December 21, 2025 • 20 mins
Here Are Jessica Vander Leahy's 8 Favourite Dopamine Pieces
We all know that the wrong outfit can ruin a day. But did you know there is actual science behind the types of clothes that can scientifically boost your mood with real science words like serotonin and dopamine.
Leigh Campbell is joined by Model & Author Jessica Vander Leahy to give us the 4-1-1 on dopamine dressing. From colours, secret underwear and sentimental jewels, this weeks episode will make you feel good about getting dressed in the morning.
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CREDITS:
Host: Leigh Campbell
Guest: Jessica Vander Leahy and you can listen to Jessica's new podcast The Soft & Curious
Producer: Grace Rouvray
Audio Producer: Tegan Sadler
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
You're listening to a mom with Me podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Hi friends, it's Chelsea Whoy Here. The team and Nothing
to Wear have sifted through the archives to bring you
some of our personal favorite episodes for you enjoy every
Monday and Friday over the next three weeks, in addition
to our brand new Wednesday episodes, giving you even more
content to enjoy while you soak up the sun. Did
you know that there's actual science behind what clothes can
actually boost your mood?
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Well?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
I didn't. In today's episode, we're diving into the art
of dopamine dressing. Let's get into it.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Whoever said orange is a new pink with seriously.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Disturbed laurels for spraying groundbreaking?
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Oh my god, you have to do it. You live
for fashion. Hello, and welcome to Nothing to Wear, the
podcast that solves fashion problems and levels up your wardrobe.
I'm Lee Campbell, and each week we talk to someone
wonderful who is here to help us. We're going to
chat about using and getting more out of the clothes
we already own and what is and isn't worth adding
(01:09):
to our wardrobe. On today's episode, we're talking about how
our clothes and our emotions can be intertwined. Maybe you've
heard the term emotional dressing or dopamine dressing. This is
where specific choices are made to evoke positive emotions and
boost our mood. It emphasizes the psychological impact of dressing
and the potential for clothing to influence one's emotional state.
(01:32):
We have bought back model and author Jessica Vandalay. If
there was an ambassador for emotional dressing, Jessica would absolutely
be the one. So jess welcome back to the show.
Loved having on talking about boobs last time, but today
we're talking about emotional dressing. It's something you're very passionate about.
So before we break it down into different elements, when
(01:54):
did you first come across his philosophy of being an
emotional dressing I mean.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
I don't know if I originated the term, but I
will take it if someone want give it attributed to me.
But I definitely I've always been an emotional dresser. I
remember even girlfriends from high school will remember me sitting
in my towel before going to a party and really
deciding how I felt that night and like kind of
choosing my personality. And you know, sometimes it was dark
(02:21):
and moody, and then sometimes it was a bit more
glitz and glammy. And yeah, it was always just a
process of really tuning into how I was feeling I
love before I chosen.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Out for it. And do you do that every day?
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Now?
Speaker 4 (02:31):
I don't have time to really do it every day,
but I definitely think I do it more intuitively. And
if I'm not feeling what I'm wearing, I will run
back inside and change. It's kind of a running joke that, like,
I will have something on walking around the house and
then just before we're about to walk out the.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Door, I change. I do too, because I'm like, I
loved this dress a few weeks ago when I last
saw it, but it's not me right now, Yes, it's
not me. We change, we're allowed to exactly. So do
you know is there psychology attached to different colors, like,
for example, can you explain how we're affected by yellow
and pink and all that jazz?
Speaker 4 (03:00):
There is studies where they've talked about dopamine dressing, which is,
you know, referencing brighter colors like pink and yellows and
shades of green that do kind of encourage the body
to release a little bit more dopamine and serotonin. In
saying that, I think it's just pretty logical as well, Like,
even if we're considering the rooms that we're in and
the spaces that we're in, you know, we are always
(03:22):
trying to set up like ambient atmospheres no matter where
we are, and so colors are really.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Important for that. They do channel different energy. I think
this might be a bit of a silly question, but
what if you don't like one of those colors? What
if you're not into the color, do you reckon? The
psychology still works.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
I don't know if anyone's never not into a color,
I just think that they don't know how to wear
it yet. Yeah, you know, I think that there is
a way that everyone can wear all different shades, and
it just matters what you pair it with and what
you contrast it with. If you're not into pinks and yellows,
that's fine. You can wear more cooling, soothing colors like
blues and purples. I know, I didn't really ever think
(04:00):
that I had a favorite color until one day I
was kind of coordinating my wardrobe by colours, and I
just had all this lilac and it was never a
conscious choice yeah, so I must find that to be
some kind of soothing color.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Off destraw into it. It's funny out. A couple of
weeks ago, I went to a surprise fortieth and the
husband organizing has said, wear some green. I was like,
I don't have any grain. And then I went to
my dresses and I was like, oh, wow, I have
like fifteen green dresses. Yeah, I do, and it's obviously
a color I really like. So that's interesting.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
I think you gravitate towards what you like and what
maybe channels a better energy for you.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Yeah, what makes you feel good. I wonder if it
works just looking at someone, Like, if you're wearing head
to tell yellow, do I get the dopamine just looking
at you?
