Five ways to use dopamine dressing to banish the ‘Blue Monday’ gloom

If you dislike Mondays, here is some reassurance; once you’ve got through today, every other start to the week will be comparatively blissful. If you hadn’t heard, today, January 20th, is Blue Monday, supposedly the most depressing day of the year.

Blue Monday’s origins are somewhat questionable; the date was anointed as such two decades ago by a British travel company called Sky Travel. In a press release, they claimed to have calculated the date through an unspecified “equation” that encouraged the booking of summer holidays as a convenient remedy.

Whether you subscribe to the idea or not, I think we can all agree that January can be a little dreary. Instead of – or as well as – booking a holiday, may I suggest you dabble in “dopamine dressing”, a term coined by psychologist Dawnn Karen in her 2020 book Dress Your Best Life to describe the act of choosing clothing (usually brightly coloured or bold) to boost one’s mood.

“I am a firm believer in the intrinsic link between colour and joy,” says presenter and Trinny London founder Trinny Woodall, who is no stranger to a vibrant outfit or accessory.

Dame Zandra Rhodes agrees: “There’s nothing like dressing up,” says the designer whose hot-pink hair and maximalist outfits have become something of a personal signature. “If you are dressed up and you feel great, it does something to you – you can prance along!”

The anecdotal evidence is there, but what about the science? “While the production of dopamine [a neurotransmitter that plays a critical role in mood regulation] is primarily influenced by brain chemistry, external factors like physical appearance and self-expression can stimulate its release indirectly,” says Dr Carolyn Mair, author of The Psychology of Fashion. “Wearing clothing that aligns with personal identity, values, or self-perception can trigger positive psychological responses, potentially leading to a dopamine boost.”

Now for the fun part: getting dressed. Eight fashion maximalists, known for their joy-inducing style, share their recommendations on how to “dress oneself happy”.

Brighten up

“On days I’m feeling drab, I use colour to shake myself out of that state,” says Woodall. “A full tonal outfit in chartreuse, fuchsia or cornflower blue will lift my spirits sky-high, and raise the spirits of those around me, too.”

“For me, it’s all about mood-boosting prints or strong block colour,” says Haeni Kim, whose fashion brand Kitri celebrates both. “I’m loving bright lemon yellow and rich burgundy, which goes well with more neutral grey, camel and black tones already in my wardrobe and gives them a new lease of life.”

Might dopamine dressing allow one to – as recommended by countless therapists – connect with one’s inner child? Celia Bernardo, founder of maximalist fashion brand Celia B, thinks so. “Colours and prints [...] remind me of childhood, a time when we’re naturally drawn to bright colors and creativity – a period of pure joy and freedom,” she says.

Start small

If you recoil at the thought of head-to-toe colour, opt for a single garment or accessory in a cheerful hue. “Consider a bright jumper or opt for a playful scarf,” recommends Woodall, while stylist and author Zeena Shah suggests adding “some sparkly socks to bring a bit of joy on a grey day”.

Alternatively, consider a pair of statement trousers to enliven a simple shirt or tee. “I love pairing a beautiful white shirt with colourful, patterned jeans or trousers,” says Shah.

Designer Zandra Rhodes only owns two pieces of black clothing – a couple of polo necks she wears beneath other (colourful) pieces. “I really don’t understand why people feel they’ve got to wear black,” she sighs. “A nice red or pink hat makes it much more jolly. Or add colour with a brooch and a scarf.”

As the founder and creative director of Loeffler Randall, Jessie Randall knows the power of a statement shoe. “I’m such a fan of having a pair of ‘wow’ shoes in your wardrobe,” she says, “[Choose a pair with] elements like bows, exaggerated proportions, bold, fun colours, crystals and shiny metallics.”

Consider mood-boosting makeup

“If all else fails, turn to your makeup palette and add a pop of pigment,” says Woodall. “Lip Glow in Indi [£17, from her brand Trinny London] is my go-to.” She also advocates the transformative quality of blusher. “It is the one item that instantly makes me feel more confident. It’s a magic bullet, more so than bronzer! It lifts the whole complexion.”

Rhodes’ trademark look – which usually comprises neon-pink hair, peacock-blue eyeshadow and fuchsia lipstick – is less subtle but just as effective.

“I don’t intend to go grey,” she says, of her cerise locks. “It’s a very jolly colour. It makes me feel good when I look at the mirror first thing in the morning. Sometimes, if I leave [my hair] for two or three washes [before dying it], it goes to pale pink and I start to feel a bit boring.”

Dress up, if only for yourself

When working from home (especially in the winter months), it can be tempting to slip out of bed and into your trusty tracksuit bottoms and a seen-better-days jumper – or worse yet, remain pyjama’d from morning until night. A great outfit shouldn’t be reserved for office days, says content creator and author Nicole Ocran.

“One of my New Year’s resolutions is to get up and get dressed every day. Especially as I work for myself and primarily work from home. Getting dressed every morning and deciding what I’m going to wear makes me feel like I’m starting my day with purpose, which immediately lifts my mood.”

Wear sequins in the day

We’ve all got something sequinned (or metallic, or velvet, or glittery) languishing in our wardrobes, waiting to be taken out somewhere fabulous. Find it and put it on immediately, even if it’s eight o’clock in the morning. Something with a little – or a lot – of sparkle is guaranteed to make supermarket trips or school runs significantly less banal.

Jenny Sprei used to work as a buyer for Net-a-Porter and now heads up Savoir, the fashion platform she founded that very much lives up to its tagline: “Welcome to a world of fashion and frills.” For her, that piece is a rainbow sequin skirt by Ashish.

“I don’t save it for special occasions,” she tells me. “I pair it with jeans and Converse for daytime errands – because why wait for joy?” I couldn’t agree more.