Confession: I don't like the Sartorialist - YouLookFab Forum

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Confession: I don't like the Sartorialist

Maya

Veteran

Is it just me?

Don't get me wrong. Every once in a while he manages to snap a k² look, but I have to comb through about 7-10 pages of ugly just to get to it. As photography, it can still be beautiful to look at, and it's interesting to look at the attitudes/personalities of the people he shoots, but I definitely don't feel inspired in terms of style.

I used to like it but I attribute that to being swept away by the photography and the arty romanticism of what he does.

General

42 replies

Latest reply was from Lisa

Kari

Veteran

I'm in the same boat.

Great photography, but in terms of fashion I kind of feel like I am looking at the same thing all the time.

catgirl

Veteran

Maya, I don't always love it, but there's no fashion site that is 100% for me. I like it for the faces he captures, even if sometimes contrived. The fact that it's not just women, but men and kids, and the beauty of his photos, draw me more than the fashions he shows. And there's some variety so at least once a week I'll catch something I love.

Are there sites you prefer that are similar in presentation? I get overwhelmed by sites where millions of people are posting everything they wear, so I have to scroll through tons of photos. I'd lvoe to be reminded of where you look, as I enjoy your sense of style tremendously.

bella

(website)

Veteran

Maya, I totally agree with you. The last time we talked about this challenge, I complained that there is not a single look that I would like to recreate. Call me crazy, but I believe that most people are carried away by the artistry of his photography not the outfits themselves. This is kind of what goes on, imho, with a lot of daily style blogs as well. The pictures are truly gorgeous, and I enjoy looking at them, but the outfits are pretty ordinary, impractical or plain crazy.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

You're not alone!
I don't even read the blog because I just don't like it very much.

Kate

Veteran

I also don't really like his stuff, so I rarely look at his blog. Something really struck me about how this woman glows, and I do like when he decides to photograph ADORABLE children!

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catgirl

Veteran

Kate, photo #3 is one of my favorite photos ever, period. That child's eyes are like hope for the future.

Patty

Veteran

I've checked the site out a couple times and if I remember right most shots are in big cities--that kind of life is so different from what I experience day to day. I think I only looked at the pics. I do get sucked into the romance of the styles and imagine the life they are living and why what they are wearing fits into it--so it's maybe mostly daydream material for me. It's like one big Comi-con for professional people.
Could I dress like most shown there--I wish sometimes--but I'd have to travel in a pack of similar minded folk.

MsMary

Veteran

That's funny... I would never in a million years go there looking for fashion tips. But there's something about the photos that I just love. It's like a glimpse into an alternate universe where everybody is way cooler than I could ever dream of being!

Deb

So glad I'm not the only one!

I'd never been aware of the blog until I came to YLF ... went there and was like "Meh."

Ljubica

MaryK, you put it beautifully, I can't agree more.

April

Veteran

Take heart, MaryK, they're not always so cool. Check out the guy seven photos down in the Junya Watanabe fashion show in Paris who's dressed as Elmer Fudd.

ETA: Also, I have never been able to look at the Sartorialist without snickering after looking at the flowchart that MaryK shared here a while back: http://www.refinery29.com/get-.....ialist.php LOL

Maya

Veteran

I guess I just don't even find those people very cool either, and the people who comment are just insufferable. So pretentious it hurts.

I have this book, signed by the author, which I find much more inspiring. If it's faces, beauty, and artistry you're looking for, this is miles above:

http://www.amazon.com/Portrait.....038;sr=8-1

Debora

Veteran

If you are a guy all you need to do is walk around Manhattan with flood pants, and you'll get your picture snapped in no time flat!

Kari

Veteran

Aw. My mom has that book too, Maya. I love thumbing through it and looking at the incredible, striking personalities. My mom and sister (both artists) often turn to it for sketching inspiration. I'd love to be capable of portrait photography like that.

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

Maya - will you be my BFF? I just wrote and deleted a comment about how the only thing more pretentious than the Sart were the commentators!

MNsara

Veteran

MaryK voiced my take on the Sartorialist, too. (How did I miss her pointing out that flowchart before - pretty good Thanks, April.

Also, a number of Sartorialist pics evoke memories of traveling and that's a plus for me. . .

