Where do you all find your inspiration? - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Where do you all find your inspiration?

doubleh

Veteran

Other than YLF and Angie's inspiration outfits, I fall flat whenever I troll the internet for inspiration. I know Mary, Parsley, Anna, etc have great luck on Pinterest, but I guess I am totally off base with my search words...nothing interesting pops up at all- well, sometimes the outfit combos, but I like to see it on a person. I'm not fond of the few other sartorial blogs I "follow" and don't have time to go through specific shop or designer sites. Any recs for good search words, blogs with photos similar to this (I find them all too young or too specific ie, motg, career, etc. I am kind of all those- well, not young.) I also know some of you follow each other on Pinterest and I have no idea how to do that- I'm pretty sure I was close to stalking as I tried...

Dressing

27 replies

Latest reply was from

deb

Veteran

Here are my Pinterest boards. You know haw to follow, right?

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I just find a blogger whose style and stuff I like ... I just kinda cruise around until I find them. I'm in love with the style of Forever Amber right now, even though she's quite opposite of me in terms of colouring, and I'm about 4 or 5" taller than her - and she has tons of shoes. http://www.foreveramber.co.uk

April

Veteran

Tricky, isn't it, HH? I used to read a ton of other style blogs and have pretty much given them all up.

The petite-focused ones were a little too focused on petite-ness ("Here I am in my size XXXXXXS pencil skirt, tailored at the waist..."). The professional-attire ones too often featured stiletto heels. The fashionable-mom ones were either unrealistically fashionable (for me) or a little too mom-ish (for me).

Sigh.

I haven't quite worked out how to use Pinterest for my purposes either. That leaves me with YLF and the photos on retail websites. Fortunately, between Angie's outfits and advice, the posts featuring Angie's clients, the posts featuring other bloggers, and the links to current retail items, I feel like I'm getting a reasonable assortment of inspirations.

ameelizabeth

Since I am a pear-shape and was looking for ideas that would look good on me, I searched for "pear shaped body" (that's how I found YLF!), and also searching for "pear shaped bloggers" brought me some good inspiration. I Googled and Pinterested these words. Not sure what body type you are, but that helped point me in a good direction!

Have also found some good stuff on Pinterest with the words "casual street style," "casual outfits for summer" or "whatever-piece-you-want-inspiration-for outfits" (example: "boyfriend jeans outfits"). Sometimes I throw "pear shaped" or "plus sized" on the end (even though I don't think I would be considered plus size) just so I don't only get photos of waifish women that don't look anything like me. It just gives the results a little more diversity.

Sometimes I'll Google Image Search with the same words as above, and then I can click on any photos that catch my eye and go to its source. I suppose that's basically like Pinterest, but a bit broader.

Hope that helps a little!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Well, this is pretty much it for me! And I now occasionally go to a few other blogs introduced by Inge here on YLF.

rachylou

Veteran

YLF aside - I am signed up for every store/site fashion newsletter known to homo sapiens...

Deborah

Veteran

I follow three bloggers whose style I really relate to and if I always brownse their sites when I am in need of inspiration. I also find the Sarah Pacini cataglogue inspiring, along with other online stores (Complex Geometries, Rick Owens, Helmut Lang) who produce look that I also relate to. Other than that, I am always looking in general at blogs, magazines and people on the street.

Gigi

Veteran

Good question! This, along with retailer websites, is all I have. I have also found Pinterest to be more trouble than it's worth. If I see a photo of something that strikes me on a website, I click and drag it into my iPhoto program on my Mac, so I have a record of it.

Like April, I've pretty much given up on the petite blogs. The two main ones are run by people whose style is not very much like my own—though they are excellent blogs, and I do return to them from time to time. But the nonpetite blogs are depressing for me because none of the clothes featured fit me, unless I am willing to spend $50 on alterations per item of clothing, which I am not willing to do.

Vildy

Veteran

I just plain can't find any. That doesn't mean that I don't admire someone's look but to me it's clearly *their* look. For example, I'm five feet tall but not petite (fragile looking). I love to see what Sveta's wearing but she's closer to 6 feet and has hips. While I could wear the same item combination it isn't going to look anything the same - it's gonna look squashed. I love what Girl With Curves wears but every single thing about her is different from me: height, weight, shape, waist placement, skin tone, hair texture, hair color and she wears heels!

