Dopamine dressing – can you dress yourself happy?

The fashion world has bought into the idea that wearing La La Land yellow and head-to-toe colour will act as an antidote to these dark days. Now here comes the science part "

So-called dopamine dressing is everywhere this season. Based on the idea that wearing overtly fun clothes can help lift your mood in depressing times, it begs the question: can wearing "happy clothes" really make us more happy?

The fashion industry is certainly trying to convince us that it can be done. The catwalks have been a Skittles packet of brights - from Fanta orange at Armani and scarlet at Maison Margiela to Beauty and the Beast yellow and candyfloss pink at Giambattista Valli. Accidentism is in full flow; eyeshadows are fizzy tangerines and lemons; and hair's gone blorange. Grazia magazine is encouraging us to test the power of positive thinking in Bella Freud Good Times tops. And elsewhere it's all about head-to-toe green and rainbow bags in the shape of elephants.