Looking at my Pinterest Board - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

Looking at my Pinterest Board

rachylou

Veteran

I have been examining my pins. I am finding a dichotomy between what I pin and my style - what I actually look like. Even when I'm wearing exactly what I've pinned, I do not achieve the same aesthetic. It is such a far cry, I have to ask myself what am I doing?! I'm not even trying.

Case in point - I got the Bellatrix blouse at Nordstrom (pic 1). I was thinking *Night Circus,* except modern. But this is how I wore it (pic 2). That's definitely my crazy self.

I guess I want to know if I should try to go for what I'm pinning. If anyone has this problem of thinking one thing and doing another...

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Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

MsLuna

Veteran

Yeaaah that happens. I look at my Pinterest and compare it with what I actually wear... Totally different. But that's mainly because I'm still working on a wardrobe overhaul.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I think you have styled the blouse far more creatively than the model. I like it with the vest. What about longer pants (ankle length) with this outfit?

Lyn D.

Veteran

I think that should be the idea- making the outfit your own, but using Pinterest for inspiration? B.T.W. I love your styling of the shirt!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I agree with CocoLion I think you've styled this in a really interesting way - I'd like to see it with ankle length pants too. I just had a look at your pins & I feel as though you have pinned a lot of different looks - maybe that's what is confusing you OR maybe you like variety. If I were you I'd go through my clothes (& my pins) to see which ones I really loved. Then I'd try to describe what those pieces had in common. The exercise I did was very helpful to me. It may be worth a try:

http://youlookfab.com/2011/06/.....our-style/

It's funny but your furniture/interior pins reminded me of the blouse - simple, classic shape with detail, pattern mix or a feeling of texture.

Krista

Veteran

I get what you're saying. What I pin versus what I actually wear are very very different sometimes! For a while, I was looking at each pin and isolating exactly what caught my eye about the picture and then typing it into the description box just before I pinned (e.g. "bracelets" or "scarf". When I go back to my boards, it helps me figure out what exactly I was inspired by so that I can replicate it if I want to.

I've also started doing something similar to what Caro has done in order to understand my style more. It takes a little bit of time but it's a worthwhile exercise!

I am with the others here, though - you've styled this blouse in a much more interesting way and made it work for you. I like the modern "Night Circus" look!

Raisin

Veteran

I don't have a pinterest board, but I do get what you're saying. I have an idea of what I'll look like in the clothes I want to wear, and I never seem to quite get there.

I think adding the vest made the outfit more interesting and casual, but that's not bad, just different than what the model was exuding.

I think that blouse is really neat, I would try adding some long slim trousers and maybe a fitted black blazer left open. You look great styled as is, though!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Rachy, I am with CocoLion - I LOVE what you have done with this! It is fun, creative, interesting! Yeah...pair that with some ankle pants and voila!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I like your styling of this too!

This analysis is a great idea. I need to do a similar exercise with my pinterest board. I feel like I'm getting closer to my aspirational style, but I have to keep myself from being discouraged that I'm probably 20 years older and 20 lbs bigger than the wearers of the examples I pin!

shedev

Veteran

I think it takes time to reach your aspirational style, especially if it is a lot different than your current style. I dont have a pinterest board, but I have an idea in my head about what my style looks like. Finding pieces that fit that picture can be challenging. I' m a lot closer than I was at the beginning of the year.
Also sometimes we can love a look in theory but never actually wear it.

Vildy

Veteran

I'm on board with your own outfit being terrific. Lots of energy.I haven't braved Pinterest as looking like lots of energy and time but I'll bet if you could pin a photo of your outfit it would go viral and loads of people would be trying to copy you.

I don't know what Night Circus is, though, (probably should mail back in my diploma right now!) so I don't know what you originally had in mind. I do like the contrasting scarf in the product picture.

K. Period.

Veteran

Honestly, your use of the blouse is so interesting, bold and lovely, I don't know what to say. I struggle with breaking out of my "Oh, that's a nice outfit," prim and boring rut. That makes me admire your talent and creativity, and I think it blinds me a bit to anything that keeps you from loving your style! I can see, though, how an exercise like describing the style you are aspiring to can help define your goals. I need to do that myself. So really, I'm no help at all here, but I felt like I had to post anyhow to let you know how much I admire your style!

rachylou

Veteran

*Making note of ankle pants*... Good idea ladies! Of course, y'all realize my first thought was, "I'll need some weird shoes to go with those pants." I am driven by this unholy desire to have all my outfits be off in at least two ways, so they're trulyoff. I have a whole theory about handcrafted items, beauty, and imperfection. I think, however, it undermines my authority, lol.

