Dopamine Dressing 101

Refresh your wardrobe by embracing the feel-good, dopamine dressing trend.

Dopamine dressing is a feel-good fashion movement grounded in the connection between what we wear, how we feel, and how fashion/accessories can spark happiness and allow us to express ourselves. The term was coined by Dawn Karren, who describes how color, textures, and accessories can simulate the brain's release of dopamine, also known as the 'happy hormone'. Think a pair of bright earrings to add a confidence boost, a charm bracelet or bag charm to show off your playful side, or a colorful claw clip to brighten your day. 

Celebs including Anna Wintour, Elsa Hosk, Charli XCX, Doeichii and Gigi Hadid are a few to hop onto this movement, with brands such as Ronald Vander Kamp, Celine, Saint Laurent, Armani and more are incorporating vibrant hues into their collections, with playful color combinations and eye-catching accessories. Ready to join the movement? Read on to find out how. 

The Power of Colorful Accessories

Color has power. Dopamine dressing is all about using it to lift your mood. 

Red boosts confidence and brings energy and passion to your look. Orange adds warmth and cheer, while yellow sparks joy and creativity. Green grounds you and brings harmony. Blue calms the mind and builds trust. 

Pink adds sweetness and playfulness. Purple evokes imagination and a sense of luxe. And black delivers timeless edge and protective strength. 

Not ready to go head-to-toe in brights? Accessories are the easiest way to dip your toe into the trend. Whether it's a pop of color on your ears, wrist or hair, dopamine dressing is all about boosting your mood the way you see fit.

opt for complementary colors, aka colors opposite one another on the color wheel. The following color combinations are perfect for creating a truly vibrant look: red and green for a bold contrast, yellow and purple for a cheerful pop, blue and orange for striking energy, and red-orange with blue-violet for a dynamic pairing. You can also try a triadic combo like yellow, green, and red for a playful, standout effect. 

By asking yourself how you would like to feel on any given day, you can choose accessories to help guide your mindset. Still unsure where to start?

Browse our Multicolored Accessories Collection full of statement making accessories designed to lift any outfit and every mood. Think of radiant rainbows, color-block combos and nostalgic candy tones to brighten your day (and your wardrobe). 

Mood Boost Your Stack

Looking for the perfect mood-boosting statement? Start with wristwear. Take a leaf out of Hermès' book with an effortless yet bold set like our Red, Gold and Pink Bangle Pack , or let your personality shine through playful beads and charms. For an easy, stack-and-go option, try our Multicolored Beaded Stretch Bracelets Pack. 

Searching for the ultimate mood-boosting statement? Don't be afraid to pair colors and shades, such as pink and green, together, or opt for adding a pop of color to a minimalist chic fit, like a bright bangle with a black outfit. 

 

Ring In Some Joy

Whether you're going bold or keeping it low-key, rings are a versatile way to add a colorful accent to your everyday look.  Start with color-led statement pieces like mood rings or vibrant gemstone designs.

A turquoise stone, for example, offers a calming pop of color, while a mood ring brings a nostalgic, ever-changing element to your stack. 

Or opt for a color-center stone ring like our Gold Diamante Surround Green Ring to bring a grounded and eye-catching element to your stack.

You can also express your personality through charm-adorned designs with motifs like flowers or protective evil eyes in styles like our Gold Evil Eye Ring or our Rose Gold Butterfly Rings Pack. 

Add a single accent ring for a subtle touch, or dial up the vibrancy with multiple statement pieces in complementary shades, like our Rainbow Diamante Snake Statement Ring, to create a bold, mood-boosting look.

Once you've chosen your color focus, layer in a mix of textures, think adding the perfect mix of smooth, ribbed, or ridged finishes for added depth and dimension.  

Clip, Zip and Charm On

Consider experimenting with new hairstyles and accessories to unveil a new ’do and a happier you! Add a dose of brightness with an eye-catching claw clip to take your look from simple to standout.

Tap into the dopamine dressing trend by matching your hair accessories to seasonal color palettes like Pantone's buttery yellow tones. Try our Yellow Frangipani Hair Claw Clip or go for a multicolored look with our Bright Hair Ties Pack to instantly lift your mood and your outfit. 

Hair scarves are also having a major moment this season, worn by style icons like Hailey Bieber and Millie Bobby Brown and seen on runways from brands like Dsquared2. This Vacation Print Fabric Scarf makes it easy to join the movement, featuring a vibrant mix of grounding green, energizing orange, and soft pink. Wrap it around your ponytail, braid, or even your handbag for a chic, vacation-inspired twist. 

For even more flair, accessorize your bag with a playful charm like our Gold Cherry Red Key Chain to add personality and pop. Bonus trend tip: bag charms are also being clipped onto belts and bikinis (thanks, Emily Ratajkowski), so don’t be afraid to get creative with how you style them. 

Earrings and Necklaces To Make You Smile

A single pair of vibrant earrings is often enough to polish off your look. Think stunning shiny blue hoops, charm earrings featuring fruit, smiley faces, celestial motifs, or go for earring stack packs if one pair just isn’t enough.

For a statement look, opt for earrings with vibrant tones, such as our Green Aventurine Earrings , for a matte yet playful effect.

Alternatively, opt for multicolored earrings, such as our Gold Multicolored Diamante Stud Pack. Perfect for mixing, matching, and stacking multiple pairs, this pack lets you create a personalized, vibrant look.

Try combining different colors and sizes across both ears for a playful, dynamic style that effortlessly elevates any outfit. 

Necklaces can also make expressive and visible statements. The layered look is a powerful example of this, where you layer textures, materials, and colors.

For a calming effect, opt for our Blue Beaded Necklace, or choose a Gold-Plated Semi Precious stone necklace for added good luck, grounding, and balance. Or opt for a vibrant pendant necklace like our Gold Jewel Heart Necklace or our layered, multicolored beaded necklace. 

Or pair a beaded necklace with a shell one to create an easy, beach-inspired finish and to evoke those happy vacation memories.