What do You Mean…Only Clothes!

Just clothes…

In some parallel universe, I know there is a Marsha who truly thinks what she’s wearing isn’t important. She just grabs any ol’ thing in her dresser (because her closet is truly closet sized) and wears it all day long. This Marsha thinks, “They’re just clothes so their only function is to keep me from being nekkid and to keep me warm. They don’t even have to match.” Yeah, that Marsha is waaaaay different from this Marsha with the exception, maybe, of not having to match!

Are they though…

I admit there are times I look in my closet and wonder at how all of that got there. OK, there are a lot of times I look in my closet and wonder how all of that got there. For one thing, I rarely get rid of anything. I like to think of my style as a bit on the classic side…hahaha!!! Well, there are some things that are classics! The bigger reason I don’t get rid of things is I like them. I Marie Kondo-ed my closet before we moved and after. Everything in my closet still sparks joy. Granted, most of it doesn’t fit right now. But, I’m giving myself the grace of another year before I admit defeat. Another reason for my large closet is my abundance of tee shirts…white specifically! I love a good white tee and have several in different styles. So, my clothes are not just clothes to me. They’re a reflection of me.

When you look good…

You all know how to finish that sentence, right? When you look good, you feel good. I’ve heard that old chestnut for years, but I never really gave it much thought until lately. I’ve read a lot about dopamine dressing. Many bloggers and influencers have taken that to mean bright colors. The reality, though, is dopamine dressing is wearing what makes you feel good. If grey makes you feel good, then you would be dressing the dopamine way just as much as the next person who might be wearing neon green.

Dopa…what?

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, or chemical messenger, and is partially responsible for a range of things including learning, motivation, sleep, and mood. It also affects how we feel pleasure. It’s produced in your brain especially if your diet includes things like almonds, avocados, bananas, beef, chicken and eggs because they contain L-Tyrosine, the protein needed to make dopamine. Activities like exercising and meditating as well as getting enough sleep and just thinking about the good things in your life will aid in the production of dopamine.

The connection…

So, it only makes sense (and dopamine) if we are wearing something that makes us feel good, our dopamine levels will rise and we will feel even better…if we feel better, our dopamine levels rise…kind of a non-vicious cycle, right? As with all things, moderation is key. Too much of a good thing can lead to aggression and poor impulse control.

Unscientific conclusion…

I very much believe in the power of dopamine dressing. I can see it in my eyes. What? Not the mirror? Nope, it’s the eyes. They give it away every time. As I look through my archives of photos, I can tell the times I absolutely loved what I was wearing. My eyes are shining. One would even say I was smizing! This article does a wonderful job of laying out the way we should shop. Will I be employing these methods? Nope! I love the thrill of the hunt. If you like to read the science, here’s another article with a little more information.

The outfit…

Two years ago, I didn’t own a single kimono. I told myself I couldn’t find one that fit me right. Now, I realize it was more I felt uncomfortable in them. I felt like I was wearing a costume. But, I’ve embraced my own style. You can read a little more here about my style. Fashion rules would say I shouldn’t wear flowy, full pants with a flowy, full top. Pshaw! I like flowy with flowy! These are the Studio Wide leg pants from Athleta in a wonderful greyed out lavender or lavendered out grey. The kimono has a color similar to it running through the pattern. Interestingly, I’m wearing them in the post I linked above with another kimono! I couldn’t find a top that spoke to me so I went the safe route and wore a white tee. You may notice the tee appears to be different lengths in the photos. We took the first set with it tied at the back to shorten it. I didn’t really like that look so I went with it longer in the others. I’m still scanning my closet for a better match.

Zia Stella…

Today’s outfit features this gorgeous Sunshine Short Kimono from Zia Stella. As with Kantha Bae, I can’t link to my exact kimono because each piece is unique. Zia Stella is a woman-owned business (her name is Becky, and she’s sweet as can be) located in Indiana of all places. You can read her story here. She is running a sale right now for 20% off with the code SPRING20. I purchased my Kantha coil bracelet and necklace from Becky earlier this year. You can find her on Instagram here.

The Lewk!

It’s strange I picked these Jack Rogers sandals considering they are the same as the ones in Tuesday’s post! Still going with the purple theme, I chose amethyst jewelry to accessorize the look. The necklace with the large chunks of amethyst is very old and from Coldwater Creek. The earrings are also old and from eBay.

Wrap it up, Marsha!

A year ago, I hadn’t even heard of dopamine dressing. But, that doesn’t mean I haven’t been doing it! I have always known when I was wearing an outfit that made me feel good. I’ve also known when my outfit was a flop, and my mood reflected that. So, can we talk? How do you feel about dopamine dressing? What colors or styles make you feel good? Have you followed a plan or formula for shopping in order to guarantee you’re increasing your dopamine levels? Or, do you think it’s all a lot of malarkey? Please leave a comment or two, and we can talk! I promise to respond as soon as possible.

Affiliate links and such:

Just a reminder that Marsha in the Middle may use an affiliate link. Those links are usually italicized. If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link I provide, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support. As of right now, I also have an affiliate code for Kantha Bae! Use MarshaintheMiddle in the promo code box for $5 off any order (excluding Bestie restocks)! I have also become a Halftee Partner. Use the code, MARSHA2098, for 20% off any purchase. I am now an affiliate with Clara Sunwoo. You can use my code, MARSHA10, for 10% off your entire order. In case you didn’t know, bloggers must disclose the use of affiliate links. That’s why I include this in each post.

Thank you!

I am so thankful you are here however you got here! Thank you to those who subscribe, comment, and email. I truly do appreciate you! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.

Where you can find me:

Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, My Bijou LIfe, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, The Grey Brunette, and Away from the Blue. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, and I do deClaire and Mummabstylish. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend with Michelle every Thursday. I also host Final Fridays on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!

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