{"id":5735,"date":"2025-09-20T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-20T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/?p=5735"},"modified":"2025-09-24T21:42:58","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T21:42:58","slug":"dopamine-dressing-helped-me-inject-joy-into-my-dull-and-drab-wardrobe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/20\/dopamine-dressing-helped-me-inject-joy-into-my-dull-and-drab-wardrobe\/","title":{"rendered":"Dopamine dressing helped me inject joy into my dull and drab wardrobe"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\t\"Nicola\t<\/div>
I also love that my wardrobe has the ability to bring joy to people I meet (Picture: Nicola Lewis)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While out shopping one day in October 2017, I noticed an incredible rainbow puffa jacket in a department store window and it stopped me in my tracks.<\/p>\n

\u2018Wow, this is sensational,\u2019 I thought and went to try it on immediately. As soon as I saw my reflection in the mirror, I knew I had to buy it. <\/p>\n

Unlike my other coats \u2013 which were all a bit boring, dark, and very plain \u2013 this one made me feel alive, bold, happy, and just more me.<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t know it then, but I\u2019d just stumbled across something known as dopamine dressing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Nicola\t<\/div>
I bought the rainbow puffa jacket and in the process I discovered a whole new Nicola (Picture: Nicola Lewis)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What is dopamine dressing?<\/h2>\n

As the name suggests, this way of dressing is all about wearing clothes that boost the happy hormone (aka, dopamine<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Often, that means opting for brighter colours, which have been proven to have an effect on us both on a psychological and emotional level.<\/p>\n

For example, greens are thought to help lower your heart rate and blood pressure, while warm tones like orange and red give some energy and sass. Yellows bring joy, meanwhile blues and pastels bring calm and soothe stress.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Nicola\t<\/div>
For 18 years, I wore nothing but the classics \u2013 neutrals, greys, navy, and blacks (Picture: Nicola Lewis)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But joyful dressing can also mean wearing clothes that you love, that express who you are, and that make your personality shine through. <\/p>\n

And it\u2019s fair to say that, prior to 2017, my wardrobe definitely didn\u2019t do any of those things.<\/p>\n

At that time I worked in the corporate world<\/a>, which meant that for 18 years I wore nothing but the classics \u2013 neutrals, greys, navy, and blacks.<\/p>\n

While these shades undoubtedly served their purpose \u2013 I never had to think too much in the mornings when getting ready, I could just grab something professional looking and go \u2013 looking back, I realised they also shaped the way I showed up in life.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DNfHuT8MeA9\/?hl=en<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

I never thought to ask \u2018Does this suit me? Does this feel like me? Am I happy wearing this?\u2019 because it didn\u2019t seem to matter. I was quite happy to slot into the background. After all, I was there to get the work done, not to be noticed.<\/p>\n

In reality, these dark clothes<\/a> were muting my personality and stopping me from expressing who I really was.<\/p>\n

Only after leaving the corporate world to start my own professional decluttering and organising business, This Girl Can Organise, did I feel empowered to experiment with colour. That\u2019s when I bought the rainbow <\/a>puffa jacket and in the process I discovered a whole new Nicola.<\/p>\n

From that moment on, that jacket became my iconic look and dopamine dressing became my way of celebrating who I am.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Nicola\t<\/div>
Instead of just grabbing something easy to wear, I choose my outfit based on how I want to feel (Picture: Nicola Lewis)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I started shopping in places like Never Fully Dressed, Joanie and Coast \u2013 brands known for bold patterns and colourful attire \u2013 and even found some wonderful coloured vintage pieces in thrift shops.<\/p>\n

Before I knew it, my wardrobe had transformed from dull and drab, to fun and fab. It\u2019s so colourful that, when I open the doors, I feel like a kid in a candy store and it makes me excited for the day ahead.<\/p>\n

Now, instead of just grabbing something easy to wear, I choose my outfit based on how I want to feel. If I need energy, I reach for reds and oranges. If I want calm, I\u2019ll lean into greens.<\/p>\n

