Posting WIW's - YouLookFab Forum

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Posting WIW's

Mona

Veteran

I want to know how beneficial you guys find it to post WIW's. Has this been a big factor in your style evolution? Also, does the frequency play a part? I mean, posting a WIW daily versus weekly. How often a suggestion from a fellow YLFer surprised you? Do you still post your outfit if you think it works and are satisfied with it?

General

20 replies

Latest reply was from annagybe

Traci

Veteran

I don't post a ton of wiw. I just can't seem to find the time to always snap a pic that I'm comfortable with posting. My reason for posting the ones I have is so that there's a face and a style to the screen name so that later when I'm asking for advice the forum has some sort of background to form an opinion on.

I'm sure out of vanity I post more looks that I like than ones I don't like, but I definitely try to post some of the ones that aren't my favorites just so I can get feedback and figure out where I went wrong.

I usually post in spurts when I'm reworking my wardrobe.

Anonymous

I have found it immensely helpful. I try to post as often as I can, and even if I don't like an outfit. The comments are so useful, and I find posting regularly is beneficial because then people know your wardrobe and can suggest alternate pairings or riffs which is excellent.

Anonymous

I love it! I am new, and I was actually wondering how often to post. Is it weird to post often? I want to get a good feel about what I am doing over here! Haha

ManidipaM

Veteran

I wish I had more time and confidence to post. I confess I don't post the ones where I think *I* look weird (rather than the outfit, my face or hair or something) --- I'm terrible when confronted by a camera. I also wish I had more time to take photos, period --- like daily. Even if you don't post, it is often revealing to see yourself from a third perspective, so to speak.

On the other hand, I used to love being able to post more often. It was helpful for purposes of both feedback and affirmation of progress to myself.

Thistle

Veteran

I just started posting as part of my New Year's Fashion Resolutions. I made myself promise 3 times a week.

It has helped me a lot! You hear what people like and where you could improve. It helps you hone your style as well.

For veterans, their WiWs are inspirational to me as I learn my style.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I post every day during the week - my work outfits plus Casual Friday, and am trying to post more of my weekend casual looks as well (when I have time).

I have found posting outfits to be incredibly helpful. There are always comments, insights and suggestions from forum members and Angie that help me learn and grow. I also find looking at the pictures I can often see the outfit as a whole better than when I look in the mirror.

I post both my outfit successes and failures.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I wish I could have posted everyday for my first year, but it hasn't been possible for me. But even with less frequent posting, I do find the feedback on WIW posts to be enormously helpful.

I think by posting fairly regularly it has helped the forum members and Angie get a handle on my developing style, so that their suggestions hit the mark more often than not. They know what I already have in the closet and can suggest pairings I might not have considered, and they know what I'm aiming for, so they don't make as many "nice but useless" suggestions. Those KILLER ratings from Angie are priceless because you can then analyse the look afterwards and consider what its elements are. Also, the compliments really help to lift a person's mood!

I also find K/R threads extremely helpful, and "try on" threads as well. There, people are much more critical (in a good way) and so the threads serve a different purpose.

I must admit that my WIWs are usually of my "going out" outfits. Even if the going out is casual -- shopping, lunch in town. Sometimes I'll also post if I'm just trying a fun new combination, or I have a new item that I am dying to show off.

Lately I have also been trying to take daily work-at-hom photos -- even when I'm not going anywhere other than the gym. Because many of my outfits are repeats or are sort of boring in themselves I don't post these. But I'm hoping to collect a bunch of them and post them together as a sort of documentary, and for ideas going forward. What do I REALLY wear? What does that tell me about my actual needs? I learned a lot from Krista and Ingunn and Jayne on this. They kept records just for themselves and were able to make some excellent buying decisions as a result. I think you've been doing this as well?

Moving forward, I aim to do what Sveta does and post weekly WIWs. I got a tripod for Christmas so I won't always have to involve my daughter in the process if I don't want.

If nothing else, knowing that you are going to take a photo forces you to up your style game a bit. No staying in PJs all day!

morethanbeige

Veteran

I am posting more WIWs on purpose, because I find it to be so helpful. The feedback is invaluable. I also put more effort in to what I'm wearing, so it's a win-win. And I try to let go of being so critical of myself and turn it in to a learning experience. It works!

kellygirl

Veteran

I think posting WIW's and K/R's are extremely helpful and has really helped me develop my style. I agree with Ceit that frequent posting makes it easier for forum members to get a feel for your style which helps for critiquing. I've also noticed that I can look at other people's posts and evaluate them based on their style history--I feel more confident commenting when I *know* their style.

If I had time, I would have liked to have posted daily. I think it would have gotten me to where I am a lot faster. I really admire people who make this daily effort and I learn a lot reading their posts and the forum comments.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I don't particularly want to post a WIW for every day (mostly for fear of boring/overwhelming the forum with too many of my outfits), but I'd say I have gotten in the habit of at least photographing half of my outfits in a given week. Sometimes I just don't get around to it.

I find it useful to snap pictures even if I don't post them for feedback. For one thing, it helps me remember outfit combinations, and it also helps me assess what works and what I could tweak. It also shows me ruts I tend to fall into, color schemes I tend to repeat, etc. In short, it helps me determine where I've been and how I'd like to evolve.

