What are you learning from the Picture Perfect Challenge? - YouLookFab Forum

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What are you learning from the Picture Perfect Challenge?

MsMary

Veteran

Whether you're participating or just watching, have you learned anything from this week's super-fun Picture Perfect Challenge?

My big lesson is something that should be obvious, but just sunk in today in a major way: Colors go with other colors! I would never in a million years have put a green skirt with a red jacket and a navy blouse unless Picasso inspired me to do it, but it looks fab! Who knew?

Dressing

25 replies

Latest reply was from Lisa

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Picasso is *always* inspiring - and so is our Mark K

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Firstly - that I'll never look at the paintings the same way again. That's bella's aim to make us search for the inspiration in unusual places accomplished

If I'm stuck for ideas for some color or patterns combination all I have to do is check what the artists did - they DO know what goes with what

And as written in my daily posts: mixing metals is not a no-no, plus with the right pattern/template/formula I can actually push my own boundaries much further than I thought possible.

MsMary

Veteran

And O, I think it was you who said that all of us who participated in this challenge will have a wonderful life-long relationship with these particular paintings, which is just too cool for words!

kellygirl

Veteran

Color! These paintings have made me realize that same thing, Mary. I've really enjoyed the combining of colors and prints. It's super fun and adds so much life to an outfit!

Joy

Veteran

I've been playing along but haven't had time to take and post pictures, but I agree about the color mixing. Today, a casual house cleaning day, I'm wearing white jeans, cobalt shirt under a red-orange cardi, red flats and a scarf with an orange/green/white/red big brushstroke pattern. The shirt and scarf have been practically orphans. It's been fun and I've found lots of inspiration.
My take on the nude was to use the color "nude" in a karen kane top that's nude with scattered black lined flowers.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Yes Mary, that was my wisdom

Colors too, of course - how typical of me to miss the obvious.

Also, although I'm on Team Less is More, I am now very willing to experiment with More is More.

MsMary

Veteran

On the subject of Less or More Being More, I had to laugh yesterday because I thought my outfit was rather simple and subdued, you know, for me, until Jonesy kindly observed "There is a lot going on, but everything looks harmonious, just like in the painting." Heh. So I guess I've learned that I really am an "a lot going on" girl, and that's okay with me!

I don't think I would recognize Team Less is More if they all came and camped out on my front lawn! LOL

rae

(website)

Veteran

I learned that using an inspiration image takes a lot of the pressure off ME, lol. Dressing went much faster knowing from the get-go that I had to use specific colors.

Lisa

Veteran

I cannot think outside the box. If I don't see the paintings colors in my wardrobe, I figure I cannot do that days challenge. And my wardrobe needs far more colors.

san

Veteran

I have not been participating but I have been watching and enjoying the various interpretations. I've also been inspired to read about the paintings and the artists.
Great idea Bella.

Kate

Veteran

I've learned that I'm willing to push myself to do new combinations that I'm not sure really work that well when there's a greater cause (aka a challenge) and nobody is actually going to think twice about what I'm wearing anyway.

Also, the hotter it is the harder it is to incorporate inspirations from paintings into an outfit. There's just so much more happening in the art than I can ever wear in the summer in AZ!

Lisa, for what it's worth, I've been stretching some of the colors I do have to work (I don't have many blues...) or just going with the parts of the paintings that I do have colors for. I used to stock my wardrobe with colors for the sake of having a lot of different colors, and I ended up with a wardrobe that lacked cohesion and few items played well with others. It's nice to experiment with new colors but, for me, dressing well doesn't require having a rainbow of options.

krishnidoux

Veteran

I have learned that I must be more bold in my style.
I have learned that I actually enjoy mixing unlikely colors.
I have learned that shape influences the color mix.
I have learned that I don't have all the colors of the rainbow in my wardrobe and that's OK.
I have learned that it's not easy to get a teenager take pictures of you everyday.

