How do you use Pinterest in style-related ways?

Mac

I've read that some of you only use Pinterest for collecting and keeping recipes. I'm not talking about these kinds of uses.

I want to know if/ how you use Pinterest in style-related ways.

Eg. Do you look for photos of outfits you like and then try to copycat them?

Do you look for photos of women who are shaped like you to see how different styles look on them?

Do you use Pinterest to help you track down the names/ brands of specific items you want to research/ possibly buy?

Do you save images of items that you have bought, to help you stay organised?

Do you use it to keep your finger on the pulse of general trends?

Pray, tell! ox

8 years ago

Inspiration

20 replies

Latest reply was from AndiB

shaz

Active Member

I've been using it to look at outfits on people of a similar shape and also for different color combinations that work together and if I see an outfit I like I might try to copy cat it

8 years ago

Helen11

Veteran

I signed up to Pinterest, but don't know how to use it.

8 years ago

Zoe

Active Member

I know lots of people who do all those things and use a designated board for each.
I have three style boards and I use them in different ways.

1. General Style -- I pin ANY fashion thing that appeals to me here. Anything. It's sort of like the way that I used to look at the Sears catalog when I was five. Turn the page, point at the first thing that catches my eye and circle it. It wasn't like I was going to ask Santa for all of it, it was just a way of identifying what was out there and what appealed to me. Now, when I look at that board I get a general sense of the things I am drawn to, from outliers to stuff that is solidly in my wheelhouse.

2. Key Elements -- a VERY curated board that features things I own or the types of things I wear frequently. Everything on it makes my heart sing. This is the place I go when I'm contemplating a new wardrobe addition or when I'm feeling pulled by a trend. It reminds me what I adore and helps me ask the question of whether this new item is truly ME.

3. Style Models -- a handful of women whose style I admire. Sophia Copolla, 60s Mary Tyler Moore, Maira Kalman, Twyla Tharp, Ines de la Fressange, Diane Keaton, Jennifer Anniston (in her casual & business looks, not RC), Audrey Hepburn. I refer to this board not only for the clothes that each woman wore, but because it is a solid reminder that each is so great because she was true to her style self. It is a reminder to do the same.

This has been especially helpful in the last seven months as I am going through a lot of transitions. I'm about to turn 50 and have lost 15 lbs. I'm in what feels like a key moment of my career (mostly I work from home, but I've had a lot of speaking engagements and travel of late). I had to buy a lot of new things and using these boards (as well as great blogs like YLF) helped keep me focused and feeling good about my choices.

Sorry to go on like this . . . probably a lot more than you bargained for when you asked the question!

8 years ago

Murph11

Veteran

Wow, Zoe! Thanks for the in depth answer, and thanks, Mac, for asking.

8 years ago

Helena

Veteran

I pretty much do what Zoe does - I have a "My Style" board which I use as sort of a mood board ... it is replete with black, white, stripes and jeans Any time I feel less confident in my style, I look at that and remind myself that I am VERY clear about what I personally like It also is the source for my list of "personal wardrobe essentials". (a la Angie's definition).

Then I sometimes do seasonal boards, where I will look for specific ideas to style pieces that I own, or to figure out key pieces to update my wardrobe for that season.

And I also have celebrity boards - Kate Middleton, Jackie Onassis, Jennifer Aniston. I probably have duplicate pins on these though, against my "My Style" board, so they are probably a bit useless!

8 years ago

always trying

Veteran

Pinterest is one of my best sources of how to style certain things. also to find a praticular item. However, a lot of pins are as much as 2 years old and I can so not successful in finding them. Currently am looking for cut out booties, and whet i find is generaly not available. It is a great place to find inspiration though for things like layering necklaces, etc.

8 years ago

Anonymous

Hello Mac -
I use pinterest to find street style looks of some of the products I'm interested in, to see if I generally like the look on regular people.

8 years ago

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

I always say that since I am not an artist (but the rest of my family all are,lol) , styling myself is my artistic expression. I use Pinterest for Outfit inspirations and have mainly two boards Fall/Winter and Spring /Summer. I also pin Angie's ensembles to a board. I look for color and pattern combinations mostly. Whenever I am stuck for inspiration it's always there waiting and never disappoints.

8 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I use Pinterest to record the trends of the RTW shows twice a year. I also pin my ensembles. I DO have multiple boards, but don't use them anymore. I have also stopped pining for the most part. I find it an unnecessary time suck because I don't use the pins apart from the ones from the shows.

8 years ago

Anonymous

I quite like Pinterest, and have a lot of boards going at the moment. I'm often changing the names and rearranging the pins too. I save images of looks I specifically want to copy; themes like "grey", "denim", "spring '16 " , "accessories" etc etc. I also have hair, makeup, outdoor/yard/garden, interiors, art, flowers, prints/textiles , food, entertaining.....boards too. Do I go back and reference them all? No, but when I'm on a particular mission about something (like redoing my bathroom for example) I do look at the pictures I've collected. I'll admit it's more for the fun of looking, saving and sorting - which is something I've like to do since I first started reading magazines as a teen.

