For Real Dopamine Dressing

‘Dopamine dressing’ is a fashion buzz phrase, with significant predictions that it’s the biggest trend of 2022. Dressing with intention can boost your mood, triggering dopamine release. Yes, that can even involve dressing dangerously with color-pop clothes, when your closet is a sea of black.

In January 2022, Harper’s Bazaar asked: “Should we all be dopamine dressing?” Pinterest labels ‘dopamine dressing’ as a top trend. This trend is a smile you can wear.

AOC raved about the ‘British Vogue Color Pop Joy covers 2021’ when they broke. It helped, of course, that Achenrin Madit, Janaye Furman, Mona Tougaard and Precious Lee were center stage in the fashion story, styled by Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele in her first British Vogue cover story.

In reality, we made a very big deal out of those covers and a much-needed fashion injection of joy, joy, joy. And as always, we linked straight to Edward Enninful’s EIC letter.

In AOC’s commentary, we noted that even a fake smile decreases stress. You may be fighting the moment with fakery, but your brain is fighting back because smiles are good for you. With a bit of practice the next smile may be genuine and then the dopamine hit it too big a high to let go of.

I wore a pink fedora hat in Manhattan for years — with a trench coat — and strangers thanked me. Dopamine dressing is for real. Having lost it, this moment tells me it’s time for a new one.

Alek Wek in Sunday Times Style

The March 6 weekend issue of The Sunday Times Style makes the case for a bright future. Top model Alek Wek explodes in the season’s boldest looks with a collection of tailored and sleek silhouettes in vivid imagination colors. Célia Azoulay styles Alex in Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Fendi, Gucci, Isabel Marant, Jade Swim, Max Mara, Missoni, Fendi and Schiaparelli. Paolo Kudacki [IG] is behind the lens in smile-worthy images.