Do you find it easier to style others rather than yourself? - YouLookFab Forum

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Do you find it easier to style others rather than yourself?

teeandcee

I'm no expert in either, but I do find it much easier to look at another person's outfit and see what it needs. When I look in the mirror I tend to stare and say "Duhhhhh, I know it needs something but what? Or does it need anything? Duhhhhh."

I'm sure it's because we have so much emotion tied up with our own reflection and are not objective. Taking a pic helps, but I'm still mystified most of the time.

Any tips appreciated!

Dressing

16 replies

Latest reply was from teeandcee

ManidipaM

Veteran

Definitely. I hit the 'Yes, But...' Syndrome when looking back at the mirror! And yes, certainly pictures help --- despite being rather a rude awakening at times for me, as I tend to see something as working in the mirror, and then it photographs as ludicrous. Certainly not objective here, so no solutions, but listening in --- thanks for this thread, T&C!

Astrid

Veteran

That's a yes from me too! I find it much easier to help my friends, my sister or my mother dress and shop. I really think taking pictures helps, but I sometimes wear an outfit that doesn't look that good in the pictures anyway - because I like the way it looks in the mirror, or when I move.

KikiG

Veteran

Yes! I'm really good at tweaking the outfits of others, but I'm not nearly as confident when it is just me and my mirror. My new best friend is the picture I take with my phone. Too dark to post here (still haven't taken the time to work out those bugs) but somehow the photo takes all the emotion out of the equation, and I can be objective.

Anonymous

Oh yes, I am 200% times better at styling others that I do myself.

Sara L.

Veteran

I find it easier to style myself because I'm not that confident when evaluating others. I'm not sure if I'm projecting my own style preferences on someone whose style may be different.

Anonymous

Well, I'm better at styling a pile of clothes laid out on the bed than styling myself. Once I get them all on there is usually an unforeseen problem, lol!

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Well, no, because their personal tastes get in my way, lol. I'm specifically thinking about my sister-in-law who wanted my help in creating a work wardrobe, but we didn't like any of the same things...still had fun, but I wouldn't call that easy!

Anonymous

Oh yes. It is so much easier for me to see others in context. I just can't seem to see myself that same way. Taking digital pictures helps a lot though.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Unfortunately, no. I have very strong tastes. I think I'm better at it when I understand someone else's aesthetic.

K. Period.

Veteran

Yes! The little voice that nitpicks all of the littlest details of my outfit shuts up when I'm putting something together for someone else. I'm always helping friends put things together or find some missing item that they don't know how to locate. Yet I'll stand in front of my mirror wondering if the fact that something is just a shade off ruins the outfit. One of the main reasons that I love this forum is that it lets me see outfits more objectively and see what I love on others so that I can translate it into my own wardrobe.

christieanne

Veteran

I think most of us are much harder on ourselves than others first of all. Much too critical of ourselves in general really.

And it is hard to shop or style someone else unless you have a good idea of their style, taste and comfort level. I think that is why stylists spend time before shopping on identifying not only needs but style preferences (are you preppy or boho? are you minimalist or maximalist?).

I can shop with and for my mom because I know exactly what she likes. But to this day I can't figure my sister out. She changes her preferences all the time and resists any suggestions from me because we are built so differently that she can't get past thinking if I pick it for her it won't work. It's her hang up though so no big deal.

rae

(website)

Veteran

What IK said! I have to get inside a person's head before I can style them in any sensible way... it's easy to do this when shopping together, though - pick up everything I think would work with my freind's body shape, and let her reject what she doesn't like, lol.

I guess, in the end, it comes out as a wash for me. On the one hand, styling others is hard because you don't know what they like - on the other hand, styling myself is also hard because I sometimes don't know what *I* like.

Anonymous

Always. I can get a good read on people pretty quickly and have had much success helping others shop! None of them had my body type/issues....grrrrr.

Louise

Veteran

I really struggle to help others. My Mum is an apple and I have no idea what she'd look good in and am prone to suggesting things which work on my pear shaped body. Style preferences play a big part too and I sometimes struggle to offer advice if it's something which doesn't appeal to me x

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Are we talking styling or finding things which can be improved? I find styling is hard because as IK and Rae said personality get in the way. As for the improvement suggestions sometimes it is easier to see on others - maybe because you don't focus on your real or perceived flaws and can be more objective.

teeandcee

Hmmm, good question. I guess I'm talking about both. Here it'd be simply improvements from my objective eye since I don't know anyone, but with my mom it's be styling. I can put her together effortlessly and quickly without any doubts on what works and what doesn't.

Funny what the eye misses too as I took some pics after running errands today only to discover my floral skirt showing through my thin tee, something I did not see in the mirror at all.