How to start the fashion thing - what are the basics?

[krnsw33tie012]

i keep my "lookbook" online saved to my computer... thats how i get pictures nowadays... w/ the exception of magazines
i found clothing catalogs to really help~ ^^

 

[shadow]

I would forget about the very useful but too trendy magazines like teen-Vogue, Elle or InStyle. They concentrate too much on fads and celebrities. Try flicking through Vogue Italy or L'Officiel, they treat fashion from another perspective, more intellectual, less ephemeral.

 

[HYZE]

Pointup, thank god for the internet! If the clothing near you isn't too inspiring, get online! I'm in the same boat as you as far as cash flow is concerned, so my advice would be to make sure the things u buy can go with other stuff, or be built upon into something new. Also, accessories make an outfit, and can be bought pretty cheaply.
When you said you bought a couple of things you felt were 'you', what did you buy?

 

[Ianastar]

I do this too!

If I see something in a magazine that I like, usually I tear it out and put it in a binder I have. If I like alot of stuff in the magazine, I just keep the whole magazine.

If I see something online, I save it in my photobucket account in a special folder for later reference.

Now that I'm moving from DC to Florida, I'm going to have to adjust my wardrober to include clothing for more warmer weather.

Goodbye to all my favorite sweaters and jackets. And hello to short sleeve shirts (of which I have very little).

 

[Tushka_BeLLa]

i keep my "lookbook" online saved to my computer... thats how i get pictures nowadays... w/ the exception of magazines
i found clothing catalogs to really help~ ^^

Me too. I save my pictures and text to Word documents .... and keep them in folders like

• EVERYDAY LOOKS (SEASONAL)
• HAIR
• MAKE-UP

etc.

Helps me organise my ideas better and gives me inspiration for shoping and dressing

 

[Tushka_BeLLa]

I would forget about the very useful but too trendy magazines like teen-Vogue, Elle or InStyle. They concentrate too much on fads and celebrities. Try flicking through Vogue Italy or L'Officiel, they treat fashion from another perspective, more intellectual, less ephemeral.

This is so true. Out with COSMO-style fashion!

 

[MissTrine85]

Outerwear:

Black wool coat kneelenght
Black wool coat hiplenght
Beige trenchcoat

Sweaters/cardis:

Black roundneck sweater
Black wrap sweater
Colourful turtleneck
Black cardi
Brown cardi
Grey cardi
Colourful cardi

On top:

Black v-neck ¾ sleeve
Black wrap long sleeve
Black camisole
Colourful camisole
Red blouse
Black button-down
Black turtleneck
Black plain ¾
Colourful plain 3/4

Skirts:

Black kneelenght
Denim kneelenght
Grey kneelenght
Kneelenght with pattern

Pants:

Black pants

Dresses:

Black wrap
Colourful wrap
Little black dress
Silk coctaildress

Accessorize:

Black scarf
Black scarf, party
Colourful scarf
Colourful scarf, party
Brooches
Jewellery
Black Clutch
Colourful clutch
Black bag for everyday wear
Red bag for everyday wear
Wool gloves
Leather gloves
Opaque tights
Sheer thights
Patterned thights
Neutral sunglasses
Watch

Shoes/boots:

Black boots medium heel
Winterboots
Black pumps
Colourful pumps
Stilettos, party
Black sandals
Black flats

Underwear:

Black t-shirt bra
Nude t-shirt bra
Lace bra
Lace camisole
Thongs
Hipsters

 

[Hanne]

Pointup.. I'm curious.. did you start that look book.. has it helped you ?

 

[Belle Princesse]

Even though this an old thread the look book idea is definately a good one I save pics I find online of clothing/outfits I like, right now I feel like 'upgrading' my wardrobe and just by scanning the collection of pics and I can pinpoint where my style is heading. I like the idea about taking pics of your own clothes so you can plan outfits, it reminds me of those flipbooks you could have as a child.