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I used to like it more when he photographed more regular people. Now it seems to be mostly fashion people.

MsMary

Veteran

Oh, I never read the comments! That way lies madness...

judy

Veteran

I like to visit his site because I'm curious to see what captures his eye. It's not just about fashion or perfect photography, it's more about seeing the world through his filter. If it resonates with you, fine, but also fine if not...there's so much out there these days to be inspired (or not) by!

catgirl

Veteran

I never read comments anywhere, unless there is an actual written article of substance that interests me. Like everyplace else, I take what I can use, and let the rest go. Sort of like thrifting!

Sally

Veteran

I actually prefer the men in the photos...they look a bit more real. Why are all the women thin and beautiful and young?? I wish there were more real people....maybe we should start one of our own...stylish people we see in the streets.

Marley

Veteran

I have never read the comments on the Sartorialist - I'm like Una - I just don't read comments. But, I love the artistry of the photography - and I do like some of the outfits - and the faces of the people. I like the Sartorialist mainly because the people pictured are so very different from me. I don't expect to go there to necessarily get fashion ideas - but I do go there to get inspiration to try new and creative combinations of my own clothes and in my own style. So . . . I must admit, I love the Sartorialist!

Jonesy

Veteran

When I saw this subject line, I thought you meant you don't like the man, Scott Schuman (sp?) who snaps the pics for the site...I was going to share my slightly snarky take on him (how he left his wife to be with the photographer Garance Dore and has become this sort of caricature of a fashion photographer, IMHO) and how this has somewhat colored my opinion of him and his work...

But, re. the pics on the site: I used to like them more than I do now. I still look, but not as avidly. Once you start seeing the basic archetypes over and over, it somehow loses its charm.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Funny, I had no idea anyone even *would* comment on a Sartorialist photo. I mean, what's to say?

I am with MaryK; I don't keep the blog in my Google Reader for fashion tips or specific inspiration. I like it because the photos are gorgeous and evoke an urban, exciting, clever life happening somewhere. To me, it's the equivalent of seeing a pretty postcard in the middle of my regular daily mail; I know it's not reality, but it's lovely and inspiring in a general sense, and it always makes me yearn for a European vacation where I can walk on cobblestone streets in gorgeous Italian clothes and drink wine. Not that I really *want* to do that, but the idea makes me warm inside. Wish you were here, and all of that!

puffenstuff

(website)

Veteran

Nope nothing there for me either. I thought the Sart challenge is a great idea in theory but I think alot of the looks on there arent realistic for some of us to replicate. We should have a copycat challenge but based on your favourite blogger/celebrity/random inspiration photo

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

There are no outfits I have been inspired to literally re-create 100% because they wouldn't be me or work w/ my lifestyle. But I think the Sartorialist has plenty of inspiration. I saved a few photos because there were ELEMENTS that inspired me. A color combination, a way of layering, the combination of shapes.

One of my favorite photos is of a construction worker. And the male photos inspire me just as much if not more than the female ones.

I like that he photographs people of all ages, especially men. Haven't found too many older women with the exception of Carine Roitfeld.

I never read the comments.

Maya

Veteran

I actually feel a sense of relief for his ex-wife. He seems as insufferable as his commentariat.

I always felt he did too many obscure industry insiders and not enough real people. Now they're just less obscure.

I'm sure the reason the woman are all thin and beautiful and young is because that's the kind of woman he likes.

Anchi

(website)

I used to read the Sartorialist a lot, but nowadays I just glance at the site every once in a while. The photography is beautiful, no doubt, but I just don't see why they call it a "street style" blog.

Am I the only one who gets tired of looking at fashion models and women who look like them on that blog? The only diversity in terms of looks, ages, body types, etc. that I see are when he photographs men, *not* women! That really irritates me. He photographs men of different ages, body types, economic classes, etc. But NOT women! The women all seem to be stick thin and dressed in either couture or really out-there styles that work only on stick-thin figures.

Somehow I find it all incredibly sexist.

For *truly* diverse, interesting photos of all different kinds of New Yorkers, I love the New York magazine Lookbook. Unfortunately they don't update as often as I wish they would. I get soooo inspired by the Lookbook! It's amazing.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Actually I think Garance Dore (his significant other) is worse for only photographing the young and beautiful women.

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