Before we jump into the fashion talk, let's have a quick look at dopamine and how it affects your mood.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in our brain's reward and pleasure centers.

It's often referred to as the "feel-good" chemical because it's associated with feelings of pleasure, motivation, and reward.

Basically, it's responsible for making us feel good when we experience something pleasurable, like eating delicious food, receiving positive feedback, or... drumroll, please – wearing clothes we love.

So, the style is called dopamine dressing because the clothes you like are thought to trigger the release of this feel-good neurotransmitter.

So, does dopamine dressing work? The answer is YES – what we wear can and does affect how we feel. 

There's a wealth of research from psychologists, the fashion industry, and marketers confirming that colors, textures, patterns, and even the fit of our clothes can affect our mood. 

While these studies weren't specifically about dopamine dressing (because, let's face it, who'd fund that?), we have valuable insights from research aimed at understanding and shaping customer preferences, an area where fashion brands invest significant resources. 

The findings are crystal clear: colors have been found to influence mood and emotion through various psychological and physiological mechanisms.

Here're some research examples:

1. Physiological Responses:

Colors can elicit physiological responses in the body, such as changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and brain activity.

For example, exposure to warm colors like red and orange may increase arousal levels, whereas cool colors like blue and green may have a calming effect.

Source: Jacobs, K. W., & Hustmyer Jr, F. E. (1974). Effects of four psychological primary colors on GSR, heart rate, and respiration rate. 

2. Psychological Associations:

Colors are often associated with certain emotions or moods based on cultural and personal experiences.

For example, people might associate blue with calmness and serenity, while red may evoke feelings of passion or excitement.

Source: Elliot, A. J., & Maier, M. A. (2014). Color psychology: Effects of perceiving color on psychological functioning in humans.

3. Biological and Evolutionary Factors:

 Some researchers argue that certain color-emotion associations have evolutionary roots.

For instance, humans may have developed a preference for green due to its association with fertile landscapes, leading to feelings of tranquillity and relaxation.

Source: Hurlbert, A. C., & Ling, Y. (2007). Biological components of sex differences in color preference. 

4. Cultural Influences: Cultural background plays a significant role in shaping color-emotion associations.

For instance, in Western cultures, white is often associated with purity and innocence, while in some Eastern cultures, it may symbolize mourning and death.

Source: Saito, M. (1996). Creativity and tradition in Japanese arts. *Philosophy East and West, 46*

But it's not just about colors!

Evidence also shows how fabric texture can influence mood and emotion through various sensory and psychological mechanisms.

Here is an example of such study:

Greco, Alberto, et al. "Brain dynamics induced by pleasant/unpleasant tactile stimuli conveyed by different fabrics." IEEE journal of biomedical and health informatics 23.6 (2019): 2417-2427.

And let's not forget about the fit! There's fascinating research on the relationship between clothing fit and mood, indicating that softer, roomier clothes evoke a sense of relaxation.

I'm certain that's one of the driving factors behind the oversized trend craze.

Lindeman, Rins, Pieter Desmet, and Maurizio Filippi. "Wearing Black when feeling Blue: An exploration of the relationship between clothing and mood." (2023).