When WIW goes bad...... - YouLookFab Forum

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When WIW goes bad......

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

Hello!

As some of you know, in a nutshell, I'm a newbie with nooo clue (about to prove it below!). In these pictures, I actually *tried* to look "noice" (Aussies will get the Kath n' Kim reference).

So with no further ado, here I am in all my glory, last weekend...... (*WARNING! Please half close your eyes before you open this link, I wouldn't want you to faint from shock!*)

http://s995.photobucket.com/al.....s%20wrong/

Still with me? Don't say I didn't warn you!

<Katiepea whispers to those who fainted from the horror.... "Please wake-up! I need your help! Don't leave me now, YLF's, please, don't leave me now!"> (OK, now I know I'm getting silly and am probably trying your patience, but it's late, I'm tired and I'm desperate for help!)

The thing is, I thought I looked fine when I looked in the mirror in these outfits, but now, after looking at the photos, I realise I failed dismally!

Yes, I can hear you all, these jeans are now in the bin. And I realise that no, I can't "do" boyfriend jeans. And yes, I realise my bra line is showing. (New bras on the way.) Yes, I realise my hair didn't look "cool and casual" but rather scruffy and that my outfits are bland. And I can see that denim and cheap white t-shirty type stuff looks blurk.

In my defence, the shoes in the skirt picture are cute. And I tried a bangle (See! I do read Angies posts - I may have no clue, but at least I tried!) And the necklace does, I like to think, lengthen my line (a little).

So....... now I need your sympathy, cheers for being brave (or silly enough to post!) and more than that, your help! Here is the serious bit where you can help me...

Honestly, can you explain, how is it that in the mirror, I managed to convince myself that I look simply dressed, but quite nice and now when I look at the photos I realise that I looked......well........yuck?

How long does it take to develop an eye to be able to look at yourself critically in the mirror and see how you truly "look" to the outside world?

(And yes, if you can tell me that when you started, you also had such wardrobe disasters, it would make me feel not quite so chagrined.)

Thanks for reading....

Clueless Katiepea X

General

19 replies

Latest reply was from

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

ROFL Katiepea!!! I just posted a very similar post!!

FWIW, I think its only when I see photo's that I really see an outfit... my mirror lies to me all the time

So considering the mood I'm in today over my outfit, I'm not even going to begin to attempt to give any advice LOL

Just lots of *nodding in complete understanding and sympathy*!

rute

Veteran

oh.. you are being too hard, love the black and white look and your necklace! A better hair do and some make up would have complemented the look.
You look lovely in pencil skirts! Nice curves!

Dusty

(website)

Definitely being too hard on yourself. I don't think the jeans are that bad, actually, I just think you need a less voluminous, more structured top with them - there's just too much volume in that outfit (but black and white concept is great!). I agree that you look great in pencil skirts!

stringy

Veteran

Awww, don't be too harsh on yourself I can see where you were going with this, for sure - but either the high-volume jeans or the high-volume top, not both. Your pencil skirt is super cute and suits you very well.

The only reason I go to the trouble of taking photos of my outfits is so I can see myself more objectively. When I look in the mirror I can only focus on my (very new) wrinkles or my muffin top. When I see a photo I can look at myself as a whole rather than in pieces. And that's when I realise what's wrong or right with my outfit.

Keep taking photos, it's the best way to figure out what your tastes are and what suits you best!

Beth

Veteran

Aw Katie, you're being too hard on yourself!

Like Theresa, I find that my mirror lies to me, too. A quick photo definitely gives a better picture of what I really look like. I don't know why, but it does...maybe because the photo is a reverse of what you see in the mirror and your eye perceives it differently?

Anyway, use that camera! I'm learning to take a quick snap just to see if an outfit I'm unsure of really works. Sometimes the answer is yes and sometimes it's a hell no :O

Queen Mum

Veteran

I agree- you're being too hard on yourself (as we all do).

I ditto the other's comments on the first outfit-- unless you're built like a board, one piece of volume per outfit. I would also love to see a pop of color with both of those outfits. Perhaps try a long mutilcolored beaded necklace instead of the plain black next time, or turquoise against white is really pretty too.

The second outfit is a great silhouette, but again needs a pop of color. I know when it's so hot it's hard to wear much more than underwear, but a *really* lightweight scarf tied around your neck off-center would have been really cute. something like this...
http://www.anntaylorloft.com/c.....pe=Regular
I also am quite partial to sleeveless over short sleeves. I think it makes a much more dramatic statement in an outfit like that.

I agree, for some reason we get a much better sense of our outfits when we see the picture than just in a mirror. I wonder if it's because we get a better birds eye view on the computer screen. In the mirror we are still pretty much looking at one part at a time.

I've been taking pictures and posting pics for about 6 months now and just the other day I was thinking of how I am getting so much better about putting together outfits that work for me. One reason is that I've weeded out most everything that is not flattering on me, and I've learned my own personal "rules" through trial and error. By "rules" I mean the concepts that work for my own specific body, coloring, etc. I still try new things, but when I start pulling stuff out of my closet I can visualize pretty well how it will translate on me.

soooo, keep on keeping on! you're doing great and over time this will become so much easier!

oh, and I try for the messy hair look occasionally too, and it fails every time

Kristine

Veteran

Huh? I think you look nice! I really like your shirt and necklace. I do see the point about volume on either top or bottom, but I don't think it's awful. You're too hard on yourself, pick out the GOOD things!

marianna

Veteran

You are being WAAAY toooo hard on yourself. There is nothing wrong with your outfits! They are simple, but that's okay! I especially love the pencil skirt on you -- wear more of those!

