Self-love takes a myriad of different forms. For some, it’s a weekly papering day session, a quiet night in with a book in hand sipping wine next to heavenly-scented candles. Others prefer daily mood pick-ups that adhere to their self-care ritual: color psychology.
In a world so chaotic and fast-pased, it’s dauntingly easy to lose track of who you are which can negatively affect our mood, attitude, and confidence. But what’s the correlation between our moods and fashion? Colors can impact feelings and behaviors.
How colors can affect our mood
Women have been using their sartorial experiments as an antidote to those moody days for years now." Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions," the artist Pablo Picasso mentioned. Different colors evoke different emotions. Have you ever found yourself feeling a bit on edge while you are sitting in a yellow room? Does the color blue make you feel relaxed?
For example, colors such as red, orange, and yellow, which all belong in the “red area” of the color spectrum, are known for evoking emotions ranging from feelings of warmth and comfort to rage and hostility.
On the other hand, we have colors that are in the “ blue area” of the spectrum. Blue, purple, and green are known for channeling feelings of calmness. However, these colors may often bring to mind feelings of sadness or indifference.
Dopamine dressing: the importance of color in your wardrobe
As fashion futurist Geraldine Wharry explains it, dopamine dressing is “Dressing up is a way of reclaiming happiness regardless of outside factors.” Happy colors are bright, warm colors like orange, pink and red. Even pastel colors (peach, light pink, or lilac) can positively affect your mood. Basically, the lighter and most vivid colors, the more cheerful and optimistic it will make you feel.
Highly pigmented, bold hues like royal blue, turquoise, magenta, and emerald green make you feel and look refreshed and energized.
“Joy dressing with bright colors is a trend about look-good, feel-good outfits you can wear on repeat,” says Brooklyn-based fashion stylist and TV expert Denise Caldwell, who also often finds herself opting for florals, rainbows, and abstract patterns for a pop of personality. So, it’s safe to say that you can actually dress yourself happy - if you really take a moment to understand the importance of color in your wardrobe.
Amazingly, colors can even change our heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration, as researchers Keith Jacobs and Frank Hustmyer discovered in 1974.
How to Work Color into Your Wardrobe
No matter if you are into versatile layering basics or prefer something more eye-catching that blurs the line between art and fashion, here, at Ms. Meri Mak, we’ve got you covered.
You do not need to overhaul your wardrobe to introduce color into it. A few pieces or accessories such as timeless and artist-designed silk scarves rich in vivid hues, emotion-provoking dresses like our Abdon Dress even pastel-soaked knits such as the Jolie Knit Cardigan can uplift and motivate you.
Remember, our personal style is where fashion and self-expression collide - and we should treat it as such.