Posting here and getting feedback is like icing on the cake. It's great to get a fresh perspective!

Mona

Veteran

Traci, I do the same thing when reworking my wardrobe, I tend to post more. Also, you are right about putting a style and face to a name.
Ceit, you definitely have a clear direction where your style is going? Do you think it is becasue of posting WIW's?
WhitneyG, it is not weird to post often at all. Some YLF'ers post their outfits daily and they are the heart and soul of this forum. So inspiring.
Manidipa, I love seeing your WIW's as i see a little bit of myself in you. I hope you can post more often.
Thistle, you made yourself a great promise and yes veterans who post daily WIWs are great inspiration.
Shannon, i have yet to see an outfit failure coming from you. Your WIw's are always so sophisticated and fun.
Suz, it is great that you have a tripod that you can take your own pics now. Santa must have heard about us as he brought me a tripod too. So now I can take my own pics and dont have to beg my son. In fact, I have been taking pics continuously for past two weeks but I was not sure if I should just hog the forum with my WIW's.
morethanbeige, please dont be critical of yourself. You have a great style and seeing your WIW's is always a treat.
kellygirl, Like you, I also admire people who post their daily outfits and the comments by other YLF'ers are so educational. My problem is that I usually can't suggest any improvements so most of my comments fall in "nice but useless" category (stealing words from Suz here). I hope to be able to suggest improvements when i am more confident about my own style.
Janet, I have been taking pics of all my outfits for last two weeks as I wanted to keep a record myself. I just wasn't sure if I should post them on the forum as most of my outfits are average/boring and dont generate a lot of comments. I agree that posting does give a fresh perspective.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I'm with Suz. All of the same reasons.
Lately I am wearing a uniform again so I only posted 2 or 3 of those and then let it be. But usually if I am going out of the house and not in uniform for work, I will post. I more often post with questions of outfit ideas lately. Like my 'tights or leggings?' question on my dress with oxfords outfit.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

I would just echo what the other ladies have said. It's very helpful, both from the comments others posted and having a picture to evaluate over time.

Anonymous

Mona, definitely! I just started posting in August/September and when I look back I can't believe how quickly I figured things out, and I cringe when I look at some of those outfits now, even though I was proud of them then. It really helps to take a picture and look at it, even if you don't post it. Although, the comments and suggestions I have received I think are a giant part in accelerating my style search.

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

I haven't had much time to download photos in the past couple of months, although I do take outfit photos to get a better idea how they look myself. When I did WIW's in the past, it was extremely helpful. The ladies helped me kick some undeserving items out of my closet and suggested some tweaks to make outfits better. Getting a "killer" from Angie was so gratifying - that outfit is on the "rewear again and again" list. As I am largely satisfied with my style, I will post a few outfits when I am trying something different or am unsure of something rather than an everyday thing. However, reading some of these comments makes me think that I should post more often to give everyone a better sense of my style and the items I own so that they can suggest "try it with those other shoes" or whatever.

Hil

(website)

Veteran

I've only been here a few days but I've already found it helpful to take a pic as I finish getting dressed and post it. I'm making more effort and the feedback is great.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I more or less do what Janet does. The light-bulb moment for me was when I realised I wasn't taking pictures because it was too hot. Partly because I seemed to be mostly in sarongs but mainly because I don't like my casual hot weather clothes - so now I can see that improvement is needed. I would not have realised this without the goal of regularly taking photos.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Caro makes a great point. I felt the same way in the summer.

Also, I didn't mean to imply that nice comments were no good! I actually find the compliments very mood-enhancing! Not useless at all.

Also, I rarely have too many suggestions for improvement of WIWs, either. Unless the person asks specifically what to do -- in fact, she has already WORN it, so telling her how to wear it another time might not be the most tactful.

I think the forum tends to suggest tweaks much more often if it is a K/R thread or if someone asks a question -- and that is super helpful.

When I said "nice but useless" I mean the kind of suggestions that tell you to wear the dress with strappy sandals -- when you are a UWP and would sooner strangle an intruder with the strap of a sandal than wear it! You know...the kind of suggestions that show that a person just doesn't "get" your style or what you're aiming for. I think the regular WIW posters are far more likely to get suggestions that are relevant to their actual style goals and wardrobes.

Mona

Veteran

Suz, this is hilarious. Strangling an intruder with a strappy sandal, LOL! I know exactly what you mean by "nice but useless". They are great mood enhancers and ego boosters.
Based on the responses of all you wise ladies, I am thinking I should start posting more WIW's. I think I will do a recap on the weekend for the week and see how it goes.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I initially resisted posting WIW's because I thought my style was too edgy. I think it took me over a year. But then my very first WIW got a Killer rating from Angie. At first I only took photos of myself using a mirror.
When there was construction on my condo I lost my source of natural light. I said I was probably not going to post a WIW for about a year there was a surprising amount of forum members said they'd miss my outfits. So I invested in a tripod (they're not expensive, and really it's a one-time investment).
I don't post everyday, because I work in scrubs. I do it mostly to help people get a sense of my constantly changing style, so that if I'm considering an item or a keep or return I get better feedback.
The compliments are nice. But sometimes I know I've broke the forum. I've posted outfits that only garnered two comments.