Using Stylebook to manage my wardrobe - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

Using Stylebook to manage my wardrobe

Roxanna

Veteran

Hi all,

I mentioned in my last post that I've been using Stylebook to manage my wardrobe for a few months now, and I love it. I use it for a couple of reasons:
1) I have a very large wardrobe (because I indiscriminately shopped for so long and because I tend to hold on to stuff for a long time) so the app helps me manage and remix it in ways I wouldn't have thought of
2) playing with what I have in the app keeps me from shopping more (I admit now that I love shopping too much - so I am trying to cut down.)

Each week I put together looks of my own clothes and put them in the app's calendar by day. Below are this week's looks (the clothes pictured are all my own)

Also, my tip: instead of photographing all my clothes (which would take forever) I just search Google images with a very specific description of my item and usually the exact item pops right up! Then I just save that picture as my item. Saves me a ton of time!

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Dressing

38 replies

Latest reply was from

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I’m a huge Stylebook user as well. It’s amazing how many different ways one can come up with to use it to play in your wardrobe.

One thing I sometimes do... at the beginning of a season, I make a packing list called (for example) “ summer tops not worn”. I “pack” every top I might wear In that season. Then when I wear something, I delete it from the packing list. At the end of the season are tops that didn’t get worn. I then use this to evaluate why, and if that’s item should be purged. i have a huge wardrobe too, so this helps me see what is going unloved.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You can achieve this with the YLF Finds feature, btw. Just not on your phone.

Anonymous

Hi Roxanna ! Nice to see you back I want to try Stylebook too. Is it for phone- only ? Or can I play around on my desktop ?

Angie - to use finds , the brand needs to be YLF find enabled or you have to take pics yourself , correct ? I like Roxanna 's system of google searching pieces and adding them that way . Much of my wardrobe is not finds - friendly .

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Yes, the thought of photographing every item is both tempting and intimidating and most of my collection is probably not findable. But it does look so fun!

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

lisa p--you can use the "custom find" button with any photo--one you've taken or one you've downloaded from the internet. In addition, I just invented a new procedure for myself--copying the URL of the find and adding it to the "notes" field so I have a clickable link for my own use.

Style Fan

Veteran

It looks like a great idea for someone with a large wardrobe. I have been using YLF finds and enjoying that feature. For custom finds (which a lot of my clothes are) I will: 1/ look for a similar item in a store that is on finds or 2/ google for a similar pic and add that. If neither of those options work then I take a pic.

Anonymous

I love these types of applications. I commented earlier I was considering buying it and then never did. Just bought it this instant.

Roxanna

Veteran

Interesting discussion...to Lisap's point (hi, Lisa!), I didn't use Finds as much because I found some Canadian sites weren't enabled...but as Emily K and Style Fan pointed out, you can find a pic on the Net and upload it (which I never thought to do before Stylebook.) I like the mobile nature of Stylebook too - I use it exclusively on my phone (Lisap, I think you can use it across platforms.)

Elizabeth P, what a great hack! I never thought of using Packing Lists in Stylebook that way. I just did that this morning - instead of loading my week's outfits right into the calendar, I started a packing list for the week and added them in there - that way I can choose which outfit I want to wear every morning from my weekly set (I like some flexibility.)

Sterling - nice! I don't think the app is for everyone - you have do do some up-front work and you have to like tracking - but I found it's help me wear what I have much more (and it's fun!)

Anonymous

Yeah - I've been takings pics from any source I can find for my clothes - and saving them to my desktop for loading into a post when needed. It's a pita, and maybe I should consider this custom find thing - never noticed it before !

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Nice to see you!

I kind of love the idea of Stylebook, especially since I often forget specific looks that I enjoyed wearing until I run across a random WIW photo that I took. So I like that aspect of the app. But I have a large wardrobe, and I fear the task of getting it all into the app would be daunting. I wish there were a trial version so I could give it a whirl without paying for it right off the bat. But I guess $4 isn't a bad gamble.

Finds are really helpful! It would be great if they could be saved into outfits.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Janet, if you do decide to get going on it, start by photographing the pieces you wear each day. 4-5 photos, that's it. It doen't matter if it's a crap photo either, as you can go back and replace the photo later if you want. For example, one of my photos is a shot of my knees.... I just needed to record the capris I dug out for the day. Then when you have time, do a batch here adn there... tees one day, shoes the next. It helps to photograph them on a light or dark background (I spread out a blanket) for quicker editing. I also save an online photo whenever I buy something, I bet you have them already, in your finds.

Just trying to say that you don't need to have everything in it to start using. But of course the more you have, the more fun there is to be had!

And Lisa, unfortunately it's not a desktop thing. I have it on my ipad, I believe I could share or send it to my phone, but I like the larger pics for this. I'm also don't think if you had it on two devices, if it would update on both.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I used Stylebook for a short time, but it was a dealbreaker for me that I couldn’t use it across devices. I switch willy-nilly between laptop, phone, and tablet, depending on what’s at hand. Now I use ClosetSpace, which isn’t as feature-rich as Stylebook, but allows me to do outfit tracking quickly on any device. It really comes down to which features you want from your software, and what’s most important to you.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Lisa p, no. You can ABSOLUTELY create a Custom Find with a "ready to go" online photo. Just like Roxanna has done it, and Emily has suggested.

