Let’s face it. We’re all looking for ways to be happier at work, right?
Even if you bloody love your job and wouldn’t want to do anything else, I dare you to tell me you’ve never had a day you wished you’d stayed home and eaten your weight in cheese (we’ve all been there).
I’ll be the first to chuck my hand up in the air and admit, on the odd occasion, work doesn’t look or feel as shiny as it might appear on Instagram.
But we're not here to dwell - I've come with a proposal.
One thing we all have to do every morning before going to work, regardless of what industry we work in, is put on clothes.
But what if the clothes you chose changed how you feel about yourself at work? Yep, I'm talking about colour psychology.
Before you doze off and reach for the same black trousers and jacket you wear everyday, hear me out.
Colour psychology isn't the most exact of the sciences. In fact, almost all of the research is either a) inconclusive or b) contradictory. But what we do know is wearing bright, bold colours can have an impact on your emotions.
Part of how colours make us feel comes from marketing cliches (some of which are outdated) - pink for girls, blue for boys, green with envy, purple symbolising regal authority and yellow exuding sunshine.
But specifically, let's talk about the kinds of colours that propel you out of bed on a Monday and into the morning meeting with gusto. Heck, the type that might get you there a few minutes early. Those colours (and prints) are not necessarily just bright, but saturated.
Psychology Today found colours are made up saturation (how pure a colour is) and brightness (how light a colour is). Wearing colours that are more saturated than bright (e.g. a bold blue, deep red or a vibrant pink) are more energising to look at.
We also know the clothes women choose directly reflect and dictate our emotions. A 2012 study by Professor Karen Pine from the psychology department at the University of Hertfordshire in Britain found 57 per cent of women said they'd wear a baggy top when feeling depressed. Similarly, 62 per cent would put on their favourite bright dress when they're feeling happy.
Need some style inspiration? Check out how the Mamamia team pairs colours and prints in the Style Street video below. Post continues after video.
This right here is where the idea to reverse engineer my emotions and trick myself into changing my mood at work came from.
I already wear colours and prints to work (my favourite's leopard), but I wondered: could I feel infinitely happier, brighter and more positive if I amped things up and made a conscious effort to wear the boldest things in my wardrobe to the office for a week?
Let's find out.
Before embarking on my fashion challenge, I consulted former Cosmopolitan Australia fashion editor, stylist and brand consultant Denis Todorovic (you can follow Deni on Instagram here) because...
I am not an expert in fashion, nor style. But the idea here is to consciously throw together bright colour and bold prints in a way that's wearable for work/going out in public, rather than shoving every colour and print in existence on your body at once.
In Deni's experience, there are some very easy ways to introduce bold colour and prints.
"Primary colours and neons are definitely still a thing, but probably less so than they were last season. I would go for primary coloured pieces - a cobalt blue knit, reds or oranges. Pink is also key - last year, it was millennial pink, but this year, especially after the awards season, everyone is doing that bright fuchsia, bubblegum pink."
"There's also something very sexy and elegant about jewel tones - emerald green, burgundy, deep sapphire, amethyst. These are the colours Beyonce or J.Lo will wear when they don't want to be just another woman on the red carpet."
"I love clashing prints, but it takes skill. My general rule of thumb for the everyday person is, if you're going to clash prints, keep the colour palette tonal (in the same family of colours). For example, if you want to wear a spot and a stripe together, choose items in the same colour or different shades (lighter/darker tones) of the same colour."
"To me, leopard is a neutral. Approach it as if it's black or khaki, you can pair leopard with any colour. You can also mix different animal prints, like snake skin and leopard print, but make sure they're in the same tone, too."
"Accessories, accessories, accessories. Always. If you are someone who likes to wear monochrome colours (and that's fine), bags and shoes are the quickest and easiest way to incorporate any kind of trend into your outfit. And you can get away with spending less on those items, especially if you won't wear it again the following season."
Alrighty, now onto how I went put this advice into action and documenting it through a series of faux-influencer photos.
Wardrobe breakdown:
How I felt in this outfit:
What happened in this outfit:
Nothing overly dramatic or different to any other Monday. Other than a co-worker commented how much she loved me in that colour red, which made me feel pretty great.
Wardrobe breakdown:
Hot tip - this M&S suit also comes in a bright pink.
How I felt in this outfit:
What happened in this outfit:
This day was quite a busy one, and I felt like my suit conveyed that to people (adding to the tosser-ness of it all). By the time I got home, I felt like a clammy, flustered penguin. That said, I've never got more compliments or comments from both co-workers and strangers than I did wearing this suit.
Wardrobe breakdown:
How I felt in this outfit:
What happened in this outfit:
I really dug myself in this outfit, but no-one blinked twice at the bright blue stripes paired with a blue and green leopard print dress. I felt really happy in this and I'd wear it again.
Wardrobe breakdown:
How I felt in this outfit:
What happened in this outfit:
This work day was particularly standard (no events or meetings, I even packed my lunch that day). It felt nice to dress up for no reason and I really enjoyed the red lipstick and pink combination because it's my favourite fashion rule to break.
Wardrobe breakdown:
How I felt in this outfit:
What happened in this outfit:
I'm so sorry but by day five, I ran out of multi-coloured, leopard print steam. I also want to apologise for the over-saturation of Adidas sneakers (not sponsored). A woman on the train told me the colour of my green T-shirt looked lovely with my red hair. She then proceeded to pat the dog. Not sure if there was an agenda there.
Yes, but there's a but.
Comparing the thoughts and feelings I jotted down for each day, a pattern emerged.
On the days I went all out with my colour efforts - the green suit on day two and day four's hot pink dress - I felt like a bit of an imposter. To wheel a cliche out of retirement, I didn't feel like me, you know?
Working a look so bold and bright also comes with a lot of admin. I'm not going to go as far as saying it was a strain on my mental load, but brights and clashing prints can be high maintenance.
But on days one, three and five when I made an effort to wear either one statement colour or print piece paired with a more wearable item? Jackpot.
Sure, I could've gone harder and worn canary yellow or brilliant blue. A shocking purple, even. And I probably will in the future - maybe as a top tucked into a black skirt or a great pair of jeans rather than a matching suit (not that there's anything wrong with that whatsoever).
The colour and clashing prints challenge made my work week really fun, mostly because personally, I really enjoy thinking about clothes and the different combinations I can pull out of my arse in the morning to not feel like I'm wearing the same old thing again.
Probably more powerful an affect on my mood than the bright colours was just having a change.
Do you wear colours and prints in your everyday wardrobe? Tell us about your style in the comments below!
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