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What do you look for in a WIW posting?

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Curious.

88 replies

Latest reply was from cheryl

LACeleste

Veteran

I like innovation and inspiration---new ways of seeing things.

Jules

Veteran

I dunno, I don't have criteria, but something that strikes me - it might even be the poster's clear happiness with an outfit. I'm not inclined to post every day to the same people even if I always admire their looks - so there has to be something to grab my attention.
Edit, I guess my answer is to why I post on a WIW, which isn't necessarily the same thing.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

My favorites are the ones from people who post very often, or who give a collection of a few days in a row. That way you can get a sense of a person's real life style, and not just what they consider their greatest hits. It's much easier to plan an outfit for an audience than it is to consistently dress in a way that you are comfortable with, that meets your style goals, day in and day out.

Vildy

Veteran

I am most interested in two things:
1. silhouette, which includes proportion
2. folks who communicate their style through using the fewest elements possible
(just because that's something I'm strongly interested in and not because others don't look terrific with what they're doing that isn't along those lines)

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

Fun topic, thanks for starting it Anna and all for replying! heehee, Vildy you're so hardcore i love it

for me, i just know how much effort it takes to get it done so whatever a person contributes i say 'good for you and thanks!'

in my dream world, i like to be able to see the overall proportions from a couple of angles, natural light which shows color and texture clearly, plus a few detail shots. Ummlila's idea of a variety of WIW's is also really great.

I love reading about people's relationships with their clothing, their associations and how they came up with the idea for the look and developed it. I also love wardrobe planning so if people fit that into their WIW's i find it very helpful.

But again, it's a lot of work and fuss, so i say do whatever makes it meaningful for you! Personally, i do like the back and forth with other people as well so, again, interesting and fun topic. Have fun! steph

jackiec

Veteran

I'm not looking for anything in specific. I enjoy looking at all the different styles, silhouettes, old clothes, new clothes, style transformations, gear, you name it. If something strikes me as inspirational, I take a mental note. If something strikes a chord with me and might work in my little world, I check it out. I try to comment as much as I can. I really enjoy browsing and learning from every single poster.

Aida

Veteran

Hmm well I look for whatever the poster is looking for. If they look for nothing, then I comment on the aspects that most draw me into their look. And if it's someone I know is looking for general opinions on improvement, and I see something that I think would improve the outfit, then I'll comment on that as well. I do my best to keep in mind as much about each poster I respond to.

cciele

Veteran

I don't look for anything in particular, except to see what the person wore Like Aida, if a person asks for specific comments, I'll try to chime in if I have anything to add, but otherwise it's like bumping into someone you know and noting their outfit.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Agreeing with the previous comments. My main ones are:
I appreciate the time & effort that go into posting & appreciate everyone who is trying to dress their body well.
I love the dialogue too.
I also like "seeing" what others see in an outfit - sometimes it's something I've missed & sometimes I just don't agree.
I like to see what everyone is buying.
To gain inspiration for my outfits.

I think the thing I love most though is seeing the changes in people - how people grow in confidence here

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I like to look at how people normally dress in a place that isn't my own - the people around here are kinda dowdy sometimes - so I use YLF for a source of inspiration!

I look for some nice pics, someone having fun with what they're doing ... nothing in particular. Everyone has a different style of posting WIW's.

In terms of format, I like the way Aida does it, but man, it must be a lot of work :p

ETA: I kinda wish there was a button like the "YAY!" button we could just push when we see a WIW and like it ... sometimes I see something, like it, but don't just wanna write "LOVE THIS" and run away. Haha, maybe it's just me...

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Excellent question. I think about this from time to time.
It varies for me, but usually a style that I can either relate to or that I personally admire. Being that there are now SO many posters every day it's now less often than not that I respond to WIW's. I may go a whole week with reading daily and not posting on WIW's although I might open a handful of them.
I sometimes make myself use the Wall feature to get a bird's eye view of WIW so I will be more apt to find and reply to some that appeal to me. I just don't have the patience or energy most the time to go running through the whole category of them. But, being that I post WIW myself, I know firsthand that getting some responses is a nice thing.
Edited to remove comments not pertinent to the question lol.
Off to see what others have written. Oh, and curious what you Anna look for in some our WIW's. I know 99% of us are less trendy than you. Curious what piques your interest with our somewhat pedestrian looks by comparison

Alassë

Veteran

I look for style inspiration - style overlap/stretch compared to my own.

Carla

Veteran

Life is a runway! I people watch all the time. I HAVE to have a window seat in the resto or cafe. A dapper dude, a fashionista, an eccentric...I'm fascinated by the artistry of self expression. A polished classic uniform is just as appealing to me as a unique fashion statement. The WIW posts are just one way to get my fix. Eye candy.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Oh boy, Carla, I think I might feel the same way ... I love the "YLF cafe" - what a cast of characters who are regulars here!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Interesting question Anna. I am not looking for anything in particular. I don't have as much time to look at WIWs as I would like. But when I do, I always try to leave a comment. Lately I've been feeling over-worked and my ability to leave a good comment is non-existent. I do admit to being selective about whose WIWs I even open. If I feel I "know" the poster I am more likely to open and comment. If I like the poster's style I am more likely to open and comment. I know there are a lot of new posters and I just haven't had the time to get to know everyone yet.

rabbit

Veteran

What am I looking for?