So what i have resorted to is lessening all the influences out there -as applying to me - and have devoted myself to remembering what elements or outfits that have appealed to me throughout my life. What is the Throughline? This has worked for me. I am fearless about clothing and can be very experimental but I do better when I remember what looks best on me and choose an option in those colors or those cuts. I'm happier, too, when I'm less aware of my clothing. Now it might have a whole lot of boldness, pattern mixing, texture mixing but it feels natural to me and not like anything plastered on me.

doubleh

Veteran

deb- I can follow once I get to the board...but I don't see yours. Am I missing a link to a link?
lyn*- thanks for the link. I cruise around a lot and just haven't really landed on any other blogger/site that speaks to me.
april- yes, I think we are feeling the same pain. Everything is so pigeon-holed. I guess that's another thing that draws me to ylf. A MOTG outfit could easily become a business casual & vice versa. Perhaps maybe just the Angie-Inspiration outfit archives is next step.
ameeelizabeth- good point. I never thought to search by body type or a particular trait of aspect. I just wanted to find what was "good" or "cool". I guess I should be more self-centered.
rachylou- but can you actually go through every newsletter, etc? I have to purge my updates/feed/etc same as my closet. How many mpr (minutes per review vs cpw) can you get?
deborah- I have stumbled upon a few new retailers and blogs thanks to you all and those do inspire me, but a lot of them are more aspire-to for me.
gigi- I have always liked the idea of pinterest to use in a more private way, so I do find it overwhelming. I think they want me to use it the opposite of how I like to.
Vildy- I aspire to be you! You seem to have a very clear perspective and self-assurance that I hope to develop. Someday I hope to use inspiration photos for a jimp off point- like being inspired by a flower or sunset or something. But for the time being, I need to copy-cat/lemming my way through it.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I am more the let all the images I see everywhere on the internet and real life be absorbed into my brain and then wing it at the moment type. Very informed intuition is my motto!

MsLuna

Veteran

I get inspired HERE in YLF! I also am hopelessly addicted to Pinterest but did away with my "My Style" boards. Instead, I make boards for separate trends I want to adapt and pin outfits that either match my style or has right elements I want to try out (but not necessarily my style).

I also follow style blogs. The styles I particularly love are Alison's from Wardrobe Oxygen and Sal from Already Pretty. I find that they do the feisty bold feminine/edgy style I like to go for!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I get inspired by TV show characters sometimes. Continuum and Burn Notice both have female leads who's attire I like.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I rarely pin from Pinterest directly. I randomly pin from all over.

deb

Veteran

Oh goodness, I neglected to add the link.

http://www.pinterest.com/djm9/

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I'm like Shevia -- I guess I wing it. I get ideas from Pinterest, but I never consult it when I'm getting dressed, although I probably should try to do that more often.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Fr om everything literally. From you lovely people on YLF, to the people I see on the daily, lovely bloggers male and female, conservative, punk, dapper all nationalities, from myself to nature. I receive inspiration from everything its so fun, although every style is not my style. I can adapt it to myself I love fashion I love people watching and its just a great way. Fashion is a great way to express who I am and what I'm interested in. I try to express my joy and passion I love it. I love fashion it is so fluid I take a style or a look that speakers to me and it becomes everything. Literally everything.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Great question

I am not on Pinterest for outfits inspiration as I find it overwhelming. I occasionally pin something I like, but for aestethics mostly. I also follow a few other blogs, but apart from fabbers I rarely copy or do inspired-by outfits.

I am inspired by my own clothes that I love wearing - I'm trying to find ways to wear it all in new combinations/stylings. I observe how I feel when I make small changes. This has double benefit: I wear my clothes a lot and I learn why I truly love some pieces so I can make better shopping choices next time.

I also watch people around me, the real people who wear clothes for real lives, I am often inspired by colours they put together or some pieces that wake up my imagination. Sometimes I even start threads here describing the women I see who inspire me

And I watch my surroundings - the colours in the nature, the textures.

p.s.

