Perpetual Color: The Mechanics of Dopamine Dressing

As the warm days of summer start to fade, the arrival of fall doesn’t have to signal a shift into darker modes of dressing. Bright hues, psychedelic patterns and playful illustrations from brands like Marni and KidSuper show how colorful fashion can generate feelings of optimism irrespective of season. Cultural creatives in all corners of the globe often reflect this point of view as well. Enter Magda Kaczmarska and Kai McPhee.

Kaczmarska is a London-based content creator and stylist who has a knack for theatrics. Her Instagram is a Lynchian fever dream where bold dressing and unlikely combinations are pushed to the limit. Bordering on performance art, Kaczmarska has splashed red wine over herself in a T-shirt by Los Angeles brand Praying; ground inner city traffic to a halt in a Sinéad O'Dwyer look; and waded through a swimming pool in a wedding dress. Her unapologetic approach to self-styling has not only attracted her a loyal audience online, but also work with joy-seeking brands like Jacquemus, Marc Jacobs and Betsey Johnson.

McPhee’s approach to color is more rooted in everyday living, though no less authentic. Born in Baltimore and based in New York, the 22-year-old designer’s style draws on the city’s underground DIY aesthetics, merging unconventional vintage pieces, expressive beauty looks and an array of niche emerging brands.

Below, the two speak on their favorite designers, dressing to feel good and why a quiet night in is always better than a big night out.