short of a striking stripe or two. European fashion has sucessfully elevated animal print to an emblem of modern sophistication and daring elegance.
Iconic houses like Saint Laurent have led the charge, transforming leopard spots, zebra stripes, and snake scales into must-have motifs that transcend seasons. Saint Laurent, under the creative direction of Anthony Vaccarello, has redefined the wild aesthetic, blending it with the brand’s signature rock 'n' roll edge. These prints, once relegated to the fringes of subculture fashion, now symbolise a fearless, unapologetic attitude.
On the fence when it comes to animal print? Google Naomi Campbell's iconic cheetah courtesy of Azzedine Alaïa’s autumn/winter 1991 show. That should do the trick.
Monochrome moment
Contrary to popular belief, 'monochrome' doesn't actually mean black and white, the term simply refers to a single hue. So while black and white both come under the umbrella of greyscale, a head-to-toe yellow moment is equally permissible.
This avenue is highly accessible for those who prefer to steer away from garish prints. Take heed from Roksanda, a brand that is known for its colourblock looks featuring operatic gown-like silhouettes and toying with voluminous shape. Prada is also known for its avant-garde approach to colour, frequently employing colorblocking to challenge conventional aesthetics in the form of A-line dresses and outerwear. The same goes for Balenciaga. After all, who could forget Kylie Jenner's vivid turquoise dress?
The style is also a favourite of fashion muses such as Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Lopez, who have both mastered the art of singular shade dressing for everyday occasions.
Major metallics
Hey 2024, the Sixties called and they want their space-age style back.
The 1960s space-age aesthetic was a futuristic fashion phenomenon characterised by innovative materials and avant-garde designs that echoed society's fascination with space exploration. Designers like Paco Rabanne and André Courrèges were at the forefront of this movement, transforming the era's sartorial landscape with their visionary creations that reflected the Cold War zeitgeist of the moment.
Ever since the Swinging Sixties, metallics have remained firmly on the radar of designers across the globe. The 1990s was a particular fruitful period for metallics. Fronted by Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer and the fellow iconic Nineties supermodels, Versace's autumn/winter 1994 show catapulted pastel-hued metallics into the limelight. Gianni Versace, the mastermind behind the brand’s famed pre-00s looks, frequently adorned his designs with shimmering fabrics and glittering embellishments, crafting an image of luxury and excess that perfectly complemented the supermodel phenomenon of the time.
Today, metallics slot neatly into the ever-popular Scandi style that penetrates social media, plus the ongoing captivation with all-things Y3K, a term which has witness a 6030 per cent search increase according to Pinterest.
SEE: Chic Critique: A note on bloomers
SEE: Bloomers are TikTok’s latest micro trend, here's how to wear them
Wise to accessorise
Need we introduce the importance of accessorising?
From handbags to earrings, sunglasses to shoes, the fashion world is your accessories oyster. If you want to take baby steps when entering the cult of dopamine dressing, then start out with a cherry red bag, a drop pearl earring or a chunky necklace. Like we said, you don't necessarily have to go big or go home.
If it was up to us however, every fashion girl and their uncle would be dressed to the nines armed with a beaded Fendi baguette, a befurred Rick Owens boot or a Schiaparelli 'Anatomy' bag. Never underestimate the power of a purse, people.
Accessories can also be an investment piece. For example, the Hermès Birkin bag saw returns of 38 per cent on average in 2020 – the highest of all luxury bag collectibles and prices rise every year. A highly lucrative investment if you have the cash to splash.
However, the high street remains a fertile ground for vivid pieces. From Mango's collaboration with sunny-girl label Siedres to Topshop's ever on-trend staples, there's plenty to browse when on a budget.
Toying with texture
Texture in clothes is like the secret ingredient in a Michelin-starred dish. It’s what elevates a look from merely good to utterly sublime.
Imagine gliding your fingers over a sumptuous velvet jacket or the cool, slick surface of a leather skirt. It’s a sensory spectacle that tells a story with every touch. Texture adds depth and dimension, transforming flat fabrics into rich landscapes of style. It’s the reason a chunky knit can feel like a cosy embrace on a chilly day or why sequins can make you sparkle like the night sky. For us, texture is the unsung hero of fashion, turning the ordinary into the extraordinary and making every outfit not just something you wear, but something you experience.
Need inspiration? Marni's ombréd mohair designs, Loewe's longline chunky knits, Susan Fang's floral feather trims and Molly Goddard's frothy tulle concoctions are ripe and ready to add to your moodboard.
Pretty prints
Executing the perfect print look is not easy feat. In fact, it's an art form.
Prints in fashion are the visual fireworks that ignite our wardrobes. Think of them as the charismatic guest at a party, impossible to ignore and utterly unforgettable. Designers like Roberto Cavalli and Versace have long known the power of a good print to captivate and enthrall. Cavalli’s animal prints, for instance, are a nod to our wild side, bringing out an untamed, fierce elegance that walks with confidence. Versace, on the other hand, plays with baroque patterns and bold, graphic motifs, turning each piece into a wearable work of art that radiates pure opulence and attitude.
Prints are the time travellers of fashion, whispering tales of exotic lands, far-flung adventures, and landscapes that couldn't seem further from your office desk. They transform fabric into a canvas, allowing designers to paint their visions in vibrant hues and escapist designs. In the grand tapestry of style, prints are the threads that add colour and intricacy, ensuring our own fashion narrative is anything but dull.
MORE: 42 fashion collaborations that everyone is talking about right now
MORE: How to wear black in summer for maximum chic
HELLO!'s selection is editorial and independently chosen – we only feature items our editors love and approve of. HELLO! may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. To find out more visit our FAQ page4