Caro... it's funny you say that about my furniture pins. I took one of those magazine decorating quizzes - light in the loafers, but I held on to this one because I think it got it. Said my style was "Playful Traditional". I DO like simple classic shapes and then to mix it up a bit in terms of color, texture, etc. I should do the exercise you suggest... btw, do you know the thread title (link is not working for me here at work)?

Vildy... Night Circus is a book in the genre of magical realism. It's about... a circus that opens during the night only - highly stylized, Victorian (at least in my mind), and everything done in black and white. Two young people talented in magic are set against each other in a battle of (true) illusions and of course they fall in love... In any case, very atmospheric and stylish all around.

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rachylou

Veteran

Hmm. You know, I did DO that exercise. (I found it in the archives!)

I was all wrong! I didn't describe my style at all. On the other hand, my answers did describe what I think about when getting dressed, which produces the final visual. That is how I do it - I don't imagine the final outcome, I puzzle out how to accommodate my rules.

This is pretty much why I'm a technician and not a creative. I don't see the difference between the two in terms of "units produced," but in approach to production. (Also, I say things like "units produced", hehe.)

Ok, I have to start a new pinboard: Aspirational Style

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Hope this works:

http://youlookfab.com/2011/06/.....our-style/

I like playful/traditional a lot for a starting point for your style. It sounds great & playful could rein in that tendency to go in too many directions (if that's what you want)

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Oh I forgot to add isn't being a technician all about the process & quality control? Just saying.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

It's me again:) Why don't you post some outfits that are swoon-worthy & see if the forum members come up with adjectives you haven't thought of but that feel right to you? Last post........for a while...promise.

Aida

Veteran

Rachy I have a bit of this too! For me, it's more about appropriating a look that I aspire to so that it works for my lifestyle. If your adjectives describe your thought process, it might be worth doing that same exercise... when looking at your inspiration outfits. And then compare the two to see if you can pinpoint what is part of the process and what is part of the desired result.

Traci

Veteran

I do try to pin more with an eye for looks I want to emulate rather than just looks that appeal to me. Your post inspired me to pour over my style board for a bit and some discrepancies with my actual look sprang up pretty quickly. The biggest one being that I pin mostly trouser looks, but I wear mostly dresses. I find dresses more flattering on me and more physically comfortable. The pictures don't really have to reflect what's flattering or comfortable or appropriate for my life, they're just eye candy.

The other things I can see that I do see in my wardrobe more clearly after looking at my board. I like clean lines, muted colors, a slight masculine edge, softness, worn in clothes.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

We are *inspired* by pins, Rachy! I think you look better than the pin :). I like the layering and pattern mixing. You made the look your own and that's what counts.

I never look like my pins because very few people have super short blonde hair, wear flats and leave off the jewelry. And I am generally 20 years older too. But I am inspired by the concepts of the photos that I pin. That counts!

Btw, what type of doggie do you have?

rachylou

Veteran

@ Angie - Oh, you are right, Angie! I forgot. I don't even have long hair like the girl in the pic, lol. Now that I think about it, it is interesting how clothing gets its style from the person who wears it.

re. my doggie: She is a corgi/chihuahua mix. A "chigi" (this term can, yes, be googled). I, of course, had said No Chihuahuas. Naturally, I then got the biggest chihuahua ever. We call her Lilypup

@ Caro - Are you telling me to focus? Lol. It's true. I ought to. I should write it on my hand. I love the idea of inviting everyone to "name my style." (p.s. QA is to technician as editor is to writer... Haha. Sorry. Just laughing at myself now )

@ Traci - It intrigues me that you pin trousers when you wear dresses and that it translates (!)

@ Aida (and Krista) - I am going to try and make a point to use the little text box to better effect. Good ideas!

Mander

(website)

Veteran

I have this problem, too. For me it's partly that my curvy shape doesn't look that good in many of the looks I am drawn to, and partly because I like the looks of dramatic, dressy outfits but in my real life I have very few opportunities to dress up, and I'm usually uncomfortable when I do. But I have been trying to incorporate a few ideas into my daily life.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Clothing DOES get the style from the person who wears it

Rachy, I love your doggie already. I want to see a pic! I am so enamored by how you always mention her so fondly and how she comes everywhere with you.

rachylou

Veteran

Can't resist an opportunity to share a photo(!) L-pup would never forgive me. She's a superstar!!!

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