My original comment (for context, though feel free to skip it!):
https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....osition-62
Popping in to say hi & to share a little bit of my story Interesting thread & responses - many of which resonate! My own reasons for sharing & (looking at WiWs) below:
I haven't posted in quite a while but when I first joined the forum (under another username) it was mostly to comment on Angie's blog & occasionally the forum (absorbing fashion wisdom along the way). I think I started posting more frequently for advice after I moved to Brazil & my suitcase went missing - brings a whole new meaning to the 'I have nothing to wear' dilemma, lol!
I think I finally became less shy about posting WiWs after I moved to Hong Kong & actually had some space to take photos (as per @rachylou) but without my face showing. Whilst I appreciate compliments (who doesn't?), I did it because I value the 'constructive criticism' here from folk who have a bit more to give, fashion-wise - my family would be more concerned with cultural parameters and my husband sees no need to dress up (ever lol), so their feedback always skewed differently.
Like @Jonesy I'm quite a visual person, so I like looking at others' WiW & I find it easier to understand people's perspectives when I can 'see' their styles. So I figured people would also benefit from seeing mine ( a form of 'giving back' to the forum, as others put it). I used to be more cautious about only posting photos from the neck down, but after occasionally asking for makeup/ hair advice, I felt a little more at ease with occasionally showing my face so people can see what I look like (I find it easier to 'visualise' Fabbers in my head if I can imagine them standing there, which I appreciate can be difficult to do without a face). I still hide my photos after a little while though, because I sometimes find it weird to scroll through and see myself on the internet - even though @Judy I also remember the blogs (& also had my own at one point, lol)!
Speaking of which, I'm like @SarahD8 in that posting a WiW can help me build on my written thoughts by eliciting others' input, so that I can bounce back ideas in order to help crystallise them into actions. The visuals help alongside the text - for example, I like how @Donna8's challenge WiWs with lots of photos in one post help to tell a story of what she wore throughout the month. Or posting different photos of the same look allows you to gain different perspectives, as if you were looking at the outfit in-person.
@Brooklyn I've also felt the same thing you described - especially if I was posting & commenting around the time that the forum was active but wasn't receiving responses (those of you in eastern hemisphere timezones know what I'm talking about, lol). But as @Suz says, sometimes the type of engagement (or a lack of it) is less about us & more about them. I appreciate your (& others') WiWs though - it takes a lot of work to put yourself out there (& in good quality photos)! The different looks & approaches help to push the envelope on my own fashion boundaries
On the flip side, I've found that, the more self-assured in my own style, the less of a need I feel to post WiWs! Since my silhouettes/ colours/ styles are becoming almost 'uniform' now, I'm not buying much new to 'show off' anymore & I'm also less unsure of whether something will work on me or not anymore (hence not needing to ask as many K/R questions). So I'm not sure whether my WiWs would be of use to anyone on the forum anymore! So, dear Fabbers: do you prefer to see the 'process' in WiWs, or the end destination of the fashion journey?
