#Dopaminedressing is back: How mood boosting fashion has 'changed' lives

With #Dopeaminedressing trending online, many fashion lovers are posting about how the approach to dressing has changed their life and their mindfulness toward style.

The '90s minimalist fashion craze has recently swarmed social media following the release of Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr & Carolyn Bessette, which has reignited the world's obsession with Carolyn Bessette's chic, pared-back style.

This follows years of neutral shades like black, beige and grey being the dominant trend in fashion, seen both online and in stores.

However, many are choosing to resist by expressing themselves through clothes that release their happy hormone instead.

"Not to be dramatic but dopamine dressing changed my life !!!!" TikTok user @Alongcamehollyy captioned her 'fitspo' video.

So... what, exactly, is #dopaminedressing? 

Dopamine dressing is a fashion mindset encouraging people to choose to style themselves based on what makes them feel happy or confident.

The idea first began swirling around in the media after fashion psychologist Dawnn Karen wrote the book Dress Your Best Life in 2012. 

The book was set to empower women to take back control over their own interests and personal style.

It explains fashion shouldn't always be about how you look, but more so how what you're wearing makes you feel.

The novel also discussed how what we wear changes how we feel on the inside.

For example, people may feel more stressed wearing tight clothes compared to feeling more relaxed in more looser fitting clothes.

Or another example, how you carry yourself wearing pyjamas would be different vs wearing a more put-together outfit.

Lately, dopamine dressing is all about using clothes to express your identity and build wardrobe self confidence without getting stuck in a shallow rut of keeping up with the latest trends.

Why has it come back now?

Tiktok has helped fuel the movement, with women posting videos in clothing they say elevates their mood alongside the hashtag #dopaminedressing.

These videos show a less minimalistic approach to fashion than what's currently consuming media and clothing stores, with garments that may be thrifted or carefully picked out for their eye-catching features.

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People are showing off looks that aren't leaving out the bright colours, graphics, and array of patterns and animal prints, but rather celebrating them.

Others are showing the same kind of expression through their accessories, experimenting with bright statement earrings, a colourful handbag or anything that makes their outfit pop.

While a minimalistic look is a major trend right now – think neutral colours, minimal or lowkey accessories, pencil skirts – a concentration of this look can start to feel more like a uniform for some.

This doesn't leave much room for self expression, so it's hardly a surprise people are saying dopamine dressing has changed the way they view and feel about fashion.

Another content creator @alanabatza posted a carousel of her outfits during the week, including a bright green floral skirt with a matching graphic tee, captioning the post, "We love a bit of dopamine dressing."