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\n
POLL<\/div>\n
Poll<\/title><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"metro-poll__title\">Are you tempted to give ‘dopamine dressing’ a try?<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"metro-poll__list\">\n<li data-option=\"option1\" class=\"metro-poll__option\">\n<div class=\"metro-poll__score-bar-wrapper\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-poll__content\">\n<div class=\"metro-poll__text\">Absolutely – sign me up<span class=\"metro-poll__check-icon\"><title>Check<\/title><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-poll__score\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-option=\"option2\" class=\"metro-poll__option\">\n<div class=\"metro-poll__score-bar-wrapper\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-poll__content\">\n<div class=\"metro-poll__text\">No, I don't I could get away with it<span class=\"metro-poll__check-icon\"><title>Check<\/title><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-poll__score\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"398\" src=\"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/SEI_266647109-fa53-e1758203853362.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-24200061\" alt=\"Nicola Lewis - dopamine dressing\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>I\u2019d just stumbled across something known as dopamine dressing (Picture: Nicola Lewis)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Generally speaking, dressing in colour every day really does boost my mood and that\u2019s become even more important of late.<\/p>\n<p>I recently turned 50, so there are days when <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/menopause\/\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\">menopause<\/a> takes over and has me overthinking everything. But wearing colour always gives me confidence. It makes me feel radiant, happy, assertive and complete \u2013 and who wouldn\u2019t want to feel that way daily?<\/p>\n<p>I also love that my wardrobe has the ability to bring joy to people I meet.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve been stopped in the street by people who comment on my outfits or tell me I look great. Some will even ask where I\u2019ve purchased my dress or suit from so that they can buy it for themselves.<\/p>\n<p>Every now and then I will meet someone who is a little unsure about stepping out in colour. Often they\u2019ll say that it doesn\u2019t suit them, that they don\u2019t have the confidence to wear it or just don\u2019t know where to start. My advice? Start small.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"407\" src=\"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/SEI_266647031-a63e-e1758203832934.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-24200060\" alt=\"Nicola Lewis - dopamine dressing\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Dopamine dressing isn\u2019t about following trends (Picture: Nicola Lewis)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tNicola's tips for dopamine dressing\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Try adding a colourful scarf, a pair of bright earrings, or even a bold nail colour to your daily rotation <\/li>\n<li>Pair it with your usual neutrals and pay attention to how it makes you feel.<\/li>\n<li>From there, you can steadily expand your wardrobe to include every colour and fabric that works for you. Fair warning though: it will become your new obsession.<\/li>\n<li>As for confidence, that will come. You just need to ignore those negative thoughts about what others might say or think and do what feels right for you.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Remember, dopamine dressing isn\u2019t <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2014\/09\/17\/wear-them-now-trends-from-london-fashion-week-4871660\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2014\/09\/17\/wear-them-now-trends-from-london-fashion-week-4871660\/\">about following trends<\/a>, it\u2019s about asking yourself what colours and pieces make you feel like you. I\u2019d rather have a wardrobe full of clothes that I feel amazing in than the latest fad any day.<\/p>\n<p>For me, it all began with a rainbow jacket. For you, it might be a patterned blouse or even a colourful lipstick. Whatever the shade, you have to be brave enough to try.<\/p>\n<p>I promise once you do, you\u2019ll never look back \u2013 unless it\u2019s in a mirror.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Do you have a story you\u2019d like to share? Get in touch by emailing <a href=\"mailto:jess.austin@metro.co.uk\">jess.austin@metro.co.uk<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Share your views in the comments below.<\/strong><\/p>\n<section id=\"share-buttons-bottom\" class=\"share-buttons share-buttons-bottom\"><a class=\"metro-button share-bar-comments\" data-vars-position=\"bottom\" href=\"#metro-comments-container\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span><title>Comment now<\/title><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-comments__label\">Comments<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t<\/a><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I also love that my wardrobe has the ability to bring joy to people I meet (Picture: Nicola Lewis) While out shopping one day in October 2017, I noticed an incredible rainbow puffa jacket in a department store window and it stopped me in my tracks. \u2018Wow, this is sensational,\u2019 I thought and went to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5737,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5735"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5735"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5735\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5744,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5735\/revisions\/5744"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5735"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5735"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5735"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}