Challenge: Create a Mini Moodboard as a springboard for dressing - YouLookFab Forum

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Challenge: Create a Mini Moodboard as a springboard for dressing

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

I can't remember where I saw this little challenge - I think it was Into-Mind. The idea is to create a mini-moodboard, and distill it down to three images that you are very drawn to - in order to create a design concept for your wardrobe.

I put this together a month or two ago, and just revisited it. Even now, I wouldn't swap out any of the images for anything else. They represent three loves of mine: Kadena Seawall, where I used to live, black stiletto shoes (I own a few pairs, I must admit), and ballet, which I am not very proficient at, but still love whole-heartedly!

The elements I take from it are dark colors, a sort of wildness, sleek sexiness in clothing and shoes and form, understated, clean, simple lines. And texture, as evinced by the brick wall and the splash of the water.

I have posted the images here, but they are also on my Pinterest (where you can click the images and get more information about the photos themselves)
http://www.pinterest.com/demim.....ood-board/

What are your three images? What elements can you dissect, to apply to your wardrobe design concept?

ETA: The ballerina is Misty Copeland, who I adore more than ever, having seen her as a judge on this season of "So You Think You Can Dance"

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17 replies

Latest reply was from Gigi

rabbit

Veteran

Ooh I want to do this. I'll be back....

Your images are very evocative, good choices.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

This is fascinating! Like rabbit, I need to try this.

Gigi

Veteran

I'll have to try this. It is going to be tough, I think, because the images aren't of outfits per se but are illustrating more general concepts. Maybe my brain will blow up if I try this, ha ha!

Anonymous

Oh, I'm in too. I'm visual . Full stop. I'll be back!

Staysfit

Veteran

I have no idea how to post images or to add a link to my pinterest, but I did create a mood board so I will just describe it, because I loved this idea so much. Mine includes a peachy orange colored Iris flower. I picked this because Iris are my favorite flowers, and they have ruffles, and layers, and I love both of these details in my clothing. Especially in unexpected ways. Their curvy wavy shape is great and also makes me think of feminine skirts and dresses. They come in so many colors and this one, a pretty, warm but muted peachy orange is perfect for my soft autumn coloring! So nice!

I picked an Ivory Bangle Bracelet. It was made of real Ivory so the color was rich, warm and true. I love Ivory and how it seems to bring out a glow in my skin and sparkle in my eyes. This is my go to color. This was a thin bangle that had nice sleek lines, a very simple shape and pattern, and it could easily be mixed with others. I would say that having thin bangles on my wrist is my signature. I have worn them for 30 years now. Love them and probably always will.

Last was a Ruby Throated Hummingbird. These are found where I grew up and also sometimes where I live now. I have seen them in my Magnolia tree, and also there have been two of them flitting back and forth in the spruce trees on the side of my house (I have no idea why they are there?) I picked it because I love birds. They are light and airy and I like to wear clothing that is light, comfortable and that allows me to move freely. I can't think of anything that moves more freely than a hummingbird. It's a bonus that they have such pretty coloring - greens, oranges, and iridescence. They are like the accessories I often choose, because they are small, colorful, flash by your vision, are shiny, and have movement. Lovely!

carter

Veteran

Interesting exercise. I pinned everything that appealed to me in my areas of interest: home interiors and exteriors, cooking and entertaining, the beach and mountains, flowers and wild animals. I intentionally left out fashion, but now I can't figure out whether I've created my ideal home and lifestyle or a direction for my wardrobe. If it's home and lifestyle, I'll have a home with totally neutral, clean and classic interiors that opens to the beach in the back, the city in the front, the mountains to the West and the African plains to the East. Somewhere in there must be a courtyard with bold, colorful flowers. I will also apparently do a ton of cooking and entertaining. If this is a wardrobe plan, I will have about half totally neutral, calm and peaceful outfits and half bold, strong and colorful outfits. Perhaps I'm neurotic? This does actually represent my closet. So, where to go from here? Maybe I should use some of the pins for outfit inspiration to see what feels right? Help.

Gracie

Veteran

Inspiring photos! I'd have to give it some thought to come up with ideas for my style. As an aside, I tried to put my feet in the same position as the stilettos photo and I can't.... Am I missing something?

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

I found the original link where I read about the mini-mood board! As it turns out, this mini-board is just a piece of a larger strategy she mapped out.

