At what point did you start posting weekly pics?

crwilson

As all of you know, I'm new to this, and I'm finding myself getting a little disappointed in the whole process. I did the closet cleanout, went shopping, and found...a big nothing that I felt fit me and fit my needs. So I didn't buy anything, but I also am still stuck with clothes that I don't feel flatter me. I want to remain committed to this whole process, however.

So, I was wondering - at what point did all of you start posting outfits weekly for feedback? I love the idea of that, but frankly, posting pictures of my current outfits seems a little too traumatic. And, at this point, I know that most things in my closet need work.

17 years ago

What I Wore

11 replies

Latest reply was from crwilson

anne

Veteran

Most of us don't post weekly outfits - I think maybe only half a dozen or so do.
I know I only post a few a month and then often ones that I am not sure about to get suggestions on how to improve.
If you have a specific question, it helps to actually see what is being asked, so photos are useful for that.

17 years ago

BlondeAmbition

Active Member

I feel trepidation as well, first because I'm afraid I won't look good, and second because I'm afraid of posting pics online and maybe losing privacy. Not like I'm famous or anything though, just nervous about putting myself out there.

I did TAKE pictures though so hopefully I'll get the nerve to post soon. I know it's really helpful for me to see pics from other people. Don't worry, you'll know when the time is right.

17 years ago

hanna

(website)

Active Member

i post weekly, or try to these days. i started slowly, with body type pics and outfits i wasn't sure of, and then started posting more regularly as i found critique extremely helpful in honing in on a personal style. it was also easier to track my own "style evolution" as it were.

i understand the trepidation, but the women here are so wonderful and accepting and i hope you believe that we want nothing but the best for you! i hope that helps!

17 years ago

sinead

Active Member

I'm also fairly new and I know how frustrating it can be to have a closet full of clothes that you know don't work. But don't get frustrated about the shopping. It is much harder to find the right clothes once you have been here and really absorbed some of Angie's advice. We're looking for fab, as opposed to just wearable, and that is going to take longer to find. For me, it has really helped to go through and see all the outfits the posters have put together and imagine what I would need to make the outfit work for me.

And I haven't posted any of my old outfits (except for LBD) because I knew they weren't great. After attending the swap here in Seattle and doing hours and hours of thrifting, I now have a few possibilities and can ask for feedback.
So take your time, keep shopping with some specifics in mind (I'm still working on getting the basics!) and when you have an outfit you have questions about, go for it! No need to rush into weekly postings- just get your feet wet with a few outfits you're wondering about.

17 years ago

Violet

Active Member

I would like to take weekly pictures, but sometimes I get too busy to do so. I've found it is very helpful for me to take pictures even if I think my outfits are not up to par.

This forum is great, and you will always receive good advice. Maybe you are being too hard on yourself and your outfits might be fine as is!

I would encourage you to post a couple of outfits where you think they need work. I'm sure you will get some great suggestions and hopefully that will help you move forward in the next step of updating your wardrobe.

17 years ago

Lee Hovey

Active Member

I started posting pictures pretty early. I needed the feedback on what I was currently doing right or wrong, so that I would know which direction to steer towards.

Now I take pictures almost everyday and post them on a blog most days. I don't think I have too many people that look at my blog daily, but it helps me to try and see how the outfits really look to other people.

17 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Crwilson, may we call you by a name?

First of all, your feelings are completely understandable. Secondly, I’m proud that you’re still committed to the process. Thirdly, you WILL get there. I guarantee it!

You have to break up what’s next into bite size, manageable bits while receiving positive feedback during the process. Enter the forum. So, here is my suggestion:

o Have a professional bra fitting first. Have you done that yet?

o Identify your personal wardrobe basics list? Have you read this post?
http://youlookfab.com/2009/03/.....be-basics/

o Identify your body type and read the guidelines as a starting point. This might help:
http://youlookfab.com/2009/03/.....body-type/

o Create a shopping list and ask us where you can find the particular item that you’re looking for. You can probably order online too. Keep it simple and efficient – one item at a time, one forum thread at a time.

Don’t post pictures of yourself in outfits that you aren’t happy with. If you’re unsure, give us a shout. This is a safe and encouraging environment. There are people on this forum who have evolved their dressing style 180 degrees using this tool. I know it will work for you too.

17 years ago

Antje

Veteran

Hi Crwilson, please don't feel intimidated! The thing is, this forum has members of all kinds of fashion stripes - some who have just started the process like you, others who are in the midst of it, and others who are relatively comfortable with their style but enjoy helping others with suggestions, and finally others who show outfits to each other for inspiration and because it's a fun thing to do. And everything in-between. Posting an outfit asking for specific suggestions for how to improve it is very different from posting a bunch of weekly outfits for the fun of it and for mutual inspiration. Both of that happens on the forum all the time; some only do the former, some only do the latter, and some do both.

I, for instance, post a series of outfits about twice a month, and am always open for suggestions, but also post them because I know it's fun for others to see how I put things together and it gives them ideas (just like I get many many ideas from other forum members). You should not take such photos as the bar for where you should be at with your own style journey. And then there are other times where I'm really unsure about an outfit or a piece of clothing, and then I post a couple photos of that outfit and ask everyone to please be brutally honest and give me the yay or nay, or to make constructive suggestions for how to improve the look.

