Can Dopamine Dressing Positively Impact your Classroom? Yes!

How ‘Dopamine Dressing’ Will Positively Impact Time in the Classroom

If you’ve ever worn a bright colour on a grey Monday morning and felt a tiny spark of joy flicker through the staffroom, you might have already experienced the power of dopamine dressing, without even realising it.

It’s a trending term made popular by TikTok but believe it or not, it’s backed by real science. Dopamine Dressing is a practical, personal, and surprisingly powerful way to influence your mindset, boost your confidence, and even improve the way you show up for your students.

**What is dopamine dressing?**

Dopamine dressing refers to wearing clothes that evoke positive emotions through colour, pattern, or style. The idea is based on the premise that what we wear affects our brain chemistry, particularly the release of dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, reward, and motivation.

According to fashion psychologist Dawnn Karen, author of Dress Your Best Life, when you intentionally choose clothes that bring you joy or remind you of happy memories, you can shift your mood and even boost your productivity.

Looking beyond the fun TikTok trend, emerging psychological research suggests that the colours we wear can influence not only how others perceive us, but how we perceive ourselves.

The research behind the teacher wardrobe

A 2012 study published in Colour Research and Application found that wearing certain colours can affect emotional states. For instance, red and yellow are often associated with excitement and energy, while blue and green are linked to calmness and balance.

Meanwhile, psychologist and author of The Psychology of Fashion, Dr. Carolyn Mair explains that clothes “can prime our cognitive processes and change the way we think and feel”.

In a teaching environment, where you’re constantly making quick decisions, managing social dynamics, and juggling administrative work, small mindset shifts like this can make a big difference.

According to a Forbes article by psychologist Tracy Thomas, dopamine dressing doesn’t have to mean bright colours or bold prints. It’s about what feels good to you. For some, that might mean a beautiful yellow blouse. For others, it could be the structure and fit of a perfectly tailored pair of pants.

Why this matters in the classroom

Let’s be honest, teaching can be emotionally demanding. You might often prioritise lesson plans, marking, and your students’ needs above your own needs. But by starting the day with intention, even if it is just by choosing an outfit that sparks a little bit of joy, you can help create a stronger foundation for the day to come.

Here’s how dopamine dressing might positively impact your teaching days:

Mood elevation: Feeling good in your clothes can lift your spirits on even the most hectic days.
Confidence boost: When you feel put together, you’re more likely to speak up in meetings, try a new teaching strategy, or handle conflict with composure.
Role modelling: Students notice more than what we realise. Wearing expressive, joyful clothing shows them that it’s okay to embrace individuality and confidence.
Stress buffer: Engaging in even a small act of mindfulness and self-care, like dressing with purpose every day, can help buffer against daily stressors and start your day on a more relaxed note.

And no, this isn’t my way of encouraging you to invest in a whole new wardrobe (sorry). Dopamine dressing is about tapping into what already works for you. That bright scarf you always get compliments on? That dress that makes you feel capable and calm? That’s dopamine dressing.

Practical tips for teachers

Start small. Add one joyful piece. A colourful hair clip, a bold lip, or a patterned shirt on casual Friday.
Check in with how you feel. Notice how different outfits impact your mood. Keep a mental note of your go-to, comfortable, power-pieces.
Play with colour. Experiment with hues that you’re drawn to. Need energy? Try red! Know you’re going to have a big day ahead? Try a soft green or lavender colour.
Stay authentic. The goal isn’t to look ‘loud’, it is to feel like your best self, capable of seizing the day!

At the end of the long, tiring school day, dopamine dressing is less about what’s on trend and more about how you feel in what you wear. Teachers who are juggling the complexities of a classroom might find value in this quiet but powerful act of self-care. Your colleagues and students might feel it, too!

So, tomorrow morning, before the bell rings, try asking yourself not just ‘what do I need to get done today?’ but ‘how do I want to feel today?’ and dress for that.

Are you taking the stresses of school home with you each day? Read our article on Four Ways You Can Leave the Stresses of School at the Front Gate.