There are many ways we express ourselves and how we are feeling. The clothes we wear are one example. Clothes have a way of affecting not just the way people see us but also our mood and behavior. How you dress can affect your self-esteem and putting energy into wearing things you actually like and projecting an ideal version of yourself through fashion instead of seeing clothes as things you have to put on out of obligation helps you cultivate your self-esteem. I don’t know about you, but I tend to make my outfit choices based on my mood. On days when I’m feeling more confident, I’ll wear brighter and bolder clothes. And on days when I’m not feeling that great, I’ll wear things that I know I’m comfortable in, or I’ll just throw on something bland and not give it much thought. But this can work in the reverse too. Have you ever noticed your entire mood change based on which clothes you pull out from your wardrobe? I’ve noticed that if I make an effort to wear something I like, something I am comfortable in, even when I’m feeling down, my mood improves a little. There’s actually a name for this, for how wearing clothes you like will boost your mood, it’s called dopamine dressing. Dopamine is a type of neurotransmitter released in the brain that plays a role in how we feel pleasure [1]. So, the thinking behind dopamine dressing is that “by wearing a certain color, texture, or style, we can activate the release of dopamine” and end up feeling better [2].
When we are feeling stressed or depressed, we tend to stop taking care of ourselves. Skipping meals, not brushing your teeth, not cleaning up, are some of the bigger things, but we also tend to stop our smaller self-care habits, like dressing up or putting on makeup or doing your hair. While it may not make everything better, sometimes taking those little steps to wear something you like and feel good in can improve your mood. For a while, during a somewhat depressive period, I was wearing things I didn’t like or at the very least was indifferent to. I feel like when people are stressed or depressed, they tend to wear the same thing over and over again. The fact was that wearing things I didn’t like or care for was keeping me in my depressive mood. I didn’t identify with the clothes I was wearing, and I didn’t like the way I looked, and that only made me feel worse. I would wear the same few things over and over again and the cycle would continue. But then I started to buy clothes that I always wanted but never got a chance to get and I started dressing in styles I liked and felt good in. I figured out what I liked and what I felt good in and now I have multiple outfit possibilities, all requiring different levels of effort. So on days where I’m not feeling the best and putting on clothes just seems like too much effort, I have options that don’t require any effort, but I can still feel good in.
We’re all different people, each with our own styles, preferences, likes, and dislikes. Who we are and our likes and dislikes are impacted by our cultures, and environments, so a certain color, style, or fabric won’t affect everyone’s state of mind in the exact same way. So, when trying dopamine dressing it is important be self-aware of your mood and dressing style. Even if you only have a rough idea of your personal style, pinpointing the specific aspects of clothes that make you feel good is a great place to start. I think it’s important for people to find and wear what makes them feel good because if we’re able to see ourselves in a way that creates a positive emotion, hopefully we will engage less in negative thinking about ourselves and feel less need to compare ourselves to others.
Sources:
[1] https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-is-dopamine [2] https://www.byrdie.com/dopamine-dressing-5221397