Speaker 4 (04:38):
As you know, I live in bar and Base, I'm
pretty wooo adjacent. I mean, I do believe in auras
and like the energy that someone's giving off. And I
think that we can see a whole bunch of things
that we can't really put our finger on.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Sometimes you're in the office, someone will walk in wearing
a vibrant thing. I'm like, Oh, that's so joyful. It
lifts my mood and I'm not even wearing it. Yeah, totally.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
And I think that's it, Like our eyes are always
going to be attracted to the colorful. Whether we're all
comfortable enough to wear it, I think we definitely can
appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Okay, So I love this philosophy. I want to incorporate it.
A lot of my wardrobe's neutral. I'm getting into colours.
But what if we're having this to run around doing
the chores tracksuit kind of day.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
Yeah, I think that's a feeling too. That's like you're
obviously channeling being comfortable. You want to have a little
bit more of an easy, relaxed feeling again, like you
can work your outfit. It depends on the accents and
things like that that maybe you're putting together. I all
of a sudden had a lot of bone and sand
and beige during the pandemic in my tracksuits because we
(05:37):
were at home, and that's when loungewear.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Really took off. Yes, so I feel like.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
A lot of people and then coming out of the
post pandemic era into all the colors that were on
the Runway and Barbiecore yeh. And in saying that, I
think you can lounge around in whatever color that you're feeling.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
It's also I think just thinking about it, like I
walk into a store and I go need new active wear.
Types must be black, liggings, gray mile for active wear.
But how silly I'm missing out on so many great colors.
It's not in my head. I don't even head to
that section, but I would love some lie like active wear.
Speaker 4 (06:07):
I think you'll notice as well. We are very suggestible,
like if you've ever seen a magician or like you know,
David Blaine, even though I'm not really into magicians, they
can do things to our mind that makes it suggestible
to us. So if you want something gray male, it's
because you've been seeing it somewhere, Like you know, it
doesn't just come from really nowhere. And you know that's
why kind of window shopping is a really powerful tool.
(06:28):
And all of that VM that you see when you're
walking past them, all all of a sudden you come
out with twenty million things that you're.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Like, h what did I just do it? I liked peach, Yeah,
And that's all your emotions just being intercepted. So it
took me almost decades, many decades, late thirties to get
into color. I was like, navy was a bold color
for me until recently, and then I just went for it.
I just bought color. Does it feel better? Yes, it's
so exciting. I don't want to be her every day.
(06:54):
Sometimes oh well, I'm wearing a bright top today actually,
but this is Yeah. Sometimes I go for my monochrome.
Sometimes I go for an all block, you know, white
or black or gray. But what are your suggestions if
someone's like, yeah, colour sound exciting. I want to feel
happy by what I wear? How do they start?
Speaker 4 (07:10):
So often when even scrolling Instagram or any social media,
really you can kind of pick up on people's styles
that you like. And I think that the saved collection
is a really under used file in your kind of
social media ammunition when it comes to collating stuff that
you actually see and it resonates with you. And so
(07:34):
I just think, scroll through the gram HiT's safe. Every
time you see something that you like, and then go
back and look at it and you can kind of curate. Okay,
I'm clearly gravitating towards this and that and this and that,
and you know, it doesn't have to be like a
rainbow vomited on you, and it doesn't have to be
sparkles everywhere. But I think that you can kind of
(07:55):
just very slowly pick sort of style icons that embrace
color and shape and texture and see where maybe you
can land appropriating that.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Yeah, and I love what you said at the start
about people think they can't wear a certain color. But
like I was like that with yellow, and then I
went and tried on like you know, there's mustard, there's
are true, there's so many different types of yellows, and
then I found the yellows that worked for me, and
now it's one of my favorite colors. But it's not
canary yellow for me. There's kind of ones at either
end of the spectrum. So go to a store, try
a bunch of stuff on. Like, if you're not drawn
(08:27):
to that color, fine, because maybe your emotions don't like it.
But if you're like, oh, I'm curious, but doesn't suit
my skin tone, just wak it on and see how
you go.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
Well totally, and also allow yourself to change, like you know,
don't stunt yourself, and this is my style and this
is how it's going to be forever, Like your hairstyle changes,
so like maybe you couldn't wear yellow if you were
more of a grassy blonde at some point in your life,
But then you know ten years later, you've changed your
hair color, you've softened your shapes, change whatever, and then
all of a sudden you've discovered this whole avenue of
(08:55):
clothing that you'd kind of written off. And I think
that's the thing. Don't just peak once like always, because
not a law that you've set for yourself. You can
change your mind absolutely, and you're allowed to change the
way you dress, even if it's just like incrementally.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Okay, So does it go beyond colors? Do you think
where else can we get sort of our dopamine hit
from our wardrobe? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (09:25):
I do think it goes beyond colors. I mean, there's
such a thing as sentimental dressing, whether it's a band,
T shirt or I think, especially now being in my
mid thirties, I can look back and see when things
were swung back around, and there's that nostalgic feeling for like, okay, platforms,
but then there's also sentimental items that you can wear.
