Some people like fashion and then there are the people who turn up in a Starry Night scarf, a Sunflowers tote, and a pair of brush-stroke sneakers like they are walking straight out of a post-Impressionist universe. If you are one of those who loves wearing Van Gogh’s art, feels strangely emotional around his colours, or just can’t stop obsessing over his work, you might wonder, why? What does it say about you psychologically?Surprisingly, science has a lot to say. And no, it’s not “because you’re dramatic.” Real psychological studies link art preferences to personality traits, emotional depth, and even colour-based neural responses. Here’s a grounded, research-backed look at what your Van Gogh–inspired style reveals about your mind.
You probably score high on “openness to experience”
If you gravitate towards Van Gogh – the swirling skies, the textured strokes, the emotional chaos captured in colour, psychologists would say you’re likely high in a Big Five trait called Openness to Experience.A study published in Frontiers in Psychology (Silvia et al., 2015) found that people who score high on Openness experience stronger aesthetic emotions like awe, fascination, and pleasure when engaging with art. They also respond more intensely to novelty and expressive visual patterns, both of which define Van Gogh’s style.
Another peer-reviewed study (Fayn et al., 2018) found that Openness strongly predicts a preference for emotionally expressive and complex artworks over simple or realistic ones.So if you wear Van Gogh-inspired clothes, it’s not random. You are probably someone who:loves creativityenjoys imaginationembraces emotional depthmoves towards art that feels aliveVan Gogh isn’t “easy art.” Choosing to wear him signals that your inner world is rich, curious, and comfortable with intensity.
You are emotionally tuned in (especially to colour)
Van Gogh painted with emotion first and technique second and people who love his palette tend to be emotionally responsive too.Multiple colour-psychology studies back this.A research paper in BMC Psychology (2025) found that warm colours like yellow trigger feelings of warmth and energy, while deep blues evoke introspection and calm. Kaya & Epps’ well-known colour-emotion study also confirmed the strong emotional responses people have to these hues.And what are the two colours Van Gogh used most boldly?Blue and yellow.So if his palette hits you in the heart:You’re emotionally perceptiveColours affect your moodYou are attuned to subtle visual cuesThat’s why wearing his tones feels grounding and expressive at the same time, you are literally wrapping yourself in emotional colours.
You seek meaning, not just aesthetics
A psychophysical analysis published in PsyArt Journal revealed that Van Gogh’s work elicits emotional resonance because of how he uses visual dynamism, rhythmic patterns, and contrasting tones. In simple terms: his art isn’t just beautiful, it communicates.People who gravitate toward meaning-driven art usually aren’t the “I want something trendy” crowd. You are probably someone who:looks for symbolismconnects with storiesappreciates depth in everyday thingsfeels moved by the idea of imperfection and struggleWearing Van Gogh’s art isn’t about fashion, it’s about carrying meaning. His life, vulnerability, and emotional honesty resonate with people who have their own introspective streak.
You find beauty in chaos and imperfection
Van Gogh’s art is messy, raw, uneven, beautifully so.Studies in art psychology consistently show that people who appreciate expressive, unpolished styles tend to value:authenticityemotional transparencyindividuality
the beauty of “flaws”This is not the same group that loves perfectly symmetrical, minimalist, ultra-polished visuals. Instead, Van Gogh fans lean toward the emotional and the imperfect, a reflection of a personality that values humanity over perfection.When you wear Van Gogh-themed fashion, you are subconsciously declaring that you are comfortable with the unfiltered parts of life and maybe even in yourself.
You have a strong aesthetic identity
Research from Frontiers in Psychology also suggests that people who deeply connect with art often use it to express identity. And Van Gogh fashion isn’t subtle – it’s expressive, bold, and unapologetically artistic.If you’re wearing Starry Night jackets or Sunflowers kurtas, you’re signaling that:your aesthetic isn’t mainstreamyou like being seen as creativeself-expression matters more than blending inyou have a strong sense of individualityThis doesn’t mean you are loud. It means you’re expressive – someone who allows their taste, emotions, and inner world to show through their clothes.
You process the world visually and emotionally
People drawn to expressive art often experience heightened sensory-emotional connections, according to aesthetic perception research.Van Gogh’s swirling brushstrokes, textured surfaces, and vibrating colours can stimulate emotional processing regions of the brain more intensely than calm or linear art styles. That’s why:his work “feels alive”wearing his colours feels comfortinghis patterns evoke instant emotionIf fashion inspired by him calls out to you, it’s because your brain processes visual cues in a more emotionally integrated way.So… what does all this say about you?If you are obsessed with Van Gogh-inspired fashion, the research suggests you are likely:✨ Creative, imaginative, and open-minded✨ Emotionally perceptive and introspective✨ Drawn to meaning, symbolism, and authenticity✨ Someone with a strong aesthetic identity✨ A person who connects deeply to colour and emotionNothing about your preference is random. Your fascination sits at the intersection of personality, emotion, and aesthetic psychology and Van Gogh’s art simply speaks the same language your mind does.If anything, your love for his art says this:You feel deeply, you think deeply, and you express deeply, even through the clothes you choose.
About the Author
