Dopamine Dressing: How to Inject Colour Into Your Wardrobe
Confession: when it comes to my style, I am a die-hard black-aholic.
Open my wardrobe and you will be met by a sea of black, with the odd denim or leopard print thrown in. Like the proponents of the classic non-colour say, it does make dressing easier. It goes with everything and is seasonless, keeping its timeless appeal as trends fade. But after watching myself in an Instagram reel on summer dressing, where I showed off black outfit after black outfit, I was hit with the realisation that for all its advantages, black is also...well, quite boring.
By Sascha Camilli: writer, speaker, activist, and vegan fashion expert.
Don't get me wrong: there will never be a time when I will throw out my pleated black maxi skirt, trusted black biker jacket, and FRIDA ROME WEEK/END bag for an array of rainbow-hued tie-dye. But let's just say that my style is in need of a little refresh, colour-wise. While the science of dressing for joy is still unclear, I know one thing for sure: looking at my wardrobe in its current state dampens my naturally sunny mood. It's time to branch out and wear the rainbow.
For summer, the most obvious place to start is a colourful – maybe patterned – summer dress. In fact, colour-phobes like me can start off slow by choosing a pattern rather than a full-on neon hue. And trust me when I say that Baukjen is the best place to go for those. Demure florals mingle with delicate paisley print, tonal animal-inspired patterns, and abstract designs. Ready for a full-body colour experience? Baukjen's hot pink, sapphire or deep green styles are waiting.
More into adding hues to your accessories rather than clothing? Check out Italian vegan handbag brand Miomojo's selection of soft pastel-toned cross-bodies, or more vivid reds, blues, and greens. If you're going more for a rich, jewel tone, choose Kaila Katherine's sophisticated take on burgundy, mustard, and other grown-up colours that will see you into autumn, too.
Adding a pop of colour to your shoes is another easy way to bring a hint of hue to your look. If you're a colour novice, it's a particularly non-threatening way to get started in the mesmerising world of dopamine dressing. V.GAN and Minuit Sur Terre both have zesty, vivid designs to get you started, whether you're a fan of heels or flats. That way, you can get away with keeping the rest of your outfit pretty demure.
There is no better time than summer to experiment with colour – and once you get started, you'll be surprised at how good it feels. Guess all that research that links colour to mood was really onto something. Black, I will always love you, but you will have to take a backseat for now. At least until October.
By Sascha Camilli
About Sascha
Sascha Camilli is a vegan fashion writer, speaker and activist. Her book Vegan Style is out now on Murdoch Books. For more about Sascha, you can read our interview with her or read her newsletter Kind of Wild. You can also follow her on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
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