And I think that everyone can more so relate to
(09:47):
this when you think of something like a couple of
years ago, my father passed away, and all of a sudden,
we were all walking around the house in his clothes. Yeah,
five of us kids just roaming around, and it was
a really unsaid thing. And that's a really powerful way
that dressing and clothes can kind of carry a lot
of meaning.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
I so agree. I sleep in one of my dad's
T shirts every night.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
Yeah, I think it's really common for someone to want
to just keep something physical that they can actually put on,
and again it's soothing.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
Yeah, And my mum had this I have it now,
this most amazing floral seventies dress that when I watched
her get ready when I was I was like, she's
a princess. And then I kept it and then I
just happened to choose to wear it one day. I
was twenty weeks pregnant, and that's when my husband and
I kind of had our first like photos and I
was obviously pregnant, and then to look at those photos
and I'm wearing my mum's dress and it was such
a beautiful time. I will never like I would rescue
(10:38):
that dress from a house fire. Yeah, it's so special.
Speaker 4 (10:42):
Exactly, And like, you know, it carries more meaning than
just the fabric or the brand or you know, how
it fits and looks.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
It's how it actually feels on you. Yeah, totally. Okay,
I want to talk about the mind field that is
body positivity. Dressing to accentuate your curves comes easy to some,
but it's also deeply triggering for others, depending on their
relationship with their body. So do you think embracing dopamine
dressing can help in these situations? I do think so.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
I think if you are feeling a little bit low,
you can put on a brighter color, or you can
just challenge yourself with the way something fits and just see,
you know, walk out the door and just see how
it feels, you know.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
And I'm not a fan of.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
That toxic body positivity, you know, where you can't acknowledge
having an off day or like, hey, I'm just not
really feeling how big my boobs are, or you know,
lost a bit of weight and I'm just not knowing
how to dress my shape right now.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
And that's really normal.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
And natural, and so you should then be more than
ever channeling the way that your clothes are making you feel.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Yes, and it doesn't matter if it's black or rainbow.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
Yeah, and also ignoring the size tags, yeah, you know,
and just really noticing the fit and the feeling.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
That's why I sometimes love thrift shopping or vintage shopping
because there isn't a size and you just put it on,
you go, I love this. You don't know if it's
four or fourteen or whatever. Who cares. And it's like,
I mean, I know we need the sizing and particularly
online shopping, but sometimes people get so stuck on that
number that an item they might love they don't want
to buy because it's a number that doesn't speak to
them totally.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
And I also believe that, like, you can wear something
outside of size. And I know there's some things that
I wear that are much smaller than what my measurements say,
but I don't mind. I'm like, let it spill. Yeah,
it doesn't get it, It doesn't bother me.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Yeah. So you're positive but not toxically body positive. And
there is a line, and.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
I think on that note of body positivity, and especially
when it comes to gym gear and stuff like that, well,
I'm not someone who really falls for those slogan shirts that.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Are like I don't sweat, I sparkled. You know.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
I find them kind of painful to look at, but
you don't need to listen to me.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
That's not for me.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
If that means that it makes you work out harder,
it channels a kind of thriving energy inside of you.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Go for it. It's your time. Yeah, where your dopamine
slogan on your T shirt? Exactly. Okay, let's talk about
seasons or in summer right now, which kind of just
generally gives us more options in terms of fun and
colors and patterns. How do you, personally or how do
you suggest we bring joy to our wardrobe in the
colder months, the darker months when we just want to
wear a black coat.
Speaker 4 (13:12):
Again, it's just about popping color somewhere where it's a
colorful beanie. I know when I lived in New York
and it would be snowing and all you'd have is
just puffer jackets. But I knew like I could wear
something just with a pop of color, like a beanie
or a scarf, or even if your undies a colorful
you know.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
Yeah, well I'm someone mine, yeah exactly.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
But you feel like you feel sexy on the inside,
and that's what matters.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
Right for me? For winter, it's also about textures, because
I just I'm not a winter girl. I don't like it,
and so I normally just throw on whatever. But then
if I actually kind of add interest with textures, that
makes me happy. And I know it's not that bright
dopamine dressing, but it's that effort that I'm putting in
in a season that I can't really be bothered and
I'm like, oh, look at my textured layers. I'm so
you know, stylish, Yeah, totally. And that's the thing.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
Some textures just bring even more of an elegant, elevated feeling,
Like you know, if you're going to wear something like
one hundred wool or cashmere or you know type of
ca yeah, cable. I mean, you always feel like you
belong at like a Kennedy family.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Or at least at the golf club. Let's help some
corporates or those in a uniform, because this is hard.
These are the type of people that often can't lean
into color the way we've been discussing, or even sentimental
items unless they're sentimental undies. What can women do to
find joy in their clothing if they're kind of restricted
(14:33):
by what they have to wear.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
Well, I think for something like this, you know, you
do want to still express yourself if you have to
wear a uniform every day, and some uniforms are just
so unflattering or they just don't feel like you. But
I think if there's room to accessorize, you can do that.
You know, even if I think about when I went
to school, like I wear my socks up yep, and
(14:56):
if I could get away with it, I wear a
little bit of jewelry, you know, with just matching ring,
with a matching necklace or earring or whatever, just channeling
something you.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Could think like pearls.