For my part, just boiling things down to the three images has been an eye-opening exercise in developing ideas.

http://into-mind.com/2013/10/2.....-template/

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Gracie--you were sitting down, right? Extend and point your right leg. Cross your ankle with the keft. Have a photographer down at your feet, on your right. Have him/her point, shoot. Something like that.

rabbit

Veteran

Staysfit -- I get a pretty clear picture from your description, lovely images. If you want to add photos from your Pinterest, go there, click on the image. Right click and save to your computer, and then look at the little gray 'add a photo' box under where you are writing your comment here, and you can add it from your computer.

Okay, here are mine to go with my main summer capsule, I'm going to try to post outfits this weekend. These are more about design and visual vibe than personal significance. Although they do correspond with my love of and history of travel, love of contemporary/street art, and love of movies.

a) A photo with a Moroccan screen. I chose it for lacework/texture in monochrome white and buff/taupe colors. It combines delicacy, complexity, cool comfort and traditional craftsmanship with a certain RATE quality. It also echos my footwear: metallic sandals, worn leather shoes, pointed toes (ha :)); and also contains cottons, florals, and geometric patterns.

b) The work of a graffiti artist named Peeta. I liked that it is in an urban setting--like where I live. The color scheme is what I'm using also, orange and turquoise are my brights, whites and grays add form. The painting has a lot of sculptural sweeping curves and angles and I have a lot of drape, curves, and angular points in my outfits. I also like that the materials aren't precious but accessible--I have some clothing items made of plastics/vinyl.

c) The android from Metropolis. This is my kind of retro futurism. I like the silver metallic abstraction of the female form (I have hologram silver in bags, ankle strap flats, and belts that provide structure to outfits), and the graphic dark/silver/light of the image. I have prints and color combinations for outfits that use this photographic range of white to black or ink.

So these images seem very diverse, but what ties them all together is the color white, just as in my summer wardrobe.

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Anonymous

This sounds like so much fun. I am going to try it as well. Thanks for the idea.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

Staysfit: Your verbal description is so good, I can see your images in my mind's eye, and they sound divine Your image descriptions read dainty, delicate, and full of brimming energy and just slightly ferocious. Like Shakespeare's fairies! I hope you'll be able to post some images, and some WIW's, because your inspirations sound absolutely exquisite!

Rabbit: WOW, there is such power behind your choices. Very striking! How do you combine Android and Morocco? I just went to look again at your WIW's...

... and the first one I clicked on, I see the Android, and I see the Morocco. Side by side.

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ach-sorbet

I always think there is something very Art Deco/Art Nouveau about androids - and maybe a little bit of Deco in the geometry of the screen, and Nouveau in the swirls of the graffiti art? Might be an idea to explore.

So when I look at your WIWs, I see the turquoises, the corals, the graffitis of the middle image. I don't see the white nearly so much as I see the 'lighting effect' of your darker outfits via mixed-in-white and silver metallics.

I really love your style! Can I be your lemming?

Carter: Your description reads part Isak Dinesen, part Indiana Jones - world traveller/adventurer. Your WIW's seem to reflect everything you have said above: you have animal prints and warm beiges and browns to echo Africa, and you have your coral pinks to echo bright, tropical flowers and seashells. Looking at your WIW's, I sense a wanderlust to you I hadn't ever noticed before.

It will be interesting to see your final three images, and see what else is there, visually.

cheryl

Veteran

Such a wonderful challenge. Your mood board is amazing!

Staysfit

Veteran

Rabbit: Thanks for the technical advice! I think I won't be able to post pictures until I am officially an active member, which will happen tomorrow, so I will do my best to post them if I have a moment. I'm loving your images as well! It's so interesting to hear how diverse these images are, and yet how appropriate they seem to be for each individual. It was fun to hunt for them wasn't it?

La Belle Demimondaine: You have an amazing ability to see someones personality and sense of style from their images! This is a fashion Rorschach!! I love it!!

I look forward to seeing other people's capsules!

Gigi

Veteran

You are all speed demons, every last one of you! I'm still working on my mood board. But maybe I'm doing the nonmini version? Here's the link I used:
http://into-mind.com/2014/02/28/mood-boards-2-0/

I pull the pics into iPhoto so as to avoid using the Pinterest beast. How do you all pinpoint good sources for photos? I know how to use the Google image search, but what are the best terms to put in so that you get stuff that is helpful but not overly narrowed down?

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

Gigi, I usually use google and/or pinterest for images, and I use search terms for things that inspire me. "Okinawa", "Kadena","Kyoto", "Ballet", "Arabian horses", are all terms I frequently search to look at pictures, for inspiration, and sometimes for longing and nostalgia

Gigi

Veteran

Thanks, Belle D!