Late last year, I walked into a boot room brimming with black wellies during a FitFlop foraging retreat. In the centre stood one pink pair, and it wasn’t hard to pick their owner out of the crowd. Donning a red scarf and beret, pink checked coat and an extra orange one layered underneath – fitting for the freezing December weather – Chaneen (@chaneensaliee on Instagram) has certainly cemented her signature style.

Breaking away from the sea of all-black outfits or neutral shades we see dominating on social media, public transport or simply strolling down the street, Chaneen steps out in (almost) solely red and pink every day. A style which is striking, yet upon first appearance immediately made me smile. And it all started with Valentine’s Day.

“I thought, I’m gonna wear pink and red today because it’s Valentine’s Day, and I loved it so much I wore it again the next day. The day after that I just tweaked it a little bit. And then the pink and red phase never really left me, so it’s almost just become a part of my identity,” says Chaneen, and 18 months on, her wardrobe hasn’t changed.

It appears I’m not the only one who gravitated towards Chaneen’s colourful look, as the mother and influencer has noticed a huge difference in how her wardrobe has affected her interactions.

“People treat me so nicely when I’m out and I’m dressed like this,” Chaneen says. “I don’t know what they think of me, especially strangers – they have no idea who I am or what I do – but they will come and speak to me and just say you look amazing. You look awesome. I love your outfit. We need more colour like this in the world. Nobody wears colours. They will be just so kind and so complimentary,” she added, which certainly makes a change from my usual head down, AirPods in commute. So, I had to ask: what did Chaneen’s wardrobe look like before?

“All brown, all beige, all nude. Just not much colour,” Chaneen said. Which, I imagine, describes the majority of our wardrobes. So stepping into a sea of pink shades was quite the change, and while it may sound quite straightforward, a complete overnight style overhaul certainly isn’t simple. In fact, for some of us, the idea of letting go of our everyday basics for bright and bold colours may sound more like an impossible challenge than something that’s creatively freeing. 

Alongside a change in appearance, Chaneen says that she stuck with the smorgasbord of pink shades because of how they changed her mood. Touching on the notion of dopamine dressing – the idea that colours and clothing can induce joy and raise dopamine levels – Chaneen believes that she’s seen a change in her own attitude, as well as the attitudes of those around her – because she’s stuck with this striking style. 

“The colour just brings you a boost; it’s like an injection of life and excitement. That’s what dressing this way does, so I have noticed a massive improvement in my mental health because it just feels like it’s a good vibe all the time.” 

After meeting Chaneen in real life, I can attest to this. You’d be hard-pushed to find a person more vibrant, warm or welcoming – she truly does embody her outfits. And whether it’s through catching a glimpse of her outfit in a shop window or receiving a compliment from a stranger, there’s almost always something positive pulling through from every look. So, it’s hardly surprising that the content creator wants to convince us all to follow suit.

Whether through a bright and bold jumper, statement shoe or enamel accessories, a simple style switch can bring a small spark of joy. And, if you’re still not convinced, Chaneen’s hard sell is her belief that shopping and styling is much easier than ever before. Sticking to two colours will dramatically cut down your time spent scrolling. It will take you away from trying to keep up with trends, and if choosing complimentary colours, they will almost always work wonderfully when put together, resulting in endless outfit possibilities and a need for fewer fashion pieces. 

Perhaps we could all learn a trick or two from Chaneen, whether you overhaul your own wardrobe entirely or allow just one or two more playful pieces to creep in. After all, it can’t hurt.

Images: courtesy of Chaneen