Unfortunately, you cannot use the Finds feature on your phone (yet). Greg has a very demanding full time job, and has close to zero time for anything else.

I know it's daunting representing your wardrobe online - but it is SOOOO worth it if you persevere with the leg work. Once it's online, it's very easy to update and navigate.

I'm not into counting wears, doing spreadsheets - (accept when it comes to my budget) - or planning much of my wardrobe on paper. But having my wardrobe visually represented online has become indispensable to me. The Finds feature is a brilliant tool, and I bless it daily. Here is my wardrobe in Finds:

https://youlookfab.com/finds/?member=angie

Anonymous

Angie and Roxanna: What is indispensable about having your wardrobe online?

Roxanna

Veteran

Smittie - I think it totally depends on your personality, but for me,there are a few benefits:
- I like to be able to 'see' what I have visually so I remember everything I have (things get lost in the back of the closet otherwise)

- I often pin looks I get inspired by but never go back to them - keeping them in the app lets me keep them front and center and then make outfits based on them

- By creating outfits, I can remember outfits I've worn and loved, as Janet said (Hi Janet!)

- I can plan my week ahead of time by putting outfits into my calendar

- I love looking at my wardrobe stats - looking at my least worn items reminds me to bring them out more, and looking at my most worn helps me understand what works well for me.

The Cat

Veteran

I just use my brain/memory for things like these. And I don't find it difficult at all.

Anonymous

Bought it. Going to use Elizabeth's advice and just input the outfit I am wearing that day. On weekends, I'll do more.

Archer

Veteran

What is engaging about Stylebook is playing with your own wardrobe conceptually and not having to try on etc. I use the find a V similar image search too.

Archer

Veteran

I record a capsule eg.

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Anonymous

I have a lot to learn. Right now, I am adding pictures of items worn each day/creating outfits/placing in calendar. I love visuals.

Thank you for introducing it to me, Elizabeth. Thank you for reminding me to buy it, Roxanna.

I'll have questions. May I reach out to you or Elizabeth?

Style Fan

Veteran

Stylebook sounds like it works great. I use Finds for favourite outfits. There are places to put favourite outfits and packing lists. I can also add things like make up etc.

I checked Stylebook out awhile ago and it doesn't work on Windows. That may have changed.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Roxanna, those are really helpful reasons. I am not big on strict numbers or tracking, since I have a lot. And unlike The Cat, my brain obviously can't hold onto all that information as well as I thought it could, because more than once while looking through old photos, I've found an outfit I completely forgot I wore!

I also have gotten away from Pinterest -- I hate how flooded my feed has become with suggested and sponsored pins. I like the idea of having a place to put inspirations that is not dependent on Pinterest. I do think it could be fun (and a substitute for shopping) to try outfits and combinations with the app, instead of pulling things out of the closet. I can also see how helpful it could be for getting insight into what is and isn't worn frequently.

Thanks for the recommendation and info!

LaPed

Veteran

I think the last time I checked Stylebook was not available for Android, only iOS. Has that changed?

Smittie -- I think wardrobe cataloging helps more for people who are visual thinkers, which I am not. I've never gotten into Pinterest, Instagram, Tumblr, etc -- any of the image-based platforms -- because scrolling through an endless stream of images is just so exhausting to me. I much prefer lists and spreadsheets -- I'm a word person through and through. I'm also really lazy about taking pictures -- I usually do it when I'm getting rid of an item (to sell on eBay etc) not when I've just acquired it. Taking and organizing photos feels like such a chore, in a way that managing a spreadsheet does not.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Sterling... absolutely!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

La P, I believe you are right. I'm very much a visual person. Lists and spreadsheets do little for me.

Anonymous

I think I am both! I adore visuals, but crunching numbers relaxes me.

My intent is to maintain my spreadsheets and play with Stylebook to understand the tool and what benefits it can offer me. Right off the bat, I love the calendar feature!!!!!!!!!!!!! So much information in an instant glance.

Roxanna

Veteran

Totally agree with everyone here - I am VERY visual and that's why I think Stylebook works for me. I follow Elizabeth's method and input my outfits as I wear them.

Sterling - glad you are loving it so far! Feel free to reach out.

Laura G

Veteran

Alas, not for Android. But ClosetSpace is so buggy I can't keep using it. Am I desperate enough to buy an iPhone just to use this app? Maybe.

Anonymous

Laura -- I know this sounds crazy, but I seriously would consider it!! I anticipate really streamlining my wardrobe because it is so visual. I can see things that are just not apparent in my spreadsheets. Right now, I am maintaining both my spreadsheets and Style Book. I can see a time when I transition fully to Style Book.

P.S. I really am very budget conscious, but an iPhone is a way of life for me. I endorse it for all my friends!!

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