Angie laid out the process beautifully for you above. She's right in encouraging you not to post outfits that you aren't happy with - though I would add "unless you seek specific suggestions for how to improve the outfit". So it's really up to you, but please be assured that everyone will be so happy to help you on this journey, which all of us have been on, whether it's by providing suggestions for non-photo posts or providing feedback for photo posts in a constructive way.

17 years ago

shiny

Veteran

I think I started around a year ago - my YLF forum anniversary is coming up in a week! I had been reading the blog for awhile and silly me didn't catch on that there was a forum right away. Meanwhile, I had already begun posting outfits on fabsugar but you really don't get as constructive, personalized, specific feedback as you do here. It's also a younger community - more in the 20s range - so not as many great role models for me as there are here.

When I started posting on fabsugar, I blocked out my face. Then when I moved on to flicker, I cont'd blocking my face. Finally YLF forum told me to move over to photobucket, where you can password protect. That's when I stopped bothering to block my face. Sure, anyone reading this forum can log in since I give out my password with my links. Sure, I could delete the photos after the thread dies down. But, I don't, because I really like having a history to look back on and see what I wore, how I've evolved, etc. It's very fun right now to go back and revisit Early Spring '08 and compare!

It's only been recently (last month?) that I have been challenging myself to take a photo every day - at least, days I wear something you haven't seen already. What this does for me is:

1) Forces me to make an effort. I am a telecommuter and it's awfully, terribly easy to just hang around in gear all day, even if I have to drag my butt out to taxi kids around. I am allowing myself no more than two "did not get out of gear" days per week.

2) Encourages me to get creative and come up with new outfits with the same old clothes! I really love having this creative challenge.

3) Helps me organize the photos better - by week.

If I post out of the weekly cycle, it's to get specific feedback. For example, I've been meaning to take pics of the new clams I ordered so the group can tell me which ones I should keep. I wouldn't mind doing a closet cleanout thread soon, with shoes and sweaters. However, what usually happens with the closet cleanout is that I end up deciding on my own what needs to go. But other people have done this (like Nicole) and I think it really helps - if you have someone who is willing to take all the photos!

I always appreciate constructive feedback - even if it wasn't asked for specifically - and I love having creative suggestions in particular. I think I'm pretty clear when I want ruthless feedback. I have to admit there have been a time or two when YLF was much too nice, and I was much more ruthless, and despite encouragement to keep an item, I tossed it anyway.

I like it when people say "please be HONEST" because I will be, always striving to be nice with my honesty, but honest nonethless. And if I ever say anything that inadvertently hurts anyone's feelings, I hope you let me know; it is definetly not my intention.

I am tickled to have been here a full year. This is such a lovely warm group of women, I wouldn't have stuck around that long. Hee hee. There are no catty people in here, you are safe with us!

17 years ago

Kari

Veteran

I'm fairly new here (a month and a half), but I've been watching the forum much longer than I've been participating. I cannot believe how supportive, positive, and constructive this community is. I totally agree with Shiny that the feedback is very personalized towards each person's body type, lifestyle, and style preference. It's also awesome that there are professional stylists in this community who are so generous with their time and advice, and yet I never feel like my own novice perspective is unwelcome.

So far I've been posting weekly outfits because it's been very helpful in identifying what is and isn't working about my style and specific pieces. My wardrobe is in much better shape than it was a year ago in terms of having pieces that fit and flatter, but I'm still figuring out how to put them together in interesting ways. I tend to be a very late adopter for trends, so when I try something new I really appreciate honest feedback about whether the attempt is working or if I need to try a different approach.

I've made a personal commitment to photo-blog what I'm wearing on a separate blogspot so I can look back and see what worked and what didn't - and also make sure I'm not wearing the same thing twice in the same week! - and knowing that I'll be posting my outfits has made me step up my efforts a bit more. Seeing a photograph also helps me be more objective about how clothes actually fit my body rather than blaming my body for not fitting into the clothes.

Anyway, good for you for sticking with the process, and I look forward to seeing your posts here!

17 years ago

crwilson

Veteran

Wow - thank you for all the supportive replies! I really appreciate it. I needed to hear those words of encouragement.

Angie, I love the step-by-step advice you laid out. I have had a professional bra fitting, but I need to get another one because I've changed sizes and my bras are now a bit too big. The nearest Nordstrom, unfortunately, is at least 100 miles away though, so it's going to be awhile before I actually get to one. I know my body type (hourglass), and I even have a list of basics.

I think the shopping part is what gets to me. Sinead - your post resonated. It is really difficult to find clothes that are great and not just okay. I get overwhelmed in stores anyway, and trying to find flattering clothes that were also on my list was just too much. I have ordered some pieces online that were on my summer basics list, so hopefully I'll like them enough to post pictures and get feedback on whether they're keepers or not. For now, online shopping might be the thing for me, even if it means that I'll be doing a bit of returning.

Thank you, again, for the encouragement. I'll post some pics soon (hopefully) of the new pieces.

Christine

17 years ago

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