Does the poster's commentary influence your WIW or K/R evaluation?

goldenpig

Fun question--I'm just curious whether your assessment of people's K/R and WIWs are influenced by their commentary about their outfit. Do you look at the pics first and decide first without reading, or do you read what they said first and then decide?

For example, if someone says their outfit is 10 years old, are you more likely to call it dated than if they didn't say anything about its age? Or if someone says that they felt super fab in an outfit, are you more likely to give it a thumbs up even if you don't think it looks the best on them fit or fashion wise? Or if it looks fab to you, but the poster said they don't feel comfortable in it because it's not their usual style, are you more likely to tell them to return it? And are you influenced by the other replies from other commenters?

I'm asking because I am a very poor judge of datedness--I tend to like things in my closet for a lot longer than I perhaps should even when the style world has moved on. I like to think I'm more trendy than classic but maybe I have a classic streak in me. And I do feel like my impression of other peoples' outfits are swayed by how they feel about it--I'm more likely to compliment it if the original poster raves about it or subsequent replies are all positive, even if my initial reaction was negative. Sometimes if I'm not sure, I'll wait to see what the first few replies are--I've had situations where I loved something that everyone else hated or vice versa. I know that shouldn't matter but sometimes I'm sensitive about giving the "wrong" advice on K/R's. I'd like to think I'm objective, but I think fashion is somewhat subjective and I'm highly influenced by the person's feelings about the outfit! Maybe I could be more objective if I had been following fashion for a long time or was a professional like Angie, but I think the feelings of the person wearing it is the most important--it doesn't matter if it looks fab on them if it makes them uncomfortable, and conversely if it makes them feel fab and confident and they're having fun, then that makes me happy even if it's not personally my taste!

So, are you an objective or subjective evaluator?

11 years ago

Dressing

13 replies

Latest reply was from Deborah

Meredith1953

Veteran

Interesting question! I try to take my cue from the poster. If they seem doubtful and really want specific feedback then I try to accomodate and still keep it as positive as I can. If they love their look and aren't asking for feedback then I dial it back a few notches. My difficulty is when I absolutely hate an outfit. If I can't figure out how to comment in a positive way then I pretty much don't comment.

11 years ago

K. Period.

Veteran

I love Meredith. I want to "ditto" her comment because she so has it nailed. I generally try to keep it positive. Sometimes I pick up on something that isn't working (if that is part of the post!) and offer a suggestion, free to be taken up or ignored. I love that this forum seems, first and foremost, to be a means to make fashion fun and positive for everyone. With that in mind, if I simply don't like something, but can't offer any help (or no help is asked), I shrug and move on to another post. Sometimes an outfit just isn't to my taste. Thank goodness we aren't all clones who have to dress alike! So, I'm subjective.

11 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

All of the above on what you said!!! How is that for waffling? I am the last person to be able to discern whether something is on trend or dated, but it does make a difference to me whether something is K/R or K/T because it could mean that the person is exploring a new style dimension or has moved on from an old style.

11 years ago

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

What Meredith said!

11 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

I think I do a bit of both. I look at the pictures first, usually, and I may or may not have an opinion. But before I comment, I try to see what kind of feedback the poster is looking for. If they are in love and don't care what anyone else thinks, there is no reason to be critical, IMO. But if there is hesitation about fit, color, style, I try to address the actual question that was posed rather than typing the first thing that pops into my head. If there is no specific question, then I probably DO type the first thing!

11 years ago

Diana

Veteran

I read the text because I think context is important! Sometimes I look at the photos first but then I always go back and read the text before I comment.

11 years ago

ManidipaM

Veteran

I think I AM influenced by commentary.

Like Diana said, context is important. Am I looking at a garment that a particular culture wears a certain way or a poster whose culture has a different sense of fashionable proportions than I do? Does the fabric that looks flat black and blah in a photo feel divine in person? Is this garment for work or play, and what do work and play entail for a given person? I love it when people explain their outfit's context --- it is so much easier to evaluate with sensitivity and to offer *useful, meaningful* evaluation or criticism or suggestions when you know this.

Also, as Meredith and Rae say, there is no need to criticise where no suggestion is sought. We are all different and our opinions on what flatters is subjective --- even for professionals, like Angie, who are adept at putting themselves in other people's shoes! So if someone seems super happy with their newest buy, I am reluctant to rain on their parade --- unless I am really certain-sure that the garment has appropriateness issues or unless I think there is a trend running through the post that suggests the OP is missing a possible consideration (I may not, for example, know what a pair of 7 for All Mankind jeans should cost and could be gloating over what I think is a good price out of ignorance; in such a case, suggesting that I might have overlooked some information would help me shop better next time).

However, if the poster is asking, I will usually react with my gut first and say so, but will try to do so with diplomacy and sensitivity for the most part. After all, even if they're uncertain, they wouldn';t have gotten dressed a certain way unless they were happy to or hoped it would work.

11 years ago

Anonymous

I am guilty of going straight to the pic and sometimes replying without reading the narrative. So, I'm definitely not influenced by the comments.

11 years ago

Anonymous

If someone is doing a K/R I absolutely read to see how they feel about the item. If they aren't "feeling it" or waffling on practicality, I certainly don't want to encourage them to use their resources up on something they won't wear. OTH if I feel like it's truly fabulous and they just can't see it, I make that known, too!

11 years ago

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I pretty much agree with the rest of the comments. I have found myself at polar opposites to the opinion offered by those who have commented and often when this happens, I feel it is likely my perception that is off and don't comment.

I am also guilty of not reading the whole post immediately. Sometimes, I reply without reading the other comments if I don't want to be influenced and if so, I usually include that in my comment.

I try to offer positive advice and to be as honest as I can without being negative. I sometimes worry that I may have inadvertently hurt someone's feelings when I haven't felt the love for a piece but I appreciate constructive criticism and like to think others are here for the same reason - to get help with a goal of improvingone's style/look.

11 years ago

Anonymous

I read all the comments and try to post my thoughts as honestly but also as nicely as possible. Above all, I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, so I often don't post if I can't think of anything positive to say. My opinion does get the best of me sometimes, but hopefully you all know me by now and do not take offense to anything. It certainly isn't my intent to make anyone feel bad.

11 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Great question, Nathalie!

I usually look at the title of the post first (is it a K/R or a WIW or something else?)

Then I look at the pics. I usually form my own opinion there. Do I like it? If it is something that I have a poison eye for, or something that my eye has not yet adjusted to, I keep that in mind before I start my response.

And then, a related but separate and more important question, do I like it for the poster? Does it suit her body type, style direction, does it fill a wardrobe hole for her, is it practical for her or super -fun for her? ...of course this requires knowing something about the person posting!

And for that information I look at her commentary.

I try not to let other people's comments influence my own, but I'm sure they do at times. And that isn't always a bad thing. There have been times when I have not been crazy about a look, but other posters have loved it, and that has prompted me to go back and re-evaluate. It is part of educating my eye. It's part of how I learn here. After all, I was ignorant of fashion for a long time and I NEED a lot of education!

Then again, there are other times when I think people have missed a potential problem with a look and I might (diplomatically) try to raise that for the poster.

I love that people approach this different ways; that probably ensures we get a good range of responses.

11 years ago

Deborah

Veteran

I generally look at the pictures first to get my gut reaction and then I read the post. I agree with what Meredith said. I always consider the poster, their style and what I know of their style journey and goals and always aim to make an honest and encouraging response. One of the major things I have learnt here is an appreciation for all varying styles and not just those that echo my own.

11 years ago

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