8 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I have zillion pinboards. I use them to collect things I like and to winnow my likes into what I just like and what I'd consider more seriously.

8 years ago

kkards

Veteran

well.....to be honest, i've mostly stopped using it, especially for fashion....nothing is dated, so if you are looking for something, how do you know if the image is current?

8 years ago

Desmo April

(website)

Veteran

I have a bunch of pinterest style boards. I'm pretty hardcore on searching for style on bigger bodies. I only have one board that I have straight sizes on. I would say that more than half of my pins are things that I've brought into pinterest rather than repinning.

My Style: This is where I pin plus size outfits that suit my style. Most of the pins are on real people/bloggers although I do use catalog shots as well. I tend to go for whole outfits here rather than single items. I can reproduce a lot of them. Skimming through it, you can see I have a uniform.

Outfit Inspiration: I will use smaller sizes here. I'm looking for specific ideas that I want to help with. For example, I've gone searching for outfits with purple pants..

Shopping List: This is my specific home for what I am thinking of buying. Its a great way to keep track of what I want. I delete pins if they go too old, out of stock or I change my mind. The pins get moved to My Closet board once they wind up in my real closet.

My Closet: I have almost everything that I've bought in the recent past. This has turned out to be really helpful. If I order something from my shopping list and it works out I move it to this board.

Decades: This is more general inspiration. I have separate boards for the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. I try to stay more candid rather than fashion editorial although they are there as well. I want to branch out my decades but they take a lot of work.

Here is mine: https://www.pinterest.com/hollywooddesmo/

8 years ago

broadearthqueen

Active Member

I have one for winter/fall: https://www.pinterest.com/lady.....interfall/

Spring/summer: https://www.pinterest.com/lady.....r-fashion/

And office: https://www.pinterest.com/ladyearthchild/office/

8 years ago

Mac

Veteran

I love all these different answers! Thanks very much for sharing, ladies.

I would like to be more disciplined about adding every single purchase I make to a private board; I think it would help remind me of all my options (I tend to wear the same few items, day in day out). I hope it might also kerb any tendency to buy an item, forgetting that there's something in my closet that would do just as well.

I currently have a board of "my style" but it's really too broad: just lots and lots of pins of things that I think are lovely, from ball gowns to blue jeans, whether they'd suit me in real life or not.

Angie, of course I follow you and while your pins are never ones I'd have chosen myself ~ usually far more avant-garde than my tastes ~ I am always fascinated to see your selections.

8 years ago

Anonymous

I use pinterest a lot of different ways. I have a file for real-life clothing items I have purchased or plan to purchase. I have a file for fantasy outfits that I love but would never wear for whatever reason. I have still more folders for color combinations or outfit ensembles that speak to me. I also used it as mood board when I was developing my style goals.

Pinterest captures an enormous amount of information for me. I got back frequently to check it or update it.

8 years ago

olga

Active Member

I do what was said above more or less, in addition I find it helpful robust the search, if I buy for example a grey sweater, I can search according to key words "grey sweater outfit" and see all kind of outfits I get, it helps to style the item.
Then about z year ago I discovered iPhone application called 'stylebook' that I love, you can add there any foto of an item and then make outfits out of al items you get, you can also take picture of your own actual items and store them inside and make outfits.
So I then use stylebook to make all kind of outfits with my new grey sweater. Then I can plan my outfits for a week ahead.
This helps a lot to get organized and dressed in the morning which is essential for me, with full time job and two small boys- no time.
Below is an example of planned and worn
Sounds may be complicated but I enjoy it

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8 years ago

Mac

Veteran

Wow, Olga. I can only dream of being as organised as you.

I feel like Pinterest should be a tool that could really help me get organised but I only use it as a source of fantasies: look at what the models are wearing on the runways these days and outfits that look cute on skinny 21 year-old bloggers who live in totally different climates than mine.

8 years ago

Sally

Veteran

I use it to look up certain genres of style and also to look up items I have to see how to style. The models or people shown are v often young and thin so I might also add "older woman" or "plus size " to see how other people style things. I then follow picures I likeep. You can spend hours on pinterest.

8 years ago

AndiB

Veteran

I love pinterest and have tons of boards, probably need to cull some. My favorite is Outfits with Items I Already Have - or Close! Helps me think of new ways to put together outfits with pieces already in my closet. I save items I might want to buy later: Spring 2016 Wish list, or something like that. I have a military vest I've had a hard time styling, so yep, did some searching and have a board called Styling my Military Vest. I have too many boards, but haven't figured out how to delete, or combine them. I don't go to them as often as would be helpful, but I do get inspiration. It has also helped me define my style, I notice I am attracted to alot of the same types of things, which is helpful. It's like when an interior designer says, look at magazines and cut out the images you are drawn to for your... kitchen redesign say (back when we flipped through magazines!) and see what jumps out at you. I have a lot of interior design and organizing boards too. I kind of love pinterest.

Eek, just checked, I have like 40 boards! Here are a couple examples.

https://www.pinterest.com/abro.....t-to-have/

https://www.pinterest.com/abro.....-or-close/

8 years ago

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