Louise

Veteran

Hehehe katie you are so funny. I was expecting something awful! The outfits are really not as bad as you think the long necklcae looks great with that top, I suggest the top and necklace from the 1st outfit with the skirt from the second outfit and the jeans from the 1st outfit with the top from the second and please don't be so hard on yourself x

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I think you look so pretty. I believe the others have the outfits pegged, if you pair the first top with skinnies or your pencil skirt the proportion would be killer. Why does 'bed head' hair look so easy when it can be so difficult to get right?

AJ

Veteran

Katiepea, stop this negative self talk right now, young lady! This style journey you are on is a learning experience. There will be highs and lows and before you know it, there will be less lows and more highs. : )

In the first photo, I didn't really see anything wrong with the top but better fitting jeans should be on your shopping list. A great fitting straight or boot cut will give you a long and sleek leg line.

Luv this denim pencil skirt on you! Work that piece more into your outfits. I also like your flats in this picture.

Have fun with some colorful accessories. I don't know how hot it gets there, but my summers get quite sweltering. I decided this year to forgo necklaces since my neck tends to sweat a lot when I'm hot. I'm going to focus on adding big fun earrings and bracelets this summer and maybe some colorful lightweight scarves.

I believe I'm getting better at looking at an article of clothing on a hanger and being able to tell whether that will suit my shape or not, but I still rely on my camera for seeing the whole picture. I've been taking pics on Flickr for almost a year now and I still use the camera as the final determining factor if the outfit worked or not. So I don't know how long it takes to develop that expert discerning eye.

No more cringing. Enjoy this process and just chuckle at the off days. : ) Keep posting those pics!

Louise

Veteran

Well said AJ. I've been 'here' 15 months and still had a volume on volume disaster last week x

Susan

(website)

I think that you're very pretty and that both of these outfits have a lot of potential. I agree that a more structured top would balance out boyfriend jeans. Or consider combining the top from outfit one with the skirt from outfit two. The second outfit might benefit from tucking the shirt into the skirt.
But also, give yourself props for taking a picture of yourself and putting yourself out there. That's not easy to do. And I like your hair. My hair is typically very far from perfect but that's OK. I think it's much closer to being cute then you think.
I don't know the answer to your question about how we know when we've developed an eye. I pay more attention to clothes now than I have in the past but I find the sharing my outfits here on YLF and on my personal blog have helped me develop confidence, even though I know my outfits aren't always a win.

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

Awwwwwwww, thanks guys - you really are so encouraging! Thank you all so much for your support and feedback!

I know I am hard on myself sometimes, but as you know, it's hard when you know you can look so much better than you do! It's my whole p-p-p-p-perfectionist (there I said it, I hate admitting it!) tendancies in me that comes to the surface every now and again. Oh well, I guess you've gotta take the good with the bad!

Today, I'm all fired up and ready to try some new and improved looks. And I shall make a mental note to do my hair! I so giggled with you all when I realised I'm not alone in kidding myself that the "casually messy" really doesn't work unless you've had a stylist making it look that way for at least two hours!

I'm all fired up to get that skirt on and try some new and improved looks today (and have made a mental note to pull out my GHD). I will keep on posting - it's the only way to get better right?!

Have a lovely day! x

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

Gosh katiepea I agree with everyone else....you are waaaaay too hard on yourself! Although I'd like to see the first top with slimmer pants, these don't look bad at all. And I think you look simply amazing in the second outfit!!!

Isabel

Veteran

After I took the smelling salts, I loved beholding the images. I actually thought you looked great. Yes, maybe less volume on the jeans - but overall, you are just sooo pretty !!!

fathenry

Veteran

Welcome katiepea! I think your outfits are pretty cute! I can completely relate to the feeling of wanting it all to come together instantly. I wish it worked that way. But my honest experience is that it takes some time, because when I get in a rush and buy a bunch of new pieces at once, a lot of them become mistakes because I wasn't selective enough in the fit. I don't know if that helps or makes sense but I do believe that it will eventually come together easier and as others have said taking the pictures does help. Also, sometimes it works out great when we take fashion risks too, and there is really no downside!

Sihaya

Veteran

Katiepea - just another echo to say that you're being too hard on yourself. You look great. There's totally nothing wrong with either of your outfits and they're both WAY better than when I first started. I love you in pencil skirts - it's a killer silhouette for you.

Anonymous

LOL Welcome, Katie. You have such a cute figure. I echo the thoughts already expressed. Other ideas would be to try longer tops (1-2" above your crotch) with pants and scrunch up the top with the skirt so it's a bit shorter or belt it. See what you think. The shoes with the skirt outfit are so cute and the long necklace looks great too.
I'm still learning and making mistakes all the time. Today I spent a couple of hours I really don't have trying on spring clothing that had been packed away in hopes of coming up with an Easter Sunday outfit. I so wish I'd taken photos, but nothing is looking fab.