One of the best parts of being an adult is the freedom to buy the clothes and accessories you have always dreamed of. The items your parents wouldn’t approve of, whether due to price or design. What happens when you’re stuck, sometimes too much opportunity delays action, an overwhelming freeze. Where does the everyday person find style inspiration?
A top source of mine to this day, will always be magazines. The glamour of the clothes on the coated paper, adds extra lure. Styled shoots, what’s the latest, celebrity photos, and so much more. There is never ending style inspiration. One of the best parts of magazines is every item is listed, where to buy, and how much it will cost. Magazine stands have become a treasure hunt in the years following covid. My best option is to always try Barnes & Noble for magazines. I also have a monthly Vouge subscription, receiving the American copy by mail each month, while occasionally purchasing the French & Italian copies when in store. Local to New York City, Iconic Magazine, Casa Magazine, and others stores still hold the special atmosphere of previous pop culture and fashion. There is something nostalgic to be able to pick up the latest copy of Vouge, Cosmo, Elle, etc. Growing up in the early 2000’s the magazine aisle was a majestic place.
Social media is inevitable, it’s all around. Outfits inspiration can be seen from posts, business ads, videos, pins, and more. Social media is a larger umbrella platform for expression. OOTD or outfit of the day overtook social media on multiple platforms, but most used on Instagram, after 2012 the hashtag held millions of posts featuring outfit inspiration from celebrities to bloggers to your friends from high school. Outfit inspiration for the day or the week took the internet by storm. As platforms come and go out of style, social media stays a felicitous channel of creativity.
Pinterest has had an on and off chokehold on me since high school. A visual search engine, every style question and idea has had a search on my Pinterest account. The best part of the social media is it’s forever evolving. Pinterest is a user run platform, giving suggestions based on SEO key words, but also targeting in on every item in a picture to show similar items.
I have an unhealthy obsession with Poshmark. It is one of my favorite apps to check every day for my recommended items. I have been able to find new brands that have become some of my favorites. Find similar silhouettes and designs to other items I have previously purchased. The app is a little confusing in the beginning, but it does not take long for the platform to become one of the most used. In 2023, I did not shop in person, most of my wardrobe purchases, from dresses to shoes to bags and more, other women across the country all added a sliver of their style to mine. An online thrift outlet, a great alternative when you have a precise idea in mind.
The best place, out of any suggestion given is just everyday people on the street. In the morning, before I walk outside the first thing, I do is look out the window while drinking my tea. This not only gives me insight to the weather of the day but can spark inspiration. Living by New York City, this is one of the best pieces of advice I could give. Just going into the street, on the train, in a business, the ideas and art that inspire the denizens on the New York Metropolitan area. Key pieces I look for when searching the residents for ideas, is coats. During the winter, bleak but sleek black outfits can become a uniform without realization. Finding ways to incorporate color into life when the skies are grey, and the sunlight is limited is a key point I act on year after year. People’s creativity reaches further than physical art produced, style is about expression. There is not a right or wrong when it comes to style, taking fragments of inspiration from all around helps paint the portrait of you.
As we grow, our style, interests, hobbies, and life go through seasons of change. Our style is reflected by the phase of our lives. Sometimes, we seek change, a new identity, or a way to showcase our identity. Style is subjective and personable, utilize all tools around you to build your perfect version.
