What do you focus on when you see an outfit? - YouLookFab Forum

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What do you focus on when you see an outfit?

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

Good morning,

I just looked at Elle's cute outfit and it wasn't until I read the comments that I even noticed that there were different sneakers in the pics. It made me realize that footwear isn't what I notice first or even second in an outfit. That made me wonder if that was an indicator that the footwear isn't as significant to me as other aspects of an outfit like color, proportion and contrast. I love to buy shoes and boots (as evidenced by my MC bill) but when putting together outfits, footwear seems to be almost an afterthought.

Have you noticed that you zero in on certain aspect of an outfit? If so, what elements do you focus on and which ones do you sometimes overlook? Do the elements/items you notice the most coincide with your own style priorities?

I don't know why, but this seemed like a mini epiphany to me.

Dressing

37 replies

Latest reply was from cheryle (Dianthus)

Neel

Veteran

I always notice shoes first! For me they make an outfit ... So obviously my eyes go there first!

What I don't see ... Hmm.....accessories! Necklaces and earrings ... Although I do wear them! Unless it is a statementy kind of accessory.

Liz

Veteran

When I see the head-to-toe still photos here, I do notice shoes. But in real life I don't, unless I happen to catch a glimpse of the person at enough distance to see the whole outfit. I saw a whole bunch of people yesterday and didn't notice anyone's shoes.

Anonymous

IRL, the first thing I notice is if the outfit is appropriate for the occasion and if it fits properly.

gryffin

Veteran

Dianthus - if it makes you feel better I almost never notice shoes unless they are extraordinary or I am really examining an outfit. I think I have a holistic approach - just the overall does the person look "good" - the outfit must be in context of the person. Does hair and physical style and outfit harmonize. Does the outfit enhance figure. Only then do I actually look at the elements. IRL I am oblivious unless I see something I like. Since most people don't put any effort into dressing - so most outfits don't even register. I guess I live in my own little world

Dee

Veteran

I notice color and proportion. And handbags! I'm like you in that I rarely notice the shoes. So many times I read a comment about the shoes in someone's WIW and have to go back and look at the picture again because I have no idea what they were! I guess that means if I do notice your shoes, they must be really fab, right?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Ha! I think I notice shoes quite quickly. But I am a BIG people-watcher, so I'm always taking in details other people don't see. It's especially fun to see what people wear when they visit my art studio -- I frequently comment on details I appreciate about people's outfits.

But as for what I notice first? I think it usually depends on the outfit. Yesterday when I was out, I noticed a woman wearing a big, dramatic faux fur hat. Only after that registered did I notice she was also wearing bold leopard boots, and a leopard-accented sweater. (Yes, it was quite a bold outfit, to say the least.) If it weren't for the hat, the boots would have jumped out at me.

Anonymous

I'm like Janet. I love to watch people and notice all kinds of aspects of outfits. Something may jump out at me like a fab coat, or great boots or a lovely colour. I'm afraid that I'm very likely to notice bad fit and poor pant length over and above anything else though.

Anonymous

I usually notice shoes right away! Color and pattern are other things that jump out at me, as well as whether the overall look harmonizes with the person wearing it.

What I often have a hard time noticing is the subtle details of fit, proportion, etc. that can take an outfit from okay to great. On WIWs, I'll generally miss these things until I read other comments about how someone's really nailed them or offering suggestions for how to improve, then I'll go back and look at the pic again to try and see what they see.

I think, on both counts, this corresponds pretty closely with what I focus on and what I could stand to pay more attention to in my own outfits.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What a great question!

What I notice in real life and what I notice in WIWs is a bit different, I think.

IRL, I see people in motion, and I may see them from a different angle than straight on. Then again, I may be so lost in my own little imaginary world that I don't see them at all -- it happens!

Anyway, in real life I tend to notice some detail, and then take in the overall gestalt -- like I'll see an amazing pair of boots and look up, look way way up, to see the flowing cape that is paired with them. Or I'll see that someone is wearing a top I noticed from Zara and I'll check the rest of her outfit. That kind of thing.

In WIWs, it is more about overall gestalt at first -- does it fit, are the proportions right, does it suit the wearer, are the colours/ neutrals pleasing. Only then do I hone in to ask myself why I like it and what details contribute to the whole. Shoes being one of those details.

It also depends on what I'm working on, personally. For instance, a while ago I got obsessed with creating outfit cohesion and harmony. This is especially an issue for me in winter. Our clothes tend to be so dark and this fights against my natural colouring, so I am always trying to find ways to "lighten up." And I also look for bookending. That means I might notice when a person has managed that successfully, with footwear or otherwise.

It's often difficult for me to make out the details on my laptop -- including details of footwear. My eyesight is not great and our photos can only do so much.

Windchime

Veteran

Color and pattern jump out at me first. And I definitely notice tops more than bottoms, unless the bottoms are striking in some way. I met my friend, (YLFer Sweet Pea) on Saturday and was very taken with her fab sweater and infinity scarf. I must admit I never registered what she was wearing on the bottom (sorry, S.P!) In my defense, she turned pages for me at a demanding dress rehearsal, and I was mostly noticing thousands of notes!

