After 2020, we’re all looking for the things that make us feel good in life. And as we look optimistically forward into 2021, it turns out, there’s a fashion trend that’s right on track with our happiness-seeking ways. It’s called dopamine dressing and it’s all about wearing clothing that brings you joy, so you’re not just elevating your appearance, but your mood, too.
Fashion psychologist Dawnn Karen, who founded the Fashion Psychologist Institute and is an adjunct faculty member at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, says she genuinely recommends the strategy to her clients. She explains that dopamine dressing is basically “dressing to best optimize your mood.” Not so sure putting on a bright and cheery sweater could actually help you feel bright and cheery as well? Science backs her up.
Several studies, including one in 2015 from California State University, Northridge and Columbia University, have found the outfits we choose can have a direct impact on how we think and make decisions. The researchers found that clothing doesn’t just influence the way others perceive a person and how people perceive themselves, but could also influence the way we make decisions and have a direct impact on how we think. And the best part is that it’s so easy to get in on this trend - just wear colors and styles that make you happy. Whether you wear an evening gown or leggings, do it for the dopamine.
Source: Women's Health
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