Sounds to me like we need another Picture Perfect challenge, to remind ourselves the inspiration is everywhere

MRL

Veteran

I check out every blogger featured on this site. They all have great style, but I have bookmarked two whose style reflects my own (at least the look that I aspire to). By following a few bloggers as well as YLF , I get plenty of inspiration without becoming overwhelmed.

crutcher

Veteran

I have several blogs that I follow...When I have a specific piece that I want ot style, I go to Pinterest with that query...like grey sweatshirt...I read InStyle and Lucky monthly...I watch what other women are wearing and I note what I like...If I see a blog that looks like my style, interest, I will definitely check it out..You just need to get yourself a pattern, there is a ton of style out there..

Windchime

Veteran

YLF has become my main source of inspiration, by far! Similar to Aimeelizabeth, if I want to wear a certain piece but want new ideas for styling it, I do a Google image search i.e. "outfit with red sleeveless shirt". Then I scroll through the dozens of pictures and usually find one or two which inspire a workable idea.

Astrid

Veteran

I am on Pinterest and used it rather excessively in the past, but then I stopped and stepped back and realised I was spending huge amounts of time there without really doing anything with the pictures I pinned. Then I did a massive cull and now I have only very small boards left that I cull regularly. I also stopped following all the people that weren't fabbers and mostly pin stuff I find on other sites for myself. I don't really read any blogs and I'm down to a few stores I visit regularly, all only with things that are affordable to me and that I could order from here in Germany. I get most inspiration via YLF I guess and by looking at people around me. Bonus with that is that they deal with exactly the same weather and general conditions as I am, so it's really useful to me. However, most of the time I'm just standing before my small wardrobe, have a look at what's clean and just get dressed.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I don't have a Pinterest account and I've stopped following most wardrobe blogs. I have a few still in my blog reader, mostly from gals who do it for fun - all the 'professional bloggers' seem to end up wearing super-high heels and free swag from brands, which isn't really the kind of stuff I find useful.

I've got a subscription to More, which I really like, and often buy In Style. Other than that, it's here at YLF, and out in the world. I often see outfits that I love on other people when I'm out and about, and scribble a note to myself about what I liked. I should be more organized about keeping a notebook specifically for that, or a text file on my phone maybe.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I read a lot of print magazines, including In Style, Bazaar and Lucky. I like the fashion section of the Wall Street Journal. I follow a few bloggers who worked for Lucky (when it was good) including Andrea Linnett (Iwanttobeher), Kim France (Girls of a Certain Age) and Marlien Rentmeister (Le Catch). I also like Corporette and Soraya Bakhtiar. A mixed bag to be sure. YLF has been my favorite this year.

Anonymous

I want to look stylish, but I also don't want to look outlandish. I tend to look around me and pay attention to what people in real life are wearing at the clubs, malls, and restaurants. I can see fashion evolving just by watching them. So even if Angie and others present a new trend, if that trend is not trending around me to some degree, I don't always feel comfortable wearing it.

There are exceptions, of course. The tube skirt that everyone was wearing last year suited my style perfectly. I bought it and felt both original and authentic every time I wore it. I am sorry I did not buy duplicates in different colors.

doubleh

Veteran

Oh, phew, y'all! I was hoping to narrow my view and instead my world is expanding...should have figured. lol. I am particularly looking for inspiration to strategically incorporate into my outfits. I have a purgatory zone of clothes and plan to send away soon- but...if I could use some of those clothes, I'd be a happy summer camper.
Mo- I do love studying tv shows and movies for style. I haven't even heard of continuum though. The only one that pops in my head is the good wife, but I am never that professional looking. I think she just has similar coloring to me.
Ornella- what is the picture perfect challenge? I like the sound of it!
Ummilla- I think we have similar tastes- I'm going to follow up on your suggestions...
Actually, everyone, I am following up on suggestions and look forward to posting some interpretations someday soon!

Anonymous

One of the places that I look for inspiration is the online pictures of the clothes for sale, and often as part of an entire outfit. Although I may not have the model's figure or coloring, it gives me various ideas of what clothes that particular item might work with in terms of an outfit, and what shoes and accessories might work as well.