Florals for spring? Groundbreaking. Neon pinks and electric blues for autumn? Actually, that might just be so. With the promise of longer days and blue skies so nearly upon us, there’s something of an optimistic air about an oncoming March that feels significantly more ‘normal’ than the last. And if the outlook of the 2022 runway is certainly anything to go by, it’s that dopamine dressing – with its loud patterns and colourful palettes – is giving us all the more reason to think and feel positive. Gone are the days where bright block colours are reserved for summer wardrobes; the latest drops from high fashion retailers for Fall 2022 ready-to-wear are proving that this season, it’s out with the basics, and in with the drama.

“Neon pinks and electric blues for autumn? Actually, that might just be so”

Nicknamed the ‘happy hormone’, dopamine is the neurotransmitter that spikes when we experience something pleasurable. It’s fitting, then, that dopamine dressing is the art of mood-boosting fashion, wearing clothes and colours that give us a happiness kick; think statement prints, bright block colours, and over-the-top details. The phenomena has long been the subject of psychological research, pouring insight into the ways in which our moods are driven by what we wear. If you associate the colour yellow with feelings of happiness, for instance, research suggests you are more likely to embrace and reignite that feeling when you wear yellow clothes. So, what’s the specific hype around it for Fall 2022?

Pantone, the global authority on colour, kick-started the year by naming ‘Very Peri’ as the colour of the year for 2022, a shade of periwinkle blue with a “spritely, joyous attitude and dynamic presence that encourages creativity and imaginative expression.” It’s an optimistic outlook that has clearly been embraced by designer collections for the past few seasons, including the zingy orange accessories of Valentino Spring/Summer 2021 and Versace’s pink Bratz doll heels. Retailers this year are jumping aboard the dopamine bandwagon with their latest drops of Fall 2022 ready-to-wear, featuring real statement pieces like the metallic ruffled bubble skirts from Paco Rabanne and, a personal favourite, a psychedelic yellow chequered coat from Conner Ives. Dopamine dressing is truly setting the rules for the upcoming autumn, proving that 2022 might just be the year of feel-good fashion.

“What better way to beat the oncoming winter blues than a yellow feathered coat and a zingy teal two-piece?”

A real standout name this season is Oscar de la Renta. Vibrant hues of pinks, blues, greens and yellows atop the striking textures of leather and tinsel make it the perfect collection for capturing the energy and essence of the modern young woman: ‘it’ girl by day and wild child by night. The silhouettes are short, sweet and classy, paying homage to the brand’s haute couture roots with a fun, flirty twist. From gingham checks in apple green and hot pink, to blooming ball skirts in a deep romantic red, this might just be my favourite Oscar de la Renta collection to date. After all, what better way to beat the oncoming winter blues than a yellow feathered coat and a zingy teal two-piece?

When people think of LaQuan Smith for Fall 2022 ready-to-wear, they usually think of Julia Fox opening the show in that futuristic femme fatale number. And while I really can’t blame them for drooling over the gown’s sexy cut-out details, I’m also keen for people to start talking about Smith’s splashes of electric blue, candy red and emerald green amidst the bitchiness of his black silhouettes. Fur-lined leather coats and sequined mini halter dresses truly embody what Smith has named as “the new New York bitch.” It’s dauntless, it’s cool, it’s intriguing – and it brings plenty of drama along with the dopamine.

Dopamine dressing isn’t just confined to block colours and playful textures, however. As Kenzo has proved this season, you can have as much fun with prints as you can with colour. A striking new take on florals is woven into the beautiful calligraphic strokes on a variety of men’s suits, jackets and trench coats. Elsewhere, a vintage-inspired poppy print takes centre stage in the form of waistcoats, skirts and midi dresses, fully embracing the playful, nostalgic essence of the collection. Personal kudos has to go to the daisy print of one denim two-piece; the light wash and baby-blue colour palette adds the perfect touch of a casual, fresh buoyancy to its loose-fitting silhouette.

If there’s ever a need for more evidence that clothing really does impact the way we feel, then maybe amid the excitement of Fall 2022 ready-to-wear do we find all the answers we need. With designers like LaQuan Smith taking real risks this season, splashes of unique colours and adventurous prints are enough to give anyone a real rush of dopamine as we dream of better days to come in the year ahead. It’s true that neon might not be the new black just yet, but maybe it’s time we all start giving ourselves little splashes of optimism by making our wardrobes just that little bit brighter.