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I do tend to notice shoes but I worked at a high end shoe store way back when I was a teen. I notice a lot - I'm a big people watcher too.

Anonymous

I notice a lot - as in everything I look at people constantly, checking out what they are wearing and what is going on with their hair etc. Kind of a habit I think. I often wonder about someone's "story" - i.e. why they are dressed a certain way, why they would wear a coat like that - etc - usually done standing in line somewhere checking people out

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Truly. The first thing I notice in an outfit is a person's smile. Then I see hair, and then I see the colour of the outfit. All other details I see after those things.

Anonymous

Silhouette and proportions are the first thing I notice. From there, I tend to pick up on color.

ironkurtin

Veteran

General comfort in the clothing, then figure flattery/cohesiveness.

Carole

Veteran

If the shoes are interesting or statement, I will notice that first, then it's the pattern or colors, next would be what is worn up top and around the neck, scarves, tops, necklaces.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Hair, coat or jacket, shoes -- probably in that order, unless the coat is uninspiring and/or the shoes are great. Glasses if they are distinctive. I think we automatically look at people's faces first, and see the rest of it second. I feel like the coat and shoes make the outfit.

Marley

Veteran

Hairstyle and color of the outfit are first for me. After that - I'm not sure - although I do know that footwear is an important part of my outfits so I'm sure that I pay attention to that in other peoples' outfits!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Gosh...I'm not really sure. It probably depends on my mood that day, whether something in that person's outfit stands out more than the rest of it (i.e. bright colored jacket).

deb

Veteran

I love shoes and maybe that is why I notice shoes first then work my way up the outfit. I really never thought about this before.

kkards

Veteran

i know what i don't notice ---jewelry. as for what i do notice, color, fit, proportion, and the overall togetherness of an outfit.

Peri

Veteran

Color first, then probably shape. Then hair, then jewelry. I think I don't notice shoes much either!

catgirl

Veteran

Unless there is some huge statement piece in the outfit, I see fit first. If too tight, too short, too low cut, etc - and much of that is due to YLF! Conversely if it all looks good, then I notice colors.

DonnaF

Veteran

Footwear. I rarely if ever notice bags. Then, I notice what a person is wearing near the face, including color, pattern, and shape. Bottoms don't register too much, although I have noticed that an overwhelming number of women default to black slacks.

rachylou

Veteran

What a good question, and I have no idea.

rabbit

Veteran

If we are talking general split-second people watching, say at the mall or if I'm driving around town, I notice bodies first, the general way people are built and move. (Part of this is that I work a lot with anatomy and figure sculpture, so my eyes notice muscle and bone as much or more than surface).

Then I notice hair and clothing color/pattern if it is distinct, really harmonious with the overall person, or unique in some way --- usually it is statement shoes that I see first when it comes to clothes and that makes me more interested in checking out the entire outfit.

With WIW or meeting a person, I look more at the overall effect of the outfit and then linger on the details that contribute to it. A lot of what I respond to I think is the sense of 'rightness' of a particular outfit on a particular person -- a cohesiveness of personal style and ease where all the elements work together.

Gigi

Veteran

Hmm, interesting question. I hadn't thought of this before!

In everyday life (not when looking at YLF WIWs), if there is a statement piece, like a coat in an unusual color, I will notice that first. If it's just a regular outfit, I will first notice whether it is dressy (i.e., whether the person made an effort) or whether it is casual (i.e., loungewear). After that, I notice fit. Everything else probably comes after that.

When looking at a WIW on the forum, the first step (whether the person made an effort) is obviously not necessary. When looking at a WIW, I think I first notice any statement pieces, then proportion and fit, and then everything else after that.

shiny

Veteran

I'm immediately drawn to any statement pieces, which could be shoes or bag or coat or necklace or belt or... anything. Including specs, hair cut, tattoos, piercings and yes-- a smile! If an outfit lacks a statement I'm apt to not really notice it or the wearer, unless the fit is impeccable -- which makes a statement all on its own.

I'm still thinking about two women I saw out and about this weekend. One was wearing this enormous B&w sweater coat and she looked so cozy-chic in it. I forget what else she was wearing with it - probably just leggings? I just remember the coat and wondering where she found it. The other was in impeccably fitting dark wash denim and your basic black button down shirt that also fit impeccably, and was tucked in, no belt. I noticed the top and jeans first (with my knee jerk "wish I had her figure" thought - because jeans and button downs are so difficult for me to fit), then noticed she was wearing killer black boots and carrying a killer black bag with gold studs and fringe.

Oh and I noticed a woman this weekend who had a great haircut. I even stopped her to tell her I liked it very much. She told me it was a wig! I thought she was joking. I did not notice anything else about her outfit.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Another people watcher here. For me it's how an outfit works together & how well it looks on the person. Apart from that I do always notice the footwear

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