 

[sweet_n_simple]

Outerwear:

Black wool coat kneelenght
Black wool coat hiplenght
Beige trenchcoat

Sweaters/cardis:

Black roundneck sweater
Black wrap sweater
Colourful turtleneck
Black cardi
Brown cardi
Grey cardi
Colourful cardi

On top:

Black v-neck ¾ sleeve
Black wrap long sleeve
Black camisole
Colourful camisole
Red blouse
Black button-down
Black turtleneck
Black plain ¾
Colourful plain 3/4

Skirts:

Black kneelenght
Denim kneelenght
Grey kneelenght
Kneelenght with pattern

Pants:

Black pants

Dresses:

Black wrap
Colourful wrap
Little black dress
Silk coctaildress

Accessorize:

Black scarf
Black scarf, party
Colourful scarf
Colourful scarf, party
Brooches
Jewellery
Black Clutch
Colourful clutch
Black bag for everyday wear
Red bag for everyday wear
Wool gloves
Leather gloves
Opaque tights
Sheer thights
Patterned thights
Neutral sunglasses
Watch

Shoes/boots:

Black boots medium heel
Winterboots
Black pumps
Colourful pumps
Stilettos, party
Black sandals
Black flats

Underwear:

Black t-shirt bra
Nude t-shirt bra
Lace bra
Lace camisole
Thongs
Hipsters

Great suggestions! I like

 

[PerfectPerfect]

You know, sometimes I look at my closet and think, jeez I dont want to wear any of this anymore. But I don't think it is fair to base your hate/dislike/contempt for your wardrobe at such a young age while becoming fascinated with fashion magazines. Shoot, I would become depressed too cause I can't get my Burberry trenchcoat and Chloe shoes and Issey Miyake clothes.

I think a good alternative to finding clothes you like through lookbooks is to do something to the clothes you have. Tired of those pants? make them capris or shorts. Turn long dresses into tops. Learn to embroider. Just make your old clothes into something new.

OR if you have a friend or group of friends equally bored with their clothes. Get together and swap..they might have something you like.

At 16, I was basically dressed by my mom. I never had a say, then again teenagers now are sorta different. My mom would say no if I wanted something, as opposed to my younger sister who dressed much better at a younger age. I tried learning how to make my own clothes, some of them came out disasters, but it gave me the opportunity to make clothes I desired and wanted to wear. I taught myself how to crochet to have all sorts of neat accessories made by me too.

 

[pavement]

This is pathetic for a tFSer, but I have no clothes. The few clothes that are wearable have gained my comtempt simply by having me wear them. I have some kind of self-hate syndrome with everything I grace. I may like something a lot in the store, but after I have worn it once, it becomes too 'me'. It's a pathetic thing to have to admit, but that's me.

I may as well just go out naked, because I don't really buy clothes for myself anymore. I have especially always been at a loss as to what I should wear in the summetime. Winter is easy--throw on a coat and noone will see what's underneath. Summer is riddled with too many daily choices, and there's no way to hide yourself. I've already begun to avoid going places because the whole affair of getting dressed ruins the mood.

I should just shop and shut up.

 

[Kate_Moore]

How to start the fashion thing

Hi there guys!
I'm writing this because I want to know how to START IT, I mean, I like reading fashion mags, I enjoy watching fashion shows and I know what is a trend and what it isn't. But I'm just normal, I don't look stylish, I don't look good. I'd like to be as trendy people I see in the street, or in myspace's, whatever.
And with the how to start question I mean too that those people I saw everyday haven't been like that forever: they've grown up on their style and become stylish.
So that's the point I want to get. Loose normal feeling, become well dressed.
I know it's SO hard to get it, but I'd like you to 'teach' me...
TYA.

 

[ivypixie]

My style came with my identity.

Through the teens I've changed style several times, together with struggling to "find myself." I've dressed goth, I've dressed skater.

I found myself and my interests, and now I dress like I do. Because I believe that clothes, in my case, shows the personality. The way I dress is inspired by things I like. Books, stories, humans I admire, music I listen to etc.

So, it comes pretty naturally.

 

[*Clara*]

great thread !!!!

I am in the same situation. Although I have to say that I seem to find myself..it is very slow but there is a progress.....

 

[fashionista-ta]

Hi there guys!
I'm writing this because I want to know how to START IT, I mean, I like reading fashion mags, I enjoy watching fashion shows and I know what is a trend and what it isn't. But I'm just normal, I don't look stylish, I don't look good. I'd like to be as trendy people I see in the street, or in myspace's, whatever.
And with the how to start question I mean too that those people I saw everyday haven't been like that forever: they've grown up on their style and become stylish.
So that's the point I want to get. Loose normal feeling, become well dressed.
I know it's SO hard to get it, but I'd like you to 'teach' me...
TYA.

