Ways to Organize Outfit Ideas

JewelryGirl

I'm curious how everyone keeps track of outfit ideas to try? I've thought about printing off pictures but sometimes we just have a bullet about an outfit idea or inspiration.

Here's something I'm trying right now - I did a search on scarf's & stumbled across this post. http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....vet-blazer
The reason I was searching for scarves is I found a fun olive/leopard small square one yesterday thrifting & ironically a gorgeous casual olive green velvet blazer similar to the one discussed here. So, I took an index card & wrote down things like the following & thought I'd attach it to the hanger in a ziplock bag so that when I grab the jacket out of my closet I instantly have ideas of what the heck to wear with it or to jump start some brainstorming.

~ accessorize with scarf or brooch (ex. pull inspiration colors from paisley scarf)
~ white t & jeans
~ great fitting dark wash jeans, beautiful white blouse, killer heels, statement necklace
~ Blk jeans, Blk turtleneck, Blk scarf
~ Dk jeans, Blk/Wht houndstooth scarf
~ All cream top/bottom, metallic accessories & shoes
~ Over Blk dress, knee-high black boots, patterened scarf
~ Denim skirt, cream top, knee-high brown boots
~ With nature colors or flowers (green as back drop)

I think this might be the ticket for me as I have it right there at my fingertips exactly when I need it. However, I'm curious - what does everyone else do? I'm thinking there are likely lot's of different ideas!

Thanks a bunch!

16 years ago

Dressing

11 replies

Latest reply was from anemone

JewelryGirl

Active Member

HA - a 3 x 5 index card fit's perfectly in a snack size ziplock bag also - too fun!!

16 years ago

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Wow, this is a great idea to keep organized, JG.

I don't really write anything down. I do keep photos from magazines and other places of outfits I like, and I will occasionally look through those for inspiration. Normally, my outfit choosing process goes something like this: check the weather, go into my closet and pick something that I really want to wear that day (and it depends on the weather, too), build an outfit around that. I guess the building the outfit around a particular piece is where your method of organization comes in. I just choose stuff and think about how it will look. I don't usually have a ton of time in the morning to do this, and sometimes two things don't work together when I put them on, so it's back to the drawing board. If it's Saturday or Sunday and I am working, then I know I can wear heels, so I usually build an outfit around those.

16 years ago

Louise

Veteran

Oooo what a fantastic idea JG. I frequently find myself wearing things in the same combinations. I usually get inspiration at the oddest times (eating my lunch at work, driving, just as i'm falling asleep) then i can't remember them when i wear an item. I might have to try your idea out x

16 years ago

NewMe

Active Member

JG - Thanks for sharing this great idea! I'm often uninspired in the mornings rushing to get ready for work. This would save me some time in the morning and catch the train on time....

16 years ago

Anonymous

I've been pondering how to keep track of outfit ideas as well. First thing in the morning, when I am rushed, the last thing I am feeling is CREATIVE! I think I may keep some 3x5 cards in my purse and when random outfit ideas come to me, I can jot them down enroute. Attaching the card to the hanger is a clever idea. I need to experiment and see if this will work for me, too!

I've been using MyClothingCalendar.com to keep track of what I have worn...but its not allowing me to keep notes on what I liked/didn't like about each outfit. Or keep track of outfit ideas for the future. I may send them an email with suggestions for future website upgrades. I'm liking that I'm getting a nice library of my closet and I'm getting a great understanding about what my go-to pieces are. But so far...the website isn't meeting ALL my closet organizing needs....

16 years ago

Debbie

Active Member

How do you envision attaching the ziplock to the hanger?

This is a great thread that I am very interested in!

Thanks for starting this discussion.

16 years ago

JewelryGirl

Active Member

Hey Debbie, I think I may just do a simple hole punch in the bag. Or, I could tape it to the hanger I suppose. Not sure, I'm just very excited by the idea cuz I always track stuff & make notes but then stand in my closet looking.

Marlene, I've been tracking what I wear in a simple Excel spreadsheet. I'm really liking this idea as I've been rating it each day. My thoughts are then that I can pull up all of my top one's & presto have outfit idea's when we go out of town for the weekend in a month or so. I've also been noting by the day what I wish I had to pull out of my closet so it's helping to identify any final gaps that need filled.

