There’s science behind dressing your best, but we’re not talking about engineering the perfect on-trend outfit. The field of fashion psychology has shown that what we wear plays a role in our attitude, confidence levels, and mood — which means it’s far from a superficial endeavor to concern yourself with clothing.
A 2012 study conducted by psychologist Karen Pine found a correlation between clothing choices and the emotional states of participants, demonstrating “the psychological power of clothing and how the right choices could influence a person’s happiness,” Pine said in a statement at the time.
Earlier research also points to the impact of clothing on performance. A 2007 analysis looked at decades worth of professional soccer games in the U.K. and determined that players who wore red shirts won more often than those who didn’t.
Keep reading to learn how to dress to feel your best, but overall, remember this nugget of wisdom from neuroscientist Matt Johnson: “The fashion choice that’s right is the one that makes you confident,” he told SELF. “Whatever works for you is all that really needs to work.”
Dopamine Dressing
The term “dopamine dressing” was coined by fashion psychologist Dawnn Karen in her book Dress Your Best Life as a way to describe the act of donning certain articles of clothing to intentionally enhance your mood. It often involves choosing bright colors, pieces that evoke joy, and outfits that allow you to truly express yourself.
“This isn’t medicine by any means, but I’ve seen people who are normally very shy put on a colorful outfit and become fierce, fabulous, and free,” Karen shared with Today, adding that the same can be said when people choose pieces that they feel reflect their personalities more accurately than what they’re used to wearing. “Their whole mood shifts when they wear clothes that represent who they really are.”
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She also recommends thinking back to childhood and envisioning an outfit that made you feel happy, then attempting to put together the updated version for your adult self.
Textures and silhouettes can also play a role in dopamine dressing, Karen pointed out in an interview for Nordstrom: “It can be any way you want to express yourself in the highest form. Because brighter colors may not do it for you, but a silky texture or an all-black outfit makes you feel chic and polished. Ultimately, it’s about what makes you feel good about yourself.”
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Speaking to Verywell Mind about how to get started with dopamine dressing, psychologist Elizabeth Lombardo suggested experimenting with new looks and keeping a “clothing diary” to jot down when you feel your best and most comfortable.
“Step outside your usual gear,” she said. “The novelty can enhance mood, lower stress, and help you see things in a different light.”
Seasonal Color Analysis
Another way to reap the benefits of colors when it comes to your closet is through seasonal color analysis.
As we’ve previously reported, the trend is all over social media lately, but it’s far from a new concept. First popularized in the ’80s following publication of the book Color Me Beautiful, it involves evaluating colors against your skin tone, hair color, and eye color to determine the palette that best complements your features, and thus identifying yourself as a spring, summer, autumn, or winter.
Experts offer this service, but you can also try it yourself or with friends. Nice News Managing Editor Natalie Stone first learned about the concept at a young age, her mom recounting memories of attending “Color Me Beautiful” parties in her 20s and giving fellow attendees advice on what hues looked best. Today, people are also turning to apps and even ChatGPT to help them pinpoint their season — though these results are typically not as accurate as a professional’s advice.
“When it’s done accurately, and a person sees themselves … in their most attractive form, it can touch someone very emotionally,” stylist, author, and professional color analyst Brenda Cooper told USA Today. “I’ve had many people with tears that just roll down their cheeks because they’re moved by it.”
To try it at home, wear a white shirt and sit in natural light — sans makeup — in front of a mirror. Hold up different colored articles of clothing (refer to the photo above), noting if the hue makes your complexion appear vibrant or washed out. Learn more about the process here.
Capsule Wardrobes
Capsule wardrobes save you time, money, and space, but there’s another major pro involved: They guarantee you always have a stylish outfit to don that you look great in.
We all know the experience of being late for an event because we’re surrounded by every article of clothing we own (flung all over the bedroom, no less) yet still seemingly have nothing to wear. Frankly, it doesn’t feel good, and that negative emotion can sometimes permeate the remainder of your day.
Capsule wardrobes address that by enabling you to create any number of clothing combinations from an assortment of timeless, staple pieces. You can build a capsule collection for each season, for the office, or an all-encompassing one. They typically see you pare your total wardrobe down to 30 or so pieces, focusing on essentials like white T-shirts, neutral-toned sweaters, and versatile accessories.
“There’s no need to toss everything to start over from scratch if you don’t have to,” Lakyn Carlton, a Los Angeles-based personal stylist and sustainability expert, told Harper’s Bazaar. “Evaluate your wardrobe and pull out the things you already wear, create new combinations from the old, and then if you absolutely need to add something, figure out what that is.”
Take a look at an example capsule wardrobe, and then learn how to create one for women and men.
RELATED: “The Aesthetics of Joy”: 10 Ways Our Surroundings Can Positively Influence Emotions
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