Speaker 4 (15:05):
If you've got to wear something all black, it's kind
of like really elevating that uniform.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
And make it, I guess your own. I also think.
I mean I worked at David Jones and the shoe
department many decades ago. It was black, and so I
would just go black and buy crappy, cheap what ifs.
And then I bought a few nice black pieces that well,
I guess kind of expensive for me at the time
and more elevated. And the times have all those two work.
I felt better, I had a better day, I was
(15:31):
more confident, and so it was just like, yeah, sure
I'm restricted by the colors, but it's kind of just
caring in that moment because I was wearing it five
days a week. So what's the point of not caring
five days a week? Yeah, totally.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
And I think shoes especially are something where you can
dress for the job that you want, you know, and
if you've spent a little bit of money and you've
saved up and there's something that you've chosen and that
you feel really proud of when you slip them on
and really comfortable, then that's kind of dressing for the
life that you want. And that's that channel. Is really
like emotions where you've kind of got that ambition inside.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Yeah, you're projecting. Yeah, I love manifesting.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Manifesting it's very expensive.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
How wonld are these twenty five percent? So we're talking
happiness in clothing. What is your budget dopamine dressing item?
Speaker 4 (16:31):
Well, I know I've heard it on a podcast recently
that you guys threw shade on havyannas a little bit.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
Oh, it wasn't actually me, It wasn't well, it was
I was just asking Paul or if you could wear
them to like a wedding. But I love my brown
havanas for the beat. Well that brown, But that's what
I was going to say.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
Havanas are really I mean they're not super cheap anymore.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
They used to be really cheaply really young. They were't
that like fourteen dollars in the day.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Yeah, they've kind of crept up, but they're so colorful
and there's lots of patterns, and I'm going to say
the habbies are back. That's a really easy way, especially
for summer, to slip on a little bit of color
and play with something that's you're not forcing it in
an outfit.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
Yes, and they're very functional. So if you have to
choose a havana color, what color are you wearing right now?
Speaker 4 (17:12):
I'm wearing a white pear with a gold heavy symbol,
but then it's got what's like Hawaiian flowers on the bottom.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
Oh cute, you are soaper viron My budget is a
print on a relatively new collection. So Atmisson here is
an iconic brand and Tina, who has been on this
show before, she's actually designed a collection for this brand,
and it's called the Bora Bora Print. I'm going to
show it to you. It comes in that wrap skirt.
Oh stunning, I imagine that on you, And it also
(17:41):
comes in sort of a mini with a puffy sleeve
and it's just so joyful. It's like a very bright
apple green and then a pink and a palm tree
and it's very not me.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
And those colors immediately channel holiday to me, don't they Like?
I just look at that and it makes me happy.
So I think I might get the dress in that.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
It's seventy nine to ninety five, so affordable for an
item of clothing. All right, what's your bougie dopamine item.
Speaker 4 (18:04):
It's not super bougie, but they're handmade bags that I'm
bringing out.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
Yes, I'm so excited you can talk about Yes.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
So they're bill and bags and hopefully by the time
that this podcast has dropped or get a something is
the name of them?
Speaker 1 (18:19):
What does that mean? That means everything?
Speaker 4 (18:21):
So it's talk pigeon, which is the kind of creole
language that we speak in Papua New Guinea. Yes, And
that for me is very sentimental because they're very colorful,
hand woven bags. There's beautiful women making them, and they
kind of weave a lot of love into them, and
it's just like a kind of cultural When I wear them,
I feel like it's a little bit of home with me.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Yeah. Oh, that's happiness in so many ways. So if
they're out, we'll put a link in the show notes
if there's delays, Because I know how these things go
having a small business. How can people find out more
about them or get.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
A dot something on Instagram or you can just go
to my Instagram. Because I'm spooking them.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
A lot, I'll just stalk you. How much are well?
Speaker 4 (19:00):
They're going to be a reasonable price point, I would say,
but they're definitely a little bit of a splurge as
a gift, and they're going to be the two hundred
marks oh for handmade.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
Hello, I'm going to have five. My quick Bougie is
an Alime's dress that you can get exclusively on Modes fourtieth.
So the two powerhouses that is Modes fourtief and Alimes
have done a collection. It's called the Osma Bodice Dress
in cream multi. Look at this. It's a fancy dress
for the party season. I think peacocks, I don't know.
There's swells, there's blue, there's green, there's mustard, there's very
(19:33):
adult chevita. Isn't it just so beautiful? I'll wear it once,
which is why I probably won't buy it, but I
will keep lusting after it. It is also five hundred
ninety five dollars, which is probably why I will just
admire it. But it is just a fun festive dress
and I feel like you can wear that to a wedding.
It's also a print that's not everywhere, so you could
wear it for seasons to come when it doesn't scream
(19:53):
one particular season.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
Well sometimes as well. It's like keeping a formal dress
like that. You kind of every time you wear it,
you think of all the occasions that you wore it.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
So again, sentimental item, Well, I think you've just convinced
me to spend six hundred dollars. Thank you so much
for joining me. As always, I love chatting to you
about everything, particularly happiness when it comes to close. So
thanks for joining me. Thank you, Thank you for listening
to Nothing to Wear. If you loved this podcast, please
rate us and review us wherever you get your podcasts.
