VINTAGE DOPAMINE
13 February 2022
Hello my little rays of sunshine,
the sun is rising high and so is my mood currently. I do have the feeling, the older I get the more winter is draining my mood. So it came as a pleasant surprise that our old friend, the sun, who apparently has taken a nap as deep as I do after a weekend of champagne and tequila, woke up again. Once the sun is getting out you can catch me running right after it momentarily. And it feels soooo good. If not this, I’ve been watching Euphoria (again), met up with some beloved humans and am strictly following my sports plans. Get ready for hot girl summer 22, babes. So, nothing too special to report out of the Yoko-Headquarters, atm. If you got some tea to spill, hit me up though. Momma is bored.
Back to our looks! All in line with our rising, vitamin-d induced, dopamine levels, I chose this weeks look. The title “Vintage Dopamine” is based on the vintage look I chose for the pictures, on the one hand, and on the other it is the short version for “Dopamine Dressing”. A combination of words that lies in every fashion-loving-peoples mouth currently.
But what is dopamine dressing? Breaking it down, it means, that you influence your mood by the clothes you are wearing. The studies that have taken place regarding dopamine dressing don’t necessarily imply that let alone “colours” increase the chance of making us happier, but they show that clothing, that has a symbolic value to the wearing person, will make the person perceived with more confidence.
Though the study doesn’t show a connection to colours, the emotional link we have with colours is unarguable. May happiness have a different colour to every person on their own, we all can imagine a certain colour, which makes us happy, or think of a certain moment that is painted by designated colours to us.
(For me bright green and orange, still. I talked about that before. To my surprise - pink is running high right now, too. Although I’m still cautious wearing it because I’m highly afraid to be perceived as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. Wouldn’t be a bad comparison, though. Elle is sick.)
May happiness have a different colour to every person on their own, we all can imagine a certain colour, which makes us happy
Now I don’t want to brag too much, because, as with everything, cultural aspects largely determine how a colour is perceived, as well. But in the end, it all comes down to one theory, that we all can take our lesson from. The theory of “enclothed cognition”. This theory says, that if we wear clothes, that we associate with certain attributes, we will feel according to those.
Take that horrible uncomfortable pants, that you bought, thinking you’ll look banging in, but in the end, it just slipped in places where you never would want pants to slip into - doesn’t make you feel good, already thinking about it. Or about that one bright sweater, that you unpack when the sun is coming out - inducing happiness. Or about your favourite pair of joggers - making you feel all comfy and cozy.
And that is, what “dopamine dressing” implies. Now naturally some people feel more comfortable in 50 shades of blacks, others in bright colours - it is all up to you basically. What you feel good in, is what you will express in the end.
Though not fool-proof based, dopamine dressing, according to what we see on the runway momentarily, plays much with the thought of bright colours working against our post-winter / middle-of-year-3-pandemic-mood. And to be honest, I agree that we all deserve a big portion of bright colours after this.
Let’s dive into my interpretation of dopamine dressing.
As stated above, it is all about the green and oranges to me. I decided to go for my long, bright green knit dress, along with my orange GUESS-Handbag. Two pieces, that increase my level of happiness within 0.3 seconds when worn, not gonna lie.
I paired the bright pieces along with my black vintage leather jacket and some chunky sneakers. The jacket and sneakers are silent working basics, that make the look more casual and cool. By wearing the dress with sheer tights we show that it's time to let some skin peek out again, cause the temperatures slooowly but steadily rising - spring mood.
To add some contrast I added a golden chain-necklace (coool, like the jacket and shoes) and a bracelet as well as golden hoops, that match. Pro-Tip: If you’re wearing a colour that you find in your make-up palette, match them. I did so for the orange bag, with orange lipstick and nail polish. Et vóila - a dopamine inducing look.
Yoko-Drip-Tip:
1. The Throwback-Party-Playlist from Spotify. I admit you WILL cringe for the one or other title, but I had the best time dancing to Icona Pop through my kitchen.
2. When it’s sunny outside - take a quick walk. If I’m saying so, as the #1 Person who hates to go for walks, it is a fair tip. Just leave everything that you’re supposed to do for ten minutes and get your vitamin d level up a little.
That it for this week, sending you sunny hugs!
XX Yoko
