Melbourne has long been known as the epicentre for dressing in ‘all black’, where one’s wardrobe only covers
a predominately dark palette of moody greys, mourning blacks and some splashes of white and beige thrown
into the mix, usually in wardrobe staples. If you’ve thought this, you certainly aren’t wrong. I too can admit,
mind you it was sometime ago, that my closet was 90% black and lacking any major colour.
Now, as we seem to have fully emerged from the darkness of our lockdown past, I’m sensing an energy shift
across the fashion offering in Melbourne and it appears that it’s being embraced with open arms. It is with
much gusto that I present to you a key seasonal trend for Spring Summer 2022/23; Dopamine Dressing!
You might have heard or read about the trend ‘dopamine dressing’ over the last few months as it has started
to gain momentum here in Melbourne. For those of you who may be wondering what all the fuss is about, I’ve
perused all of Highpoint this week to bring you up to speed on a trend that fully embraces the boldest of
colours and prints.
My first stop was Gorman who have the most graphic and vivid prints to select from. I know that dopamine
dressing is basically their yearly mantra, so it was no surprise that almost all their new season pieces were the
perfect choice. I opted for a pleated check skirt and stripe sweater vest in multicolour as this trend really lets
you run wild; don’t be afraid to clash your colours and prints to really make a bold statement!
The psychology of colour tells us that orange hues are stimulating and playful and this is exactly the case with
Sportsgirls mandarin orange 2-piece pleated skirt and top. Cue have just had a fresh delivery so I couldn’t resist
their orange option either, which is a beautifully fitted summer dress with sophisticated cut outs.
Forever New are another key retailer who have embraced this trend and covered all colour bases. I selected a
satin blue bias cut midi skirt with matching shirt which I’ve left unbuttoned and tied at the waist for a more
summery approach to styling. For those who may just want to dip their toe into the trend, try Sussan or
Country Road as they are rolling out more muted colours for the season – this may feel a little safer and is a
great place to start – think pastels.
For menswear, you will want to visit M.J. Bale for colourful summer essentials and Cotton On for a more
streetwear approach to embracing colour. I’ve chosen a retro print short sleeve shirt from Cotton On and
paired it back with a white summer tank and chinos. Introducing neutral shades like beige, white and ecru are
a really great tip for grounding colour in your outfit as black can sometimes feel too heavy.
If you want to play with accessories then make sure you check out the Maxine Wylde x Cotton On
collaboration. The bags are to die for and are quintessential to nailing this trend as they are colour blocked in
the best shades. All the major shoe retailers at Highpoint have you covered too so make sure you have Novo,
Bellini, Tony Bianco, Wittner, Nine West and Betts on your ‘must visit’ lists. The standout pieces I found were
citrus yellow platform heels from Bellini which I’ve paired back with a citrus yellow diamante handbag for a
really OTT approach! Gorman has a great range of Veja sneakers which have splashes of colours if you want to
start small. I opted for a bubble gum pink sneaker and paired it back with a pink splattered bucket hat and
orange acetate sunglasses.
I like to think of this trend as a study in colour therapy. The theory is that dressing in your favourite colours will
boost your overall mood. Remember that the key to this trend is to ensure you only wear pieces and colours
that YOU feel amazing in!
Enjoy this one – I know I certainly have.
XO STUART