(20:21):
See you next week. This episode was produced by Grace
roof Ray with audio production by Teagan Sadler. This podcast
is powered by our subscribers. If you believe in independent
women's media and want to support us, a subscription to
MoMA Mia costs less than the price of a coffee
Each month there's a link in the show notes and
a big thank you to all our current subscribers.
You're listening to a mom with Me podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Hi friends, it's Chelsea Whoy Here. The team and Nothing
to Wear have sifted through the archives to bring you
some of our personal favorite episodes for you enjoy every
Monday and Friday over the next three weeks, in addition
to our brand new Wednesday episodes, giving you even more
content to enjoy while you soak up the sun. Did
you know that there's actual science behind what clothes can
actually boost your mood?
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Well?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
I didn't. In today's episode, we're diving into the art
of dopamine dressing. Let's get into it.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Whoever said orange is a new pink with seriously.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Disturbed laurels for spraying groundbreaking?
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Oh my god, you have to do it. You live
for fashion. Hello, and welcome to Nothing to Wear, the
podcast that solves fashion problems and levels up your wardrobe.
I'm Lee Campbell, and each week we talk to someone
wonderful who is here to help us. We're going to
chat about using and getting more out of the clothes
we already own and what is and isn't worth adding
(01:09):
to our wardrobe. On today's episode, we're talking about how
our clothes and our emotions can be intertwined. Maybe you've
heard the term emotional dressing or dopamine dressing. This is
where specific choices are made to evoke positive emotions and
boost our mood. It emphasizes the psychological impact of dressing
and the potential for clothing to influence one's emotional state.
(01:32):
We have bought back model and author Jessica Vandalay. If
there was an ambassador for emotional dressing, Jessica would absolutely
be the one. So jess welcome back to the show.
Loved having on talking about boobs last time, but today
we're talking about emotional dressing. It's something you're very passionate about.
So before we break it down into different elements, when
(01:54):
did you first come across his philosophy of being an
emotional dressing I mean.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
I don't know if I originated the term, but I
will take it if someone want give it attributed to me.
But I definitely I've always been an emotional dresser. I
remember even girlfriends from high school will remember me sitting
in my towel before going to a party and really
deciding how I felt that night and like kind of
choosing my personality. And you know, sometimes it was dark
(02:21):
and moody, and then sometimes it was a bit more
glitz and glammy. And yeah, it was always just a
process of really tuning into how I was feeling I
love before I chosen.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Out for it. And do you do that every day?
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Now?
Speaker 4 (02:31):
I don't have time to really do it every day,
but I definitely think I do it more intuitively. And
if I'm not feeling what I'm wearing, I will run
back inside and change. It's kind of a running joke that, like,
I will have something on walking around the house and
then just before we're about to walk out the.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Door, I change. I do too, because I'm like, I
loved this dress a few weeks ago when I last
saw it, but it's not me right now, Yes, it's
not me. We change, we're allowed to exactly. So do
you know is there psychology attached to different colors, like,
for example, can you explain how we're affected by yellow
and pink and all that jazz?
Speaker 4 (03:00):
There is studies where they've talked about dopamine dressing, which is,
you know, referencing brighter colors like pink and yellows and
shades of green that do kind of encourage the body
to release a little bit more dopamine and serotonin. In
saying that, I think it's just pretty logical as well, Like,
even if we're considering the rooms that we're in and
the spaces that we're in, you know, we are always
(03:22):
trying to set up like ambient atmospheres no matter where
we are, and so colors are really.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Important for that. They do channel different energy. I think
this might be a bit of a silly question, but
what if you don't like one of those colors? What
if you're not into the color, do you reckon? The
psychology still works.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
I don't know if anyone's never not into a color,
I just think that they don't know how to wear
it yet. Yeah, you know, I think that there is
a way that everyone can wear all different shades, and
it just matters what you pair it with and what
you contrast it with. If you're not into pinks and yellows,
that's fine. You can wear more cooling, soothing colors like
blues and purples. I know, I didn't really ever think
(04:00):
that I had a favorite color until one day I
was kind of coordinating my wardrobe by colours, and I
just had all this lilac and it was never a
conscious choice yeah, so I must find that to be
some kind of soothing color.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Off destraw into it. It's funny out. A couple of
weeks ago, I went to a surprise fortieth and the
husband organizing has said, wear some green. I was like,
I don't have any grain. And then I went to
my dresses and I was like, oh, wow, I have
like fifteen green dresses. Yeah, I do, and it's obviously
a color I really like. So that's interesting.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
I think you gravitate towards what you like and what
maybe channels a better energy for you.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Yeah, what makes you feel good. I wonder if it
works just looking at someone, Like, if you're wearing head
to tell yellow, do I get the dopamine just looking
at you?
Speaker 4 (04:38):
As you know, I live in bar and Base, I'm
pretty wooo adjacent. I mean, I do believe in auras
and like the energy that someone's giving off. And I
think that we can see a whole bunch of things
that we can't really put our finger on.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Sometimes you're in the office, someone will walk in wearing
a vibrant thing. I'm like, Oh, that's so joyful. It
lifts my mood and I'm not even wearing it. Yeah, totally.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
And I think that's it, Like our eyes are always
going to be attracted to the colorful. Whether we're all
comfortable enough to wear it, I think we definitely can
appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Okay, So I love this philosophy. I want to incorporate it.