Now, it's getting a card on everything in my closet. I think this is also going to help me weed out what I'm NOT wearing much easier.

It all sounds good in theory anyway - we'll see how it plays out!

16 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I love the sound of this but think I would end up mixing up the hangers! Let us know how it works for you. I usually pick out my clothes the night before when the children are in bed but will often change accessories etc on a whim in the morning.

16 years ago

Anonymous

I just got an email from MyClothingCalendar.com and they liked my suggestions and will try and incorporate into their next release.

16 years ago

Anonymous

I think this is a very good idea. I am getting quite a few things to mix and match so I am at the point of needing to make some decisions about organization and planning of wardrobe outfits. Thankyou for the idea.

16 years ago

anemone

Active Member

I haven't had time to participate here much yet (but I love to read the posts!) or even to properly introduce myself, but I wanted to share a tip for those who either have some sort of camera/tripod setup, a roomie or family member willing to take lots of photos on a regular basis, or a Web cam on your computer...

As part of my own personal style makeover that has come about over the past few years after losing quite a bit of weight and needing all new clothes, I have been using the Web cam on my iMac and the PhotoBooth application to take a quick picture or two of the outfit I'm wearing every day. That's nothing unusual or revolutionary, but I don't just take photos of the outfit I actually wore all day. If I have a little extra time at the beginning or end of the day, I will try styling the outfit differently, using different shoes, belts, scarves, jewelry etc., changing the belt placement, tucking/untucking tops, etc. and snapping a photo of each variation. Since I'm doing this at home without an audience, I am a lot more willing to be adventurous in these styling attempts.

Once I have the digital pictures, I can go back later when I have time and compare the various permutations of an outfit to evaluate fit, proportion, figure flattery, color/contrast, age appropriateness (I'm in my 40's) and see which variations work best.

I print out my favorites among these outfit ideas on regular paper (several on each page), grouped by season and dominant color family, and keep them in a notebook in my closet for those mornings when I'm either just not feeling inspired or feel stuck in a rut, wearing the same items the same way each time. I am a visual person, so looking at a picture of a complete outfit that I own makes it a lot easier for me in the morning, and all the variations help if some part of the outfit turns out to be in the laundry.

At the beginning of the fall season, I spent an afternoon taking my new purchases, creating outfits with both new and old items, trying out bold and interesting color combinations, imitating outfit ideas from my favorite bloggers and magazine pages, and taking digital snapshots of each idea so I wouldn't forget it later and so that I could evaluate how well the ideas worked. Outfits that I think look good initially don't always hold up to scrutiny once I see the photographic proof, or I may realize that there is an easy fix to make it work better, such as a different pair of shoes. On the other hand, if a new outfit idea still looks great in photographic form, I am a lot more confident wearing it out of the house later.

Since I started taking all these pictures, I am not only making better use of all of my clothing and accessories, I am much more daring with color, and I feel like I have a "new" outfit almost every day (I'm relatively new to this whole remixing concept, can you tell?). The time I spend evaluating the photographs is also training my eye-- I can see much more clearly what proportions work for me, which necklines are most flattering, at what point I should be wearing my waist cinching belts on my long torso, whether certain cardigans look better buttoned or not, unbelted, belted over the top, or with a belted top underneath (or all four ways), etc.. It's also helping me to cull pieces that really don't work or don't fit well, to return newly purchased items that don't work, and to see what I'm lacking so that I can winnow my wish list to what I really need to create more great outfits.

For example, after looking at a lot of my outfits grouped together and deciding that they lacked contrast, I tried to think about type of belt or accessory would work to add a pop of color with my best colors (teals of various shades, deep plums, deep blue-violets, chocolate browns, warm reds). I decided a mustard-colored waist belt would be a great purchase for me. I have never worn or even considered mustard before, and I couldn't wear it near my face, but I realized what a nice contrast it would make with all my favorite colors. I found a really pretty one for under $15 at Ruche and it has given me so many new and interesting options. So then I went out and bought a mustard colored bag that cost a lot more than $15, but that's another story...

I guess the point of my long-winded post is that there are a lot of advantages to creating a digital photo catalog of outfit possibilities, especially if you are a visual learner like me.

16 years ago

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