I think it would be a mistake to "lose that normal feeling"!!

I think what you're saying is that you want to evolve your style, not become someone you're not ... at least, that's what I really hope you're saying

I would suggest that you put together an inspiration board with images that inspire you, that look like where you want to evolve to. That's the first step. Put it in your bedroom, and look at it every day. If you're considering changing your hair, include that. Include whatever seems relevant to style that you like.

At the same time, get a journal. Start making notes of what you want your style to be. Cast these notes in positive terms. If you want to start by saying what you don't like about your style now, that's fine. But I would sit down when you have plenty of time, and get all the negative stuff out of the way in that one session. After that, move on to the positive.

One thing I do is spend 20 minutes with my journal every morning. I write about how I want things to be. Most of it is not about style, but that could certainly be the focus for you since this is important to you. It doesn't have to be 20 minutes, but spend some time every day.

Those are the first steps. Once you have a clear, multifaceted picture of where you want to go, you're ready for the next step.

 

[Couture_Tribe]

It is actually KEY to feel normal looking in your style, it is called effortless. Whatever your style is, the base is a balance between your comfort zone and remaining that uniqueness.

Just like everything in life, you have to start somewhere, and that is what I call "the style nerve in the brain got stimulated". I can gurantee you that when you first start, you will dress bad; but that will change as time goes by. You will develope your style and get that balance between comfort and personality.

As mentioned by othe members, to find out what you like to wear, find everything and anything that inspires you, save them and look at them. It could be RTW runway shows, coutures, magazines, streetstyles, movies, cultures, books, history, music, nature..... the list goes on and on.

 

[pinksatin]

I think the answer to being stylish is mostly to be yourself but like someone else said finding your identity is a process. I will take the liberty of being corny and say it's about the journey, not the destination.

This thread has brought up questions in my head of what is my style? how did it change? In middle school and high school I was such a serious bunhead and wanted to look like a dancer and look like NY. I wore so much black and was dressier, like lots of black turtlenecks, wool minis, black tights, sleek blk boots. Then I went to college in hawaii and totally shed that. Most of my friends worked at Abercrombie so I started working there too even though I'd never shoppped there in my life before and I was totally the blonde, tan, denim mini, flipflops, and cami AF clone. When I turned 21 I could go out drinking in clubs and bars instead of house parties at the beach so I started trying to dress more trendy and fun and creative to stand out amongst tons of strangers I guess and I started going to more concerts too. I know no one needs to read all that but I think it's helpful for me anyway to look back.

Now I think I'm trying to evolve again and trade in trends for things that really suit me regardless of what's "in". That's actually hard to do . I think I see too many pics in mags and online. It's really hard not to just keep shopping.

 

[Kate_Moore]

AWWWW thanks a lot for your replies!
Well, I've got a journal, and I save many many pics on my PC but I still can change my way to dress. I mean, I always look like I dress the same. Large t-shirt, skinnies, and shoes (havaianas, ballerina flats, or Converse... somedays I wear heels, but not too much). I don't like short t-shirts, or tank tops, because I look bloated (I don't know if it's the right word, I mean like a bubble? lol) in them because of my breasts. The thing is that Victoria Beckham is always 'showing' them and I can't.
Then I don't like my tights so I don't usually wear shorts... So now in summer is quite difficult to wear skinnies, cause we're at 35ºC right here.

Fashionista-ta, yesterday I took off all my old stuff from the wardrobe and gave it to charity. Now I've got less clothes but they're the only ones I think I'm going to wear.
Now I want to buy new clothes (cause here we're in sales and I can buy more) but don't know really what to buy.... I mean, I'd buy everything but then I wouldn't wear it so I don't know what to buy...

 

[Tinetush]

^If I were you. I would take a good look at those pics that you have on your computer, see if there are some looks that are consistent in many of the pics. See if you happen to save a lot of pics with top with puffy sleeves etc. You get my point...

Also you could try to look for pieces that looks a bit like the stuff that you already have - but with a twist so that it still looks different from your basic pieces, but not too different. It could be another color that you would normally wear, it could be of another fabric, the shape could be slightly different, as could the sleeves.

It takes time to find out what you are comfortable in though. And it seems like you are most comfortable in rather basic pieces therefore I don't think it would be a good idea for you to buy stuff that are too 'loud'. It doesn't sound like you are ready for too much attention, if you know what i mean?