Do you post your WIW fails?

Fruitful

I wore an outfit today that I was on the fence about, and when I photographed it I had to laugh (not the first time this has happened! :))

I feel like posting it, to talk about what I learnt, why this amuses me, and why I enjoyed wearing it regardless.

In fact I'd like to post a few of my fails (well of course, someone might see my "good" outfits as failures, but I don't mean that - I mean the ones I myself regard as subpar :))

A reservation popped into my mind though. Maybe I shouldn't do this? Would it create a negative impression that I would come to regret?

Do you only post outfits you feel are successes or do you post the "fails" (not for reassurance but for the insights they bring) as well?

14 years ago

General

30 replies

Latest reply was from lyn*

Erin

Veteran

I'm still so new that I still hesitant to post any wiw. I can see the benefit of posting the failed attempts to ask for help though.

14 years ago

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

Why hello there bella!

I can tell you that I have most certainly posted my successes AND my failures.

I can promise you that people have been very kind in their responses. I can also tell you that I have found it incredibly useful as a total newbie to this whole dressing business, to work out exactly why an outfit worked or didn't. A lot of the time I could/can see that an outfit didn't work, but couldn't understand exactly where I went wrong.

Hope I've possibly given you the courage to go ahead if you are game.

Have a lovely weekend. I'm just about to sit down with my hubby and have a glass of wine and watch a movie - ah, bliss! x

14 years ago

Jjsloane

Veteran

I think a lot can be learned (helpful advice) when you post your failures (which may not be failures or just need a simple tweak) Bring them on! I admit I haven't posted anything I felt was not worthy of any type of review - but things I thought were good or needed help with.

14 years ago

Fruitful

Veteran

Hi Katie! Haven't seen you here much lately - I guess you have been busy with life (says she, turning her back on piles of things to do).

That's an excellent point that even if you know something doesn't work, an extra pair of eyes can identify why.

I probably will do it - I just find it very interesting how we can look so different one outfit to the next ( a bit like when Trinny puts on the lowcut top, and Susannah puts on the turtleneck).

Enjoy your night in! ^_^

Erin, it would be great to see more of your WIWs!

14 years ago

Fruitful

Veteran

Jjsloane, I'm thinking of posting things that don't really deserve a tweak

14 years ago

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

Well I do post a lot of WIW's, good and bad. I don't really trust my judgement anymore, though it's getting better after 6 months here. It really helps me chip away at things that aren't working. I feel like getting dressed in the morning is a group effort now. This community has helped me to focus on things that are the most flattering for me.

14 years ago

Deborah

Veteran

Fruitful, I have posted outfits that I have been pretty confident weren't working, or were the wrong cut etc. I have felt very vulnerable in doing so but at the same time I felt safe to do so. On one particular occasion the responses were just what I needed to help me move a particular garment on. And also sometimes someone else sees something we miss. I also think the part of the purpose of the forum is to share outfits we are not sure of and seek others opinions, ideas and suggestions as well as to share those we love and are fab

14 years ago

Fruitful

Veteran

Modgrl, it's great that this community helps you focus on your best looks.

It does sadden me a little to hear that you feel you can't trust your own judgement. I hope your confidence (in your own judgement) can grow and shine as much as your gorgeous style does!

14 years ago

Fruitful

Veteran

Thanks Deborah, you are right to point out this is part of the purpose of the forum. It certainly makes me feel vulnerable (even posting something I like). I guess in life I've sometimes been casual about revealing flaws/vulnerabilities (that I feel I'm okay about, after all they don't define me and are only an aspect of me) and (sometimes) been interpreted as a clueless ditz for it.

But I guess that's "normal" people for you, and normal people don't post outfits full stop

14 years ago

kimlee

Veteran

Fruitufl, I post all of my WIW, except for the rarest of occasion (like today where our company is wearing jeans and breast cancer awareness t-shirts). I have found that by sharing both the good, the bad, and the occasional really bad, I have received lots of insightful feedback. It has helped me to hone my eye and instincts towards putting together outfits.

14 years ago

Fruitful

Veteran

Kimlee, I can imagine that would be a very educational practice!

I don't post daily, so was worried about skewing my WIW posts towards appearing to look bad all the time

Your way makes a lot of sense.

I can imagine it too as a therapeutic practice where by posting daily, one becomes detached from judgement perceived or real, positive or negative, about one's outfits and by extension oneself.

14 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Sometimes I post them just to see if there are suggestions for improvements or comments that can define why it failed. I actually find that just as helpful, if not more than the successful ones.

14 years ago

Fruitful

Veteran

Chewyspaghetti, you're so right that we learn much more from failure than success.

14 years ago

HeleenH

Veteran

When I am not sure about what I wore, I will usually post it under 'dressing'.

14 years ago

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I have often received great advice on both the failures and the successes that have helped me to make both better. If there is an abject failure that I feel has no hope, I may reserve that one for myself but the others are fair game.

14 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Kiran, there are many people who post WIW's that they feel did not work - and they often ask for help pin pointing why that was the case. It's a great learning experience.

14 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Sometimes I will take a picture of an outfit out of curiosity -- a "how does this really look?" exercise for myself -- and decide it's not interesting enough to share here. I guess I have a fear of looking boring!

I definitely agree that this is a great resource for feedback and ideas, even if you don't feel great about the outfit pics you post. Lately I'm posting way more from the fitting room before I make a purchase than I am WIW, because I've been in closet replenishment mode!

