Dopamine Hit

The term "Dopamine Dressing" first came out a few years ago and the thought behind it has gained momentum ever since : Dress for yourself in the things that make YOU feel great! It's saying goodbye to caring about what other people think about your outfit, because the only opinion that matters is your own. It's taking ownership and control of how you feel by wearing what you love.

Dopamine is that wonderful thing (a neurotransmitter and hormone) that is released when you're doing something you enjoy- it's what makes you feel all those good, happy, joyful feelings when your favorite song comes on, or you're playing with a puppy, hiking through the mountains, eating a delicious meal, creating something... When you're doing something that you enjoy, your body releases dopamine as a reward for doing something seemingly good.

So while there is Dopamine Dressing (dressing completely and utterly for yourself) as a Personal Stylist, I often see a lateral problematic issue that can run alongside it : Dopamine Shopping

Dopamine Shopping is chasing the thrill of the purchase. These feel-good vibes aren't about the item itself and how you feel in it, instead it's solely focused on the excitement of attaining something new. These feelings could be centered around finding a good deal, purchasing an on-trend or covetable item, or simply the enjoyment of adding to your closet.

So what's the problem? Isn't feeling good the point?

While Dopamine Shopping can be fun, those great vibes are extremely fleeting. In fact, the joy that it gives you doesn't even last as long as Britney Spears' marriage to Jason Alexander- 55 hours (no shade to Britney).

The difficulty with Dopamine Shopping is that people not only have a jam-packed wardrobe, but it's packed with items that have any one, or a variety, of these issues :

• they don't fit properly

• don't look good after a couple of wears/washes

• they aren't functional for your lifestyle and are given a made-up scenario for when you might wear it. For example: you bought a suit, but don't have a corporate workplace, or a cocktail dress without an upcoming event, a saucy top date night outfit when date nights aren't happening at the moment...you get the idea.

• they don't suit your personal style but were told that it "looks SO good on you!"

• you don't know what to do with them.

• you don't feel good when you put it on.

This all leads to a lot of clutter, a lot of chaos, and a lot of confusion and frustration. You thought the item would be good when you bought it, you thought you might have the occasion to wear it, or you thought it might work better than it does.

If this is sounding familiar, there are some ways to shift from the fleeting feelings of Dopamine Shopping and step into a longer lasting, feel-good relationship with your clothes that comes with Dopamine Dressing.

Take A Break

The first step might be the toughest one- take a 1 month break from shopping. This detox period isn't just about saving money, it's about re-training your brain to not go searching for that dopamine-hit through quick purchases.

Here's the thing though, our brains (and bodies) crave the feel-good feeling. Rather than filling it with shopping, look for other healthier options that will yield the same result. If you're creative, try drawing, colouring, or creating a pottery. If you love puzzles, get some puzzles off marketplace or find an app that will work your brain. Go for a walk and listen to a podcast or audio book. Coffee with a good friend...lots of options.

Don't be tempted to deflect to purchasing items for a partner, pet or kids. The goal is to break the habit and form new, long-lasting habits.

Now that you're taking a month off of going to the mall or shopping online, you can now have the time to work through these three essential tasks that will help you move from fleeting Dopamine Shopping to long-lasting Dopamine Dressing :

Start With An Edit

To really move forward, you need to get rid of the clutter and mental load of your wardrobe. Starting off your day by looking at a closet of clothes that you don't wear doesn't set you up for success. Let me tell you, a good edit is worth the time and energy- after every Wardrobe Edit that I've done in over 6 years of styling, my clients always feel lighter, more positive about their clothes, and more aware of what they actually like.

During your edit process, be sure to organize your clothes into categories (short sleeve tops, blouses, sweaters, jeans, trousers, skirts...and so on). This allows you to see exactly what you have (are you surprised that you have 12 grey t-shirts?) and show you what you don't need to buy more of (grey t-shirts).