A lot of my wardrobe's neutral. I'm getting into colours.
But what if we're having this to run around doing
the chores tracksuit kind of day.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
Yeah, I think that's a feeling too. That's like you're
obviously channeling being comfortable. You want to have a little
bit more of an easy, relaxed feeling again, like you
can work your outfit. It depends on the accents and
things like that that maybe you're putting together. I all
of a sudden had a lot of bone and sand
and beige during the pandemic in my tracksuits because we
(05:37):
were at home, and that's when loungewear.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Really took off. Yes, so I feel like.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
A lot of people and then coming out of the
post pandemic era into all the colors that were on
the Runway and Barbiecore yeh. And in saying that, I
think you can lounge around in whatever color that you're feeling.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
It's also I think just thinking about it, like I
walk into a store and I go need new active wear.
Types must be black, liggings, gray mile for active wear.
But how silly I'm missing out on so many great colors.
It's not in my head. I don't even head to
that section, but I would love some lie like active wear.
Speaker 4 (06:07):
I think you'll notice as well. We are very suggestible,
like if you've ever seen a magician or like you know,
David Blaine, even though I'm not really into magicians, they
can do things to our mind that makes it suggestible
to us. So if you want something gray male, it's
because you've been seeing it somewhere, Like you know, it
doesn't just come from really nowhere. And you know that's
why kind of window shopping is a really powerful tool.
(06:28):
And all of that VM that you see when you're
walking past them, all all of a sudden you come
out with twenty million things that you're.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Like, h what did I just do it? I liked peach, Yeah,
And that's all your emotions just being intercepted. So it
took me almost decades, many decades, late thirties to get
into color. I was like, navy was a bold color
for me until recently, and then I just went for it.
I just bought color. Does it feel better? Yes, it's
so exciting. I don't want to be her every day.
(06:54):
Sometimes oh well, I'm wearing a bright top today actually,
but this is Yeah. Sometimes I go for my monochrome.
Sometimes I go for an all block, you know, white
or black or gray. But what are your suggestions if
someone's like, yeah, colour sound exciting. I want to feel
happy by what I wear? How do they start?
Speaker 4 (07:10):
So often when even scrolling Instagram or any social media,
really you can kind of pick up on people's styles
that you like. And I think that the saved collection
is a really under used file in your kind of
social media ammunition when it comes to collating stuff that
you actually see and it resonates with you. And so
(07:34):
I just think, scroll through the gram HiT's safe. Every
time you see something that you like, and then go
back and look at it and you can kind of curate. Okay,
I'm clearly gravitating towards this and that and this and that,
and you know, it doesn't have to be like a
rainbow vomited on you, and it doesn't have to be
sparkles everywhere. But I think that you can kind of
(07:55):
just very slowly pick sort of style icons that embrace
color and shape and texture and see where maybe you
can land appropriating that.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Yeah, and I love what you said at the start
about people think they can't wear a certain color. But
like I was like that with yellow, and then I
went and tried on like you know, there's mustard, there's
are true, there's so many different types of yellows, and
then I found the yellows that worked for me, and
now it's one of my favorite colors. But it's not
canary yellow for me. There's kind of ones at either
end of the spectrum. So go to a store, try
a bunch of stuff on. Like, if you're not drawn
(08:27):
to that color, fine, because maybe your emotions don't like it.
But if you're like, oh, I'm curious, but doesn't suit
my skin tone, just wak it on and see how
you go.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
Well totally, and also allow yourself to change, like you know,
don't stunt yourself, and this is my style and this
is how it's going to be forever, Like your hairstyle changes,
so like maybe you couldn't wear yellow if you were
more of a grassy blonde at some point in your life,
But then you know ten years later, you've changed your
hair color, you've softened your shapes, change whatever, and then
all of a sudden you've discovered this whole avenue of
(08:55):
clothing that you'd kind of written off. And I think
that's the thing. Don't just peak once like always, because
not a law that you've set for yourself. You can
change your mind absolutely, and you're allowed to change the
way you dress, even if it's just like incrementally.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Okay, So does it go beyond colors? Do you think
where else can we get sort of our dopamine hit
from our wardrobe? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (09:25):
I do think it goes beyond colors. I mean, there's
such a thing as sentimental dressing, whether it's a band,
T shirt or I think, especially now being in my
mid thirties, I can look back and see when things
were swung back around, and there's that nostalgic feeling for like, okay, platforms,
but then there's also sentimental items that you can wear.
And I think that everyone can more so relate to
(09:47):
this when you think of something like a couple of
years ago, my father passed away, and all of a sudden,
we were all walking around the house in his clothes. Yeah,
five of us kids just roaming around, and it was
a really unsaid thing. And that's a really powerful way
that dressing and clothes can kind of carry a lot
of meaning.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
I so agree. I sleep in one of my dad's
T shirts every night.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
Yeah, I think it's really common for someone to want
to just keep something physical that they can actually put on,
and again it's soothing.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
Yeah, And my mum had this I have it now,
this most amazing floral seventies dress that when I watched
her get ready when I was I was like, she's
a princess. And then I kept it and then I
just happened to choose to wear it one day. I
was twenty weeks pregnant, and that's when my husband and
I kind of had our first like photos and I
was obviously pregnant, and then to look at those photos
and I'm wearing my mum's dress and it was such
a beautiful time. I will never like I would rescue
(10:38):
that dress from a house fire. Yeah, it's so special.
