The overwhelmingly positive response to the blockbuster “Barbie” movie has been attributed to many things, from its feminist messaging to nostalgia. However, there’s one aspect that has been overlooked during discussions about why we love Barbie dolls — and the movie inspired by the doll — and that’s how the bright colors worn by Barbieland inhabitants contribute to the characters’ happiness and confidence.
Notice how all the Barbies dress in bright colors? Whether they’re Supreme Court justices, scientists, an astronaut — even the President of the U.S.A. (or just “stereotypical Barbie”), they are all adorned in brilliant neon colors, polka dots patterns and dazzling designs. And this radiance conveying the Barbies’ happiness directly transfers to moviegoers whilst being transfixed by Barbie’s relatable story. Although the excellent screenplay and well-developed characters are certainly what drive the positive feelings that emanate from the movie screen, let’s take a moment to explore the fashion. Specifically, how what we wear can not only make us happier but also build our confidence.
Writing in the British edition of Harper’s Bazaar magazine, journalist Amy De Klerk asked: “Could having more color in our wardrobes actually help us to feel happier?” She postulates that there is an age-old association between brightly colored clothing and happiness. Interestingly, wearing clothes to be joyful actually has a name: dopamine dressing.
There is hard science behind dopamine dressing. It shows that what we wear can impact how we feel. According to Stephanie Watson of Harvard Women’s Health Watch, dopamine “is a type of neurotransmitter that is most notably involved in helping us feel pleasure as part of the brain’s reward system.” Researchers have identified “happy colors” as yellow, orange, pink, red, peach, light pink and lilac in bright, warm shades. The brighter and lighter the color, the happier and more optimistic it can make you feel. Sounds like Barbieland, right?
That optimism translates to confidence. According to Merriam-Webster, “optimism is an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome.” In other words, optimism equals confidence.
As in all things, the colors and styles that make us happy and confident are highly individual. Some people may not like bright colors and have discovered that wearing black makes them feel powerful and that makes them happy. But it all comes down to dressing for dopamine.
In addition to adding a few bright items to your wardrobe — shirts, purses, shoes and hats included — find the pieces in your current closet that you’ve worn to happy occasions. It is likely that putting them back on will give you a warm feeling (aka dopamine rush) and offer a jolt of confidence as well.
What I have found during my years working in the fashion industry, and more recently guiding countless women as they redesign their own wardrobes, is that no matter what you choose to wear while walking down your runway, remind yourself to behold the glow on the outside, and you’ll quickly find yourself feeling beautiful, optimistic and confident inside as well—just like Barbie.
Jennie Stehli is the founder of Shop Curated Closet by CALYgirlSTYLD, an online shopping boutique. She is a California native and South Florida resident with over 20 years in the fashion and beauty industry, working most recently at ELLE magazine, Glamour and Us Weekly. Visit ShopCuratedCloset.com.