Good visibility -- good light when possible, and the ability to see some surface detail of an outfit is great, but I understand not always possible.

When I have very little time to comment, I still like to click on as many WIW as I can, sometimes I have time to circle back later and post a comment, sometimes I don't but it gives me a better idea of someone's style and wardrobe going forward.

I look for general inspiration for myself, ideas about color and pattern combos, shapes of bags, proportions, touches of creativity in how something is worn and I particularly like style/seasonal confusion and unusual juxtaposition.

I'm usually not wishing to copycat or buy the same item, but I'm looking to train my eye and expand my imagination as to the possibilities. Also absorbing classic stylings helps give me a baseline of how certain items are most commonly worn (you would think I'd already know this, but not so much...).

shedev

Veteran

I'm not usually looking for anything specific. Mostly, I just like to see the ways people are having fun with fashion. I do like to see how others style things that I have, but I also love seeing styles that are very different from my own.

MsLuna

Veteran

1. The technical aspects such as form, colour, etc. I look at different colour combos, silhouettes, proportions - but you are talking to a design nerd here.
2. Personality - how well does the outfit express the wearer's personality? I usually get a bit of a sense of what the person is about through their writing and I sort of see similarities in how they are dressed
3. Interpretation of trends/Pinterest pins/copycats - I love seeing how the wearer interprets an outfit inspired by another
4. Rule-breaking - when I worked as a designer I learned that to be able to break the rules, you must learn them. I like to see which (figure flattery) rules are broken and how it's executed. Although - I don't even know most people's body shape unless I look at your profiles!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Nothing specific, and I love to see it all. I echo exactly what Jackie, Aida, Cathy and Caro said. High five, ladies.

kkards

Veteran

i'm looking for and at how people put together outfits. i'm looking for people who dress like me, and people who don't. i'm looking for ideas, and examples. i'm looking for how to translate clothing into outfits.

What are you looking for?

chouette22

Veteran

Exactly what Runcarla said! She expressed it so eloquently.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I also love and agree with what Runcarla wrote. What I am looking for depends on the person. If it someone's style I admire I often look for inspiration and just affirmation that all of us have our own style. If it is someone who asks questions or is trying to change their style I look with a more critical eye toward making suggestions. If it is someone that I don't yet understand I look to try to get some insight. All good.

ETA: What about you Anna?

Anonymous

I like looking at a little bit of everything. Kind of like Carla said, it's like people-watching. Only you don't look weird and awkward here for staring at some stranger's outfit for too long. And there's no way I can comment on or even look at everything, but I try to spread my comments around when I can because I know how much effort it takes to put yourself out there.

That said, the people whose WIWs I click on first when I don't have much time are usually some combination of relatable (similar aesthetic, lifestyle, body type, thought processes that feel familiar, whatever) and aspirational. And I'm a sucker for anything with a funny title.

ETA: I also look for places where I can be constructive. I'm more likely to comment when I have a suggestion to make or something specific to say rather than just a general "You look great!"

Peri

Veteran

That's interesting, because now I realize I never thought it out before.

I know some whose style I consistently admire and I look at those as Runcaria said...eye candy. Sometimes I just look and don't respond, because so many others have and I would just be adding one more "wow".

I know some whose style seems closer to mine, more attainable, and I look at those hoping to find something I can copy...even an item I can buy to help make my shopping easier (not one who enjoys the hunt).

I know some whose figure seems close to mine and I look at them specifically to see proportions and how they wear things.

I know some who are struggling like me and I look at those to encourage them, those of us in the beginner or transitioning club.

Never realized I was doing these things. Thanks for the insight, Anna!

Diana

Veteran

Mostly I just like to see the cool things people are wearing. Like others said, it's like the best people watching ever. I like reading about the thought processes behind the outfits too.

Sara L.

Veteran

I'm interested in what others are wearing. I see such a small group of people in my daily life that I like to see what others are wearing in other cities and countries. I also look for inspiration with my closet and what I might like to buy.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'll only echo the others -- I am looking for different things from different posters. My expectations differ depending on the person's reasons for posting. Mostly it's what Diana and Runcarla said -- the great people parade. But better because there is community interaction. I get inspiration and/ or aesthetic pleasure/ challenge from some posters' outfits. I get to exercise my critical faculties looking at others' outfits (those who ask for help.) I get to see how people in different parts of the world dress for their real lives. I get shopping ideas. And so much more.

Neel

Veteran

Nothing really. I just like to talk to the posters here and advise (if they ask for) or compliment them if I like what they are wearing. Is that weird?

I now can appreciate a style that is different to mine and I understand why a person chose to wear what they did by reading their thought process. I see it as my daily dose of personality development

Deborah

Veteran

Anna,I really appreciate that people have taken the time to photograph and share their outfits and I find I am happy to look at everything and everyone. Unfortunately, I am finding I don't have as much time to look and comment as I used to, but I still try to comment as much as possible. Not so much what I look for, because I don't look for anything that specific, but certainly what I get out of viewing WIW's would be

inspiration
... for my own dressing

appreciation
... of styles and easthetics that are different from my own

understanding
... of how to put different styles and looks together

enjoyment/entertainment
... i love clothing/style and am a people watcher from way back

beauty
... I am a very visual person and see beauty in everyone who posts here. It has really broken down stereo types for me and helped me to see myself in a different light too.

Hope I haven't strayed too much of your question. xx

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