Speaker 4 (10:42):
Exactly, And like, you know, it carries more meaning than
just the fabric or the brand or you know, how
it fits and looks.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
It's how it actually feels on you. Yeah, totally. Okay,
I want to talk about the mind field that is
body positivity. Dressing to accentuate your curves comes easy to some,
but it's also deeply triggering for others, depending on their
relationship with their body. So do you think embracing dopamine
dressing can help in these situations? I do think so.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
I think if you are feeling a little bit low,
you can put on a brighter color, or you can
just challenge yourself with the way something fits and just see,
you know, walk out the door and just see how
it feels, you know.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
And I'm not a fan of.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
That toxic body positivity, you know, where you can't acknowledge
having an off day or like, hey, I'm just not
really feeling how big my boobs are, or you know,
lost a bit of weight and I'm just not knowing
how to dress my shape right now.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
And that's really normal.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
And natural, and so you should then be more than
ever channeling the way that your clothes are making you feel.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Yes, and it doesn't matter if it's black or rainbow.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
Yeah, and also ignoring the size tags, yeah, you know,
and just really noticing the fit and the feeling.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
That's why I sometimes love thrift shopping or vintage shopping
because there isn't a size and you just put it on,
you go, I love this. You don't know if it's
four or fourteen or whatever. Who cares. And it's like,
I mean, I know we need the sizing and particularly
online shopping, but sometimes people get so stuck on that
number that an item they might love they don't want
to buy because it's a number that doesn't speak to
them totally.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
And I also believe that, like, you can wear something
outside of size. And I know there's some things that
I wear that are much smaller than what my measurements say,
but I don't mind. I'm like, let it spill. Yeah,
it doesn't get it, It doesn't bother me.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Yeah. So you're positive but not toxically body positive. And
there is a line, and.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
I think on that note of body positivity, and especially
when it comes to gym gear and stuff like that, well,
I'm not someone who really falls for those slogan shirts that.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Are like I don't sweat, I sparkled. You know.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
I find them kind of painful to look at, but
you don't need to listen to me.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
That's not for me.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
If that means that it makes you work out harder,
it channels a kind of thriving energy inside of you.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Go for it. It's your time. Yeah, where your dopamine
slogan on your T shirt? Exactly. Okay, let's talk about
seasons or in summer right now, which kind of just
generally gives us more options in terms of fun and
colors and patterns. How do you, personally or how do
you suggest we bring joy to our wardrobe in the
colder months, the darker months when we just want to
wear a black coat.
Speaker 4 (13:12):
Again, it's just about popping color somewhere where it's a
colorful beanie. I know when I lived in New York
and it would be snowing and all you'd have is
just puffer jackets. But I knew like I could wear
something just with a pop of color, like a beanie
or a scarf, or even if your undies a colorful
you know.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
Yeah, well I'm someone mine, yeah exactly.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
But you feel like you feel sexy on the inside,
and that's what matters.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
Right for me? For winter, it's also about textures, because
I just I'm not a winter girl. I don't like it,
and so I normally just throw on whatever. But then
if I actually kind of add interest with textures, that
makes me happy. And I know it's not that bright
dopamine dressing, but it's that effort that I'm putting in
in a season that I can't really be bothered and
I'm like, oh, look at my textured layers. I'm so
you know, stylish, Yeah, totally. And that's the thing.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
Some textures just bring even more of an elegant, elevated feeling,
Like you know, if you're going to wear something like
one hundred wool or cashmere or you know type of
ca yeah, cable. I mean, you always feel like you
belong at like a Kennedy family.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Or at least at the golf club. Let's help some
corporates or those in a uniform, because this is hard.
These are the type of people that often can't lean
into color the way we've been discussing, or even sentimental
items unless they're sentimental undies. What can women do to
find joy in their clothing if they're kind of restricted
(14:33):
by what they have to wear.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
Well, I think for something like this, you know, you
do want to still express yourself if you have to
wear a uniform every day, and some uniforms are just
so unflattering or they just don't feel like you. But
I think if there's room to accessorize, you can do that.
You know, even if I think about when I went
to school, like I wear my socks up yep, and
(14:56):
if I could get away with it, I wear a
little bit of jewelry, you know, with just matching ring,
with a matching necklace or earring or whatever, just channeling
something you.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Could think like pearls.
Speaker 4 (15:05):
If you've got to wear something all black, it's kind
of like really elevating that uniform.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
And make it, I guess your own. I also think.
I mean I worked at David Jones and the shoe
department many decades ago. It was black, and so I
would just go black and buy crappy, cheap what ifs.
And then I bought a few nice black pieces that well,
I guess kind of expensive for me at the time
and more elevated. And the times have all those two work.