Determine & Understand What You Love

This is an exercise that I often recommend to my Personal Styling clients because it creates the space to be very deliberate about honing in on what their style is and what they feel the best in (which is the main key to creating your dream wardrobe) :

Pull out your favorite outfits, if you have 3-5, that's perfect. Lay the outfits on your bed and really look at each one and determine : the fit of each item (for example, if it's pants, are they : wide or slim leg; how do they fit in the hip, bum and thigh; are they full length or crop; high or mid rise, etc), the material (thin, thick, stretchy, etc), and any other details that you notice (where are the pockets; are they pull-on or zip fly; any fading/whiskering anywhere; etc). Do this for each item in each outfit, and it's even better to take notes so that you can start to see any trends.

This will help you pinpoint what it is that you feel great in, which is the knowledge and guidance that you need when putting together outfits and shopping for new things that have everlasting abilities.

Create An Ideas Board

Whether you use Pinterest, start a Google Drive or iCloud Folder, or simply have an image folder on your phone- start collecting photos of outfits that you see and love. Don't pay attention to the size or shape of the models and don't over analyze every aspect of the outfit. If you look at an outfit and think "Oh, I would love to wear that!" save it or take a screenshot.

As you continue to compile a good collection of outfits on your Ideas Board, you'll start to notice some trends of things that you're drawn to. Perhaps you'll notice similar colours or patterns, or outfit combinations (ie. lots of jeans, tee's and blazer combos, or lots of floral dresses, etc). Use these images as inspiration for creating outfits using what you have. Do not use these photos as an excuse to go buy a ton of items- that gives into the old habit of Dopamine Shopping. Use what you have and do the best you can.

When Shopping

Now that you have a great base wardrobe created, you understand the styles that you love and feel great in, and you have a sense of what your personal style is, you are now more tapped-in to who you are, and that is the start of an amazing personal style journey!

When you go shopping, follow these three steps :

1. Be Prepared : Have a list of items that you're searching for. Knowing what gaps are in your closet (which is where your Ideas Board comes in- you'll see what specific items you need to create the looks you love), and which items need to be replaced (which you noticed in your Edit step), you now have a plan and a mission.

2. Don't Settle : There is no room in your closet for items that are "good enough". Everything that you buy should be something that you love, fits properly without a lot of alterations, that you would wear within the next 2 weeks (meaning it works for your lifestyle), and it fits in seamlessly with what you have in your closet.

3. Know The Return Policy : Even when you've checked the boxes above (fit, you love it, works for your lifestyle, and fits-in), it's important to know exactly what the return policy is and commit to returning the items if it isn't as good as you thought it was.

Now here's where the real fun kicks in :

Tomorrow you wake up and decide to truly dress for you. You pick your favorite colour or patterned top with the pants or skirt that make you feel all kinds of incredible, add your favorite shoes and you're out the door to meet a friend for breakfast. When you arrive at the restaurant feeling all the good feels knowing that your outfit is thoughtful, intentional and 100% you, you get to soak in all the compliments and enjoy the ease and comfort of not having to fuss, shift, or adjust your clothes because something's just not right (because it's alllllll right!).

Added bonus is what's called a Dopamine Loop that only comes with Dopamine Dressing, and it looks like this :

You wear an outfit that you feel amazing in - People notice not only the clothes, but the way you hold yourself and the way you feel, and they comment on how good you look - You feel validated - You want more of it, not just because the compliments are nice, but because you felt great even before the compliments came - You put on another outfit that you feel amazing in...

Taking the steps towards Dopamine Dressing is integral to the everlasting relationship with not only your wardrobe, but with yourself. When you allow yourself to step into your personal style (which is your identity), you're allowing yourself to look in the mirror and see yourself in a new and elevated way, which can only result in deeper joy, satisfaction and contentment!

So go on, get those everlasting feel-good vibes going!

Remember : Fleeting Feelings < Everlasting Good Vibes

Personal Style is a journey, not a quick one-and-done process. If you find that you want some additional guidance on how to fully embrace your identity and to transform your wardrobe into one that allows you to do so with ease and efficiency, we should talk. You can check out my styling services in Calgary, or the Academy online courses, or simply send an email.