I notice details in am outfit, like a bold print or color or cut, followed by the shoes.

Fascinating to read the replies.

I guess colour would be a big one, followed by shape/proportion/fit.
I do notice shoes and statement jewelry. I also notice hair and nails.

I don't tend to notice regular jewelry, handbags or brand names (ie types of jeans, designer shoes etc)

If people watching it is often the ease of the look, and the appropriateness, or if it is something I think I can poach or something I would love to wear and could not. I remember a gorgeous melon playsuit last summer at the races, it was so fun on a young 20 ish year old (but would not have been right for me at all). I remember seeing a woman with a stunning red blazer and straight jeans and converse several years ago, I tried to copy that one as soon as I could.

Interesting comments, especially those that mention what they see in a photograph to seeing a person in front of them.
To get clarity on an outfit I will often do a selfie to sort of take a step back and see if it all goes...
I tend to find a photo gives me an impression of the whole outfit, in the mirror I see individual pieces (and body parts I'm trying to learn to love!).
In thinking further I think in person, the attitude or personality of the person comes from the clothing for me, especially if they stand out.
Now I'm rethinking the whole selfie thing...hmmmm...

On YLF I think I look at everything. IRL I don't know. Maybe I should take note of what I notice lol.

IRL I always go straight to the face. I tend to notice eyes first of all. And then I'm pretty much agreeing with Suz. But I'm going to admit right here and now that I just had to look up the word "gestalt." I really did. Great word

I notice the shoes when I am focusing on the outfit (people watching) and the face and only eventually the shoes when I am treating those moving creatures as subjects (people interacting) :-).

Like Rabbit I notice bodies first. In photos and IRL. It's interesting that Rabbit notices due to her art practice. For me, it comes from years and years of dance training. I don't talk about this much, but I was very serious about dance and trained to the point of an apprenticeship with a ballet company in Germany, but I quit to go to college. Anyway, you may not know it based on my unathletic current physique and lifestyle, but there you have it.

Next I notice color and proportion. I do notice shoes when they are prominent but in Elle's case, she was wearing wide legged pants so I had to look closely for the shoes.

Denise, you do look like a ballerina with your delicate frame and ethereal quality. I have no trouble envisioning you dancing.

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts. It was a very interesting read. I have read through them all a few times.

It seems that we do see what is important to us on others. I am all about conventional figure flattery and so I notice shapes, fit and proportion but I also love colors and color mixing so I notice color too. A few of the responses were very specific and linked to that person's style preferences. Others were not as specific and it shows in their outfits too.

I also people watch and it is easier to examine an outfit as the wearer can't see you dissecting and there is the lack of movement.

Very interesting.