The Death of Dopamine Dressing: Who Hurt You?
Dopamine dressing is dead, and all we’re left with is a lifeless wardrobe. So, tell me—who stole your color? A Rant, A Reflection, A Revival?!
It’s Day 3 of me walking past a gym that feels more like a
black hole literally and metaphorically. Picture this: a swarm of toned bodies
clad almost entirely in black, paired with whites or beige if they dare to rebel.
It's like they’ve signed an unspoken pact with monochrome minimalism.
Curious (and maybe a little concerned), I tossed the
question to a gym-rat friend of mine “Why black? Why always
black?”
What followed was a deep dive into the color psychology of
fitness fashion, and here's what we found:
- Black
= Confidence Armor: Apparently, black clothes give an illusion of
being more toned. The shadows, the contours, the muscle flex all hit
different under black. It’s less an outfit, more a performance enhancer.
- Effortless
Pairing: Black is the modern lazy genius. It goes with anything, needs
no thought, and spares you from the tyranny of color-coordinating. Beige,
denim, white check, done, dusted.
- The
Anti-Showoff Statement: Wearing black is ironically a way to not
stand out. It's a badge of focus. “I came to sweat, not to sparkle,” kind
of vibe.
And then it hit me this isn't just about the gym. It's a
quiet metaphor bleeding into every part of our culture.
Monochrome Mansions: Where Have the “Gulabi Ghar”s Gone?
Let’s rewind a bit back to the good old '90s or early 2000s,
where houses were less Pinterest boards and more personality. There was always
a Gulabi Ghar (the Pink House), a Peela Darwaza (Yellow Door), or
the iconic Lakdi Wala Ghar (The All-Wood Cottage). Every home was an identity,
a landmark, a story.
Now? Homes are pale grey palettes with beige undertones and
matte black handles because apparently, color is too “loud” for a serene
lifestyle.
Drawing rooms once had character—think bright handwoven
rugs, colorful runners, cushion covers you felt, not just saw. Foyers
meant nothing back then, but a well-decorated drawing room was pride. (Fun Fact:
Entry in Drawing Rooms is Prohibited)
Today, minimalism reigns. But at what cost? Where is the joy, the imperfection, the personality?
Shaadi Mein Rang Nahin Toh Kya Khaak Shaadi?
Ah, Indian weddings—a technicolor dream. Or… they used
to be.
Recently, I attended a wedding and mentally counted red
outfits. Maybe a dozen. That’s it. A wedding! Where red, orange,
fuchsia, maroon, and gold once danced like fire on the floor, now stands a
polite, blush pink gathering of pastels.
I had a brilliant rant-session with a Gen-Z girl from an MUN
event at school. She nailed it:
“Pastel is a trend. Red is an emotion.”
And honestly? She's right.
Where are the vermilion sarees, the magenta lehengas, the
burnt-orange odhnis? Why have we reduced weddings to fashion catalogues of
beige and taupe?
Fashion Fatigue or Fear of Being Seen?
A very azeez friend of mine is an unapologetic
black-lover. Out of sheer curiosity, I once messaged him asking how his aunty
(his mother) and didi (his sister) haven’t staged an intervention yet to
stop him from turning into Shani Maharaj (Saturn God himself). We
laughed it off, of course. He did mention, though, that during his recent
shopping spree, he almost explored other colors but eventually circled
back to black, just with a little more "thoughtfulness," as he put
it.
Let’s talk streetwear. Connaught Place, Delhi. You’ll spot a
formula:
- Baggy
jeans ✔️
- Black
or white tees ✔️
- Stanley
cups in hand ✔️
- Air
Jordans or pumped-up sneakers ✔️
- Maybe
a reel in the making
It’s not bad. But it’s also not you. It’s like we’re
all trying to look like we’re not trying, accidentally blending into a
Gen-Z generated algorithm of urban fashion uniformity.
Why does everyone want to be Mark Zuckerberg-lite, with his
one grey tee? Or channel the Richie Rich “IDGAF” aesthetic?
But here's the bright spot pun intended. I’ve also
met people (again my azeez ones though) who rock chartreuse, electric
blues, or terracotta reds. They don’t wear color; they own
it. They aren't overdressed they’re expressive. And that’s the difference.
A friend of mine can wear a neon green like it’s his
birthright and still slay in a neutral palette. Why? Because he’s not scared of
experimenting. He’s aware of his style. That’s what elevates him.
Color Isn’t Loud—It’s Alive
We don’t fear color. We fear being seen.
Color demands presence. It invites opinions. It speaks
before you do. That’s scary in a world that increasingly tells us to “blend in”
unless we’re influencers with 100K followers or more.
But I’m here to remind you:
✨
Color is history.
✨
Color is culture.
✨
Color is rebellion.
✨
Color is you.
Don’t kill your character in the monochrome mood board of
modern life. Be the red in a room full of beige. Be the dome-shaped house with
the turquoise gate. Be the unexpected, the expressive, the alive.
Let’s stop fearing color and start celebrating it again.
Let maximalism breathe. Let vibrance live.
Next time you step out, wear something that feels like
you even if it's a burnt sienna scarf or canary yellow socks (which I definitely
purchased). Watch how your day changes. 🧡
Until next time, stay vibrant,
—Naman N
You have written it so well. Well, this used to be true in my case as well. I always jumped back to black and white. But now, from the past 1 year, i have stopped purchasing black. I still can't stop purchasing white, though, but i have started liking baby pink, yellow, dark pink, and other colors again. And i once read somewhere, "If You're Loving Pink Again (or for the First Time), It Means You're Healing." And when i gave it a thought, i believed it to be true💁♀️ I find myself more lively in baby pink color🩷 and in other colors as well🏳️🌈
ReplyDeleteIt's really amazing that you've selected such topic for providing us insights. Your contribution in awaring the soceity is undoubtedly, commendable. Must appreciate you and your efforts.👏👏💯💯
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