I felt better, I had a better day, I was
(15:31):
more confident, and so it was just like, yeah, sure
I'm restricted by the colors, but it's kind of just
caring in that moment because I was wearing it five
days a week. So what's the point of not caring
five days a week? Yeah, totally.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
And I think shoes especially are something where you can
dress for the job that you want, you know, and
if you've spent a little bit of money and you've
saved up and there's something that you've chosen and that
you feel really proud of when you slip them on
and really comfortable, then that's kind of dressing for the
life that you want. And that's that channel. Is really
like emotions where you've kind of got that ambition inside.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Yeah, you're projecting. Yeah, I love manifesting.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Manifesting it's very expensive.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
How wonld are these twenty five percent? So we're talking
happiness in clothing. What is your budget dopamine dressing item?
Speaker 4 (16:31):
Well, I know I've heard it on a podcast recently
that you guys threw shade on havyannas a little bit.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
Oh, it wasn't actually me, It wasn't well, it was
I was just asking Paul or if you could wear
them to like a wedding. But I love my brown
havanas for the beat. Well that brown, But that's what
I was going to say.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
Havanas are really I mean they're not super cheap anymore.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
They used to be really cheaply really young. They were't
that like fourteen dollars in the day.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Yeah, they've kind of crept up, but they're so colorful
and there's lots of patterns, and I'm going to say
the habbies are back. That's a really easy way, especially
for summer, to slip on a little bit of color
and play with something that's you're not forcing it in
an outfit.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
Yes, and they're very functional. So if you have to
choose a havana color, what color are you wearing right now?
Speaker 4 (17:12):
I'm wearing a white pear with a gold heavy symbol,
but then it's got what's like Hawaiian flowers on the bottom.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
Oh cute, you are soaper viron My budget is a
print on a relatively new collection. So Atmisson here is
an iconic brand and Tina, who has been on this
show before, she's actually designed a collection for this brand,
and it's called the Bora Bora Print. I'm going to
show it to you. It comes in that wrap skirt.
Oh stunning, I imagine that on you, And it also
(17:41):
comes in sort of a mini with a puffy sleeve
and it's just so joyful. It's like a very bright
apple green and then a pink and a palm tree
and it's very not me.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
And those colors immediately channel holiday to me, don't they Like?
I just look at that and it makes me happy.
So I think I might get the dress in that.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
It's seventy nine to ninety five, so affordable for an
item of clothing. All right, what's your bougie dopamine item.
Speaker 4 (18:04):
It's not super bougie, but they're handmade bags that I'm
bringing out.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
Yes, I'm so excited you can talk about Yes.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
So they're bill and bags and hopefully by the time
that this podcast has dropped or get a something is
the name of them?
Speaker 1 (18:19):
What does that mean? That means everything?
Speaker 4 (18:21):
So it's talk pigeon, which is the kind of creole
language that we speak in Papua New Guinea. Yes, And
that for me is very sentimental because they're very colorful,
hand woven bags. There's beautiful women making them, and they
kind of weave a lot of love into them, and
it's just like a kind of cultural When I wear them,
I feel like it's a little bit of home with me.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Yeah. Oh, that's happiness in so many ways. So if
they're out, we'll put a link in the show notes
if there's delays, Because I know how these things go
having a small business. How can people find out more
about them or get.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
A dot something on Instagram or you can just go
to my Instagram. Because I'm spooking them.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
A lot, I'll just stalk you. How much are well?
Speaker 4 (19:00):
They're going to be a reasonable price point, I would say,
but they're definitely a little bit of a splurge as
a gift, and they're going to be the two hundred
marks oh for handmade.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
Hello, I'm going to have five. My quick Bougie is
an Alime's dress that you can get exclusively on Modes fourtieth.
So the two powerhouses that is Modes fourtief and Alimes
have done a collection. It's called the Osma Bodice Dress
in cream multi. Look at this. It's a fancy dress
for the party season. I think peacocks, I don't know.
There's swells, there's blue, there's green, there's mustard, there's very
(19:33):
adult chevita. Isn't it just so beautiful? I'll wear it once,
which is why I probably won't buy it, but I
will keep lusting after it. It is also five hundred
ninety five dollars, which is probably why I will just
admire it. But it is just a fun festive dress
and I feel like you can wear that to a wedding.
It's also a print that's not everywhere, so you could
wear it for seasons to come when it doesn't scream
(19:53):
one particular season.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
Well sometimes as well. It's like keeping a formal dress
like that. You kind of every time you wear it,
you think of all the occasions that you wore it.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
So again, sentimental item, Well, I think you've just convinced
me to spend six hundred dollars. Thank you so much
for joining me. As always, I love chatting to you
about everything, particularly happiness when it comes to close. So
thanks for joining me. Thank you, Thank you for listening
to Nothing to Wear. If you loved this podcast, please
rate us and review us wherever you get your podcasts.
(20:21):
See you next week. This episode was produced by Grace
roof Ray with audio production by Teagan Sadler. This podcast
is powered by our subscribers. If you believe in independent
women's media and want to support us, a subscription to
MoMA Mia costs less than the price of a coffee
Each month there's a link in the show notes and
a big thank you to all our current subscribers.
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