COLOR YOUR WORLD

A LEADING EXPERT SHARES HOW TO BOOST YOUR MOOD

Dressing for the job you want, rather than the one you have, is a mindset many follow. But what about dressing for the mood you aspire to maintain? Many do just that and find when they pick out particular colors or textures and dress to impress, they feel better, are more confident, and overall happier. It’s called dopamine dressing, and the movement is taking social media by storm. The natural “high” one achieves from donning certain hues and patterns leaves those who practice it feeling uplifted and looking lovely. New York City Psychologist—The Fashionologist—Dr. Ania Schwartzman, shares what this social media trend is all about and how we, too, can feel as good as we look

Tell us about your practice and how you incorporate dopamine dressing into sessions with clients.
I founded The Fashionologist in 2018 to support individuals who want to master how to take control of their presence. My business is unique because I function as an image coach combined with the expertise of a clinical psychologist in practice for over twenty years. Getting dressed is more about clothing. It’s about well-being. I teach my individual and corporate clients that you must feel good if you want to look good. I incorporate research in the field of enclothed cognition and color theory to accomplish this.

What is dopamine dressing?  
Psychologist Karen Pine introduced dopamine dressing to explain that when people wear clothes that symbolize something of value, they feel more confident.

Does it work? Can you dress to boost your mood?
Yes, what you wear can affect your mood. Research in the field of psychology called enclothed cognition demonstrates that what we wear affects how we think and feel and how we manage ourselves in the world. So, when you put something on your body that symbolizes strength and confidence, your mood shifts in a way that makes you feel strong and confident. It is remarkable.

The last few years have been chaotic for most. Give us an example of how you would incorporate mood-boosting through fashion. 
Chaotic is one way to describe the last few years! I used clothing that helped me feel safe, comfortable, and hopeful during a time entirely out of my control. I chose to wear bright colors or patterns that helped me feel energized and focused. I used accessories and played up my “ear game” with eye-catching earrings, especially on zooms, when I only had a small box to make an impression. For important meetings, I wore shoes that made me feel confident and in control. Heels can do that for women. It’s worth mentioning that to feel good in your body and mind, you don’t need to wear a whole special outfit. Instead, you can boost your mood with accessories like a necklace or a scarf.

Do texture and prints come into play when dopamine dressing?
Absolutely! Textures and prints work to send messages to those around you about who you are right now. I had a client, a lovely, friendly, successful woman who could not understand why she wasn’t making connections with colleagues in her office. Most of her clothing was in solid dark colors. Her clothing sent a message that she was closed off and uninterested in connecting with anyone. How you dress matters for your mood and how others perceive you.

Can color therapy help balance the body’s energy or even heal physical and mental health?
Color therapy (or chromotherapy) is an alternative remedy. It uses color and light to treat physical or mental health challenges by relying on each color’s wavelength to influence the body’s neural pathways, specifically serotonin, and melatonin. 

I apply color theory in my work as The Fashionologist because we know that when we wear something we associate with solidity and confidence, we feel good about ourselves.

For more information about Dr. Ania Schwartzman, visit thefashionologist.com