14 years ago

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

Hi Fruitful! i find this ? interesting, especially given how popular style blogging has become and how it so much focuses on 'the perfect'. First, that's one of the things which is so unique about YLF forum - you see so much more day to day looks, from ladies who don't have enormo budgets or closets, and you definitely have the 'how do i make this better/fix this?' posts. To me, that is so refreshing!!! Very few of us always hit it out of the park, and i feel it's healthier to see a range (rather than just the five star looks).

Personally, on my blog i figure it's my house so i post pix of bad and also just boring looks. Sometimes those spark the best discussions (about reader's feelings on wearing logos, for example). Also, that's just how i look sometimes and it feels more honest.

But this is Angie's forum with many many readers. As Angie pointed out, as getting advice on outfits is one of the main purposes of the forum, that's copasetic. But i figure if you want to put up a look that just bombed in a hilarious way, why not? There's a lot to be said for humor in this life, and being able to laugh at yourself is useful and endearing to others. After reading and posting here for a few months, i would say anything that is sincerely about clothing is a fit here. & if people don't want to read it, they don't have to.

Now i'm curious about your look, Fruitful!!! waiting on pins and needles, steph

14 years ago

(website)

Veteran

Oh, yes! I have posted the good, the bad, the ugly. The boring. That way everyone gets to know your style and can better help you with future questions you have. For me, I often will say, here's the honest day to day looks last week of sitting home with the cat, or something of that nature. Sometimes I have been surprised that an outfit I wasn't so hot on is a huge success collectively.
And to the point of posting it simply knowing it didn't work - I've done that too. I had a pic of me in a pink polyester skirt suit for Easter about 9 years ago. Not the best look, but certainly entertaining to see!

14 years ago

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Fruitful, if I can bare my muffin top in search of the perfect jeans and wear maternity tops when I'm not pregnant and sausage myself into my 20 year old mini and share it on YLF, then I don't think anyone else needs to be embarrassed about posting anything!

Posting "good" outfits is fun to get a boost from the compliments, but I also learn a lot more by posting "bad" ones too!

14 years ago

Anonymous

Learning from WIW failures helps everyone hone their skills.

14 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I've posted things that I know will not get good reviews (eg short shorts). Though I've noticed people are less likely to criticize but more likely to not comment at all. But I figure if I post more outfits people have a idea of my style which I believe is helpful in keep or return posts.

14 years ago

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

Goldenpig, you are hilarious. I loved all of those posts you reference. They led to great discussions especially the sentimental skirt.

14 years ago

Lisa

Veteran

I post the outfits that I wear, both good and bad. Sometimes the bad outfits I end up learning even more from the insight of others as to WHY the outfit did not work.

14 years ago

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

As far as when I'm struggling, I found a better approach for me has been not to post it as a WIW, but as a "how should I style this item" or "does this work on me, yay or nay."

14 years ago

Fruitful

Veteran

Heleen and CocoLion, great idea to post in a separate section - might save people making 0.o eyes (i.e. assuming this is how we like to look!).

Dianthus, Angie, and wow, too many to type out all your names affirm that it is not only appropriate to post them but also a great eye opener. Although there's perhaps a silent majority that doesn't feel that way (I seem to see quite a few posters just posting outfits they like), it's clear the ones who do, enjoy the benefits.

Janet, kudos to you for posting from the fitting room. If I'd done this I probably wouldn't have a bad WIW to post! *starts to lust for a smartphone purely for YLF app*

MrsEccentirc, you totally got where I'm coming from! Just the total feeling of "omg what was I thinking? Heyyy, everyone, check this out!" You also make a salient point about the finessing of images in blogs. It's funny, because as much as I like blog eye candy, I first came to them for solutions, "how tos". The first style blog I found had a photo of the writer in bike shorts and a singlet, showing her body type. Then her experiments in dressing it. Absolutely fascinating! I share your urge to be honest (but it fences with my desire to be "pretty"), hence the feeling of wanting to post the bad as well. I want to read your blog more often. I forget about blogs a lot now I'm on YLF :S

Mo makes the crucial point that regular posting is how we let people know our style (which will help when making shopping decisions etc). Love your "home with the cat" postings. Not sure people want to see my "I didn't get out of pyjamas today" looks I occasionally have, yet I still get the urge to post them, lol!

Annagybe, I commend you for posting a range of outfits. I agree it gives people a clear idea of where you want to be with your style. And I didn't see the short shorts post but I admire you for that - I'm conscious too that people don't tend to like things short and was hesitant to post that kind of thing. You give me a bit more courage. I'd like to do that - post things I like, knowing they're not popular, but also knowing it's a contribution to diversity, and expanding comfort zones.

I will have to do an outfit post asap - I see this discussion is getting to the point of being worthless without pictures

14 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

I post every day's outfit, and over the year or so I've been doing it there have been a good number of less-than-successes and a few spectacular failures. It's all grist for the mill in my view.

14 years ago

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Fruitful, you need to post more WIW's! I've been waiting patiently for more ever since you posted that lovely plaid mini for me!

14 years ago

Kari

Veteran

Yes. In fact, I just posted an outfit that I don't feel worked very well, but I wore it in real life. I also post pictures of when I'm trying a look out for the first time and am not sure if I'm really "getting" it, or feel like it needs some tweaking.
That being said, I don't photograph EVERY single outfit I wear all the time, and I'm more inclined to post outfits that I feel are fun and inspiring to me, so there are probably many more failures that don't see the light of day on YLF (or just boring outfits that I don't feel are worth photographing.)

14 years ago

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