I’m sure we  all already know that Dopamine Dressing is a thing — using one’s clothes to spark joy, typically via visual interest, bold colours, and novelty. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter of reward and motivation, the chemical messenger that lights up when something delightful happens. For those whose nervous systems thrive on novelty and visual stimulation, dressing in vibrant, energizing pieces can be transformative. It’s fashion as mood elevator, and when it works, it really works. But it doesn’t work for everyone…..

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Here’s what the conversation rarely acknowledges: not everyone’s nervous system operates the same way. Some of us need something entirely different from our clothing.

Enter what I call GABA Dressing.

The Neuroscience of Calm

GABA — gamma-aminobutyric acid — is dopamine’s quieter counterpart. It’s the neurotransmitter that soothes your nervous system, reduces overstimulation, and helps restore balance when the world becomes overwhelming. Think of it as your brain’s internal regulator.

Valerian root, ashwagandha, even medications like diazepam (Valium) — they all work by enhancing GABA activity, creating that sense of calm our often overstimulated lives crave.

So what does this have to do with personal style?

Everything, it turns out.

A Different Kind of Feel-Good Fashion

In my work with clients, I’ve discovered a fascinating pattern. While some clients genuinely light up in dopamine-charged aesthetics — they feel energized and alive in colour-blocked outfits and bold patterns — others experience something entirely different. These are the people who visibly relax when surrounded by muted tones, who find joy in soft textures and visual serenity.

They don’t necessarily want fashion to stimulate them. They prefer that it soothes them.

This isn’t about hiding or diminishing yourself. It’s about recognizing that different nervous systems have different needs. That some of us find our power not in stimulation but in gentleness. That softness can be its own form of strength.

Two Paths, Both Valid

Here’s what’s important to understand: Dopamine Dressing and GABA Dressing are simply different approaches to the same goal — feeling good in what you wear. Neither is better or worse. They’re responses to different nervous system needs.

For people who thrive on novelty and stimulation, Dopamine Dressing wih its visual interest, colour and variety, can work wonders.

For others, particularly those who are are prone to hypervigilance or anxiety, GABA Dressing may offer something equally valuable: clothing as regulation rather than stimulation.

The GABA Dressing 101

So what does GABA dressing actually look like in practice?

Colour as Calm
Muted colours. Tonal combinations that create visual cohesion rather than contrast. Palettes that soothe rather than stimulate. Interestingly — sometimes black. Many experience black as a cocoon or as armour. Similar to the soothing nature of a darkened room.

Texture as Comfort
Tactile, soft fabrics that feel worn and safe and familar. Jersey that feels like a soft hug. Whisper-light cashmere. Soft cotton that’s been washed until it’s perfectly broken in. Fabrics that make you want to stroke your own sleeve. Nothing scratchy, nothing stiff and nothing overly clingy.

Silhouette as Ease
Fluid lines that move with you. Gentle draping. Unfussy shapes that don’t require constant adjustment. Clothing that lets you forget you’re wearing it — not because it’s shapeless, but because it’s so well-suited to your body that it feels like a second skin.

Familiarity as Foundation
The same trusted pieces worn in slightly different combinations. A capsule wardrobe where everything works together effortlessly. The comfort of knowing exactly how something will fit, feel, and function. Predictability as a form of self-care.

Details as Subtlety
Instead of bold statements, think: beautiful drape, impeccable fabric quality, perfect proportions. The details that reveal themselves slowly. The kind of dressing that makes people say “you always look so put-together” without them being able to pinpoint exactly why.

The Uniform Approach

Many GABA dressers find profound peace in creating a personal uniform — a consistent formula that removes the cognitive load of getting dressed while still maintaining style and sophistication.

Think of how many creative geniuses have embraced this concept. Steve Jobs with his black turtlenecks. Einstein’s grey suits. These weren’t failures of imagination — they were strategic decisions to preserve mental energy for what mattered to them most.

For GABA dressers, a uniform doesn’t feel restrictive. It feels liberating. When everything in your wardrobe works together, when you know exactly how each piece fits and feels, when getting dressed requires minimal decision-making — that’s not boring. That’s brilliant.

Your uniform might be:

• Black trousers and cashmere jumpers in various neutral tones
• The same style of dress in multiple colours
• A capsule of interchangeable separates where any top works with any bottom
• Variations on a single silhouette that you know flatters and comforts you

The key is that it’s deeply familiar, endlessly comfortable, and completely you.

Finding What Works for Your Nervous System

The goal isn’t to dress for excitement or to dress for calm — it’s to dress for alignment. And alignment looks different for everyone.

If you thrive on novelty, colour, and visual stimulation, honour that. If you need softness, familiarity, and gentle palettes, honour that instead. Your nervous system knows what it needs. The trick is listening to it rather than following prescriptive trends about what fashion “should” make you feel.

Do you find yourself craving calm in your wardrobe? Does the idea of a familiar, uncomplicated approach to dressing bring you peace? Or are you someone who genuinely feels most alive when your clothes offer novelty and stimulation?

There’s no right or wrong answer. Just the answer that’s true for you.

If you would like to learn more about GABA Dressing, you might enjoy my new self-paced online course STYLE FOR SENSITIVE SOULS.