Aida

Veteran

Ornela, you commented on one of my main learnings: "Although I'm on Team Less is More, I am now very willing to experiment with More is More."

Separate from that:
- Planning ahead doesn't work well for me; I always change my mind by the time that day gets here (not because my idea was bad, but because I feel like wearing something else instead!). Planning elements or only 1 or 2 pieces seems to work much better, but I still enjoy being planless better

- I don't have to be literal in my interpretation (silly engineer brain).

- If I don't have "the perfect items for my vision" (most cases) I can always change to a new vision

EDIT: Also learned that when I draw inspiration from outside non-fashion sources I always change the proportions of the elements I incorporate by a fair amount.

bella

(website)

Veteran

Tons!
First of all, I've got carried away and read a lot about the paintings and the artists, so I learned a lot of information.
Second, in trying to come up with the descriptions for each painting, I learned to not only look but really see what is in the painting. I paid attention to details, colors, textures. I expanded my color vocabulary.
Finally, I remembered how fun fashion can be. Honestly, I feel like I sometimes think too much and too seriously about clothes. This was a nice reminder that getting dressed is supposed to be fun.

Heather

Veteran

I really treasure this challenge because it makes me appreciate everyone on this forum even more.

We see the same painting, yet are inspired by different aesthetics and elements of the piece.

I loved reading these threads to see how each of us interpreted and incorporated unique elements into our outfits each day.

You all inspire imitation.

mumtojessandluke

double post

mumtojessandluke

Inspiration is everywhere!
It is great to be challenged, and participate in one!
Fashion is fun, and I can use what I have rather than buy stuff.
I'll never be someone who posts pics daily...LOL. I can't make time for it, but I enjoy posting irregularly and following challenges.
And how to use some of photobuckets features.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I am with the others who said that this challenge has taught me that unlikely colors can go together with compelling results. I now see that using unlikely colors is a new way I can add more drama to a look.

For the first three days I was inspired by the colors. Then, for the Picasso Day 4 challenge, I started looking for something different. It was Bella's back story that inspired me. I took the story, spun it in my own head, and came up with an outfit based on something more than color combinations (although I did use one of the colors in the painting for my outfit).

My other lesson is what Rae said. Having an inspiration source actually made getting dressed easier. Even though I couldn't wear my outfits all day given my lifestyle & occupation.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I am also learning that there is no stopping YLF'er fabness.

Barbara

Veteran

I adore Picasso - I love the shocking boldness of his art.

Thinking WAY outside the box is what I have learned and CONTINUE to learn.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

lovely, Bella,

"Finally, I remembered how fun fashion can be. Honestly, I feel like I sometimes think too much and too seriously about clothes. This was a nice reminder that getting dressed is supposed to be fun".

*This* is what it's all about. Can I clone you?

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

I've learnt:
- that I like having something planned. A couple of mornings this week I was really tired and didn't feel like dressing up, but couldn't be bothered to think of something new so went with what I'd planned anyway and it was fine! I remember Angie posting about wearing fun things on a 'blue' day.
- that I like having new ideas to try.
- that I was happy with what I did (mostly colour based) but that there were so many different ways of taking inspiration from each painting.
- that everyone can come up with a fun and fab outfit from the painting and it's great to see them all
- that there are gaps in my wardrobe of a different type these days - not 'I need an xyz because mine is worn out/unflattering' but 'it would be great to have an abc because it would be so useful to transform these outfits'

Thanks again Bella!

rosee

Veteran

This was a great challenge. I did not participate (this time) but I casually watched form the sidelines. It was great to learn about the art, the artists, the color combinations and see the YLFers' interpretations. Nice work!!!

bella

(website)

Veteran

Yup, as many as you want Angie!:)

Lisa

Veteran

Adding on to my observations noted earlier, I need to look closer at paintings! A lot of details I would not have noticed without Bella's descriptions. And I need more colors in my wardrobe. One day was super hard, because I do not wear any of those colors on a daily basis. Also, I mixed far more colors together than I would have previously thought about.