She is also an advocate for conscious consumption and created the world's first online program for women who want to create a healthier relationship to shopping, themselves, their wardrobes and their wallets. One of the things we have in common is we are both fascinated with style, identity and the significance of clothing.Over to Jill
Picture it: June 2017. In a few weeks' time, I'd be heading to Melbourne to work with Imogen for a few days, one of our activity's being the filming of some more videos for Imogen's fabulous Inside Out Style blog (yes, the one you're reading right now). As is her usual practice, Imogen asked her readers for some suggestions: what topics would you like to see us do videos on?
I'll just pause here for a moment and tell you how much Imogen and I enjoy doing these videos, and what a journey it's been. I can't even recall how or precisely when we started, but it seemed like a good idea for us to sit together and chat about various style topics, record them and for Imogen to post them on her blog. From the beginning, we loved these chats and so did many of you if the responses received are a good indication. Every time we get together, we film more videos, and we love doing them.
So, there I was, looking at the responses coming in on Imogen's Facebook group on what topics we were being asked to talk about in our next series of videos. So many interesting topics to do with style - specific things and general things, practical aspects and more philosophical or psychological aspects - this was going to be an interesting set of videos! One of the topics we were being asked to talk about was layering - how to do it well, what works and what doesn't when layering, how to do light layers, and where personality fits into the layering picture. Well - this was something I knew about, living in a temperate tropical climate where layering was required almost every month of the year from sweltering summers to wonderful winters.
I've been in love with clothes and getting dressed and this thing called style for as long as I can remember.Instead of packing all the many examples of layers I have in my closet and could show in a video to show the many and various ways layers can be approached, I sent Imogen a photo of me that day wearing a layered outfit and asked her if she'd like me to take a daily outfit photo, showcasing layers. We could pop these photos into the video post, and that would same me some checked luggage fees and allow me to pack light. Was this a good idea, and should I take more outfit photo's, I asked Imogen. Yes, she said! Easy! I thought. I'll just grab a photo of me every day in my usual attire and bounce them over to Imogen and that'll be that. Well, the best laid plans - it didn't quite work out that way.
Now those of you who know me, whether it's here as a guest on Imogen's blog or over on my own site, know that I have had a long-standing love affair with style and clothing my entire life.
Getting dressed is fun, clothing is a form of creative expression, and deciding who I want to be today and how my clothing choices can support that presents a raft of possibilities. Style and clothing are something I think (and feel) about a lot, and I put effort into my outfit choices every single day, even if it's a cruisy doing-nothin'-much Sunday and I'm not even leaving the house.
Doing these daily outfit photos for Imogen's blog was such a creative exercise, and I hadn't anticipated how much fun (or effort) it would be. It took energy and attention that I wasn't quite expecting it to, mostly because I thought that my usual daily approach to getting dressed would suffice - and it didn't. I needed to do more for these daily outfit photos, at least for them to be of sufficient quality for Imogen's high-quality blog.
Doing these daily outfit photos made me consider more carefully every element of my outfit, especially the finishing touches. It made me lift my style game. It made me step up and be better, style wise.
Each photo was an exercise in creativity.
First, to ponder and put together all the elements of my ensemble from the foundation to the final touches - from underwear to my outfit's basic pieces (supporting acts) through to accents and hero pieces, footwear to accessories, and the final touches of hair and make-up. Whilst not Vogue-quality, I wanted each photo to say something interesting and relevant about layering, and for each photo to be unique in some way. Second, I needed to think about the location and staging of each photo - the background, the light (or lighting), how I was standing or positioned in the photo, my posture, leg and hand position, facial expression and head position, what I was doing with my hands. So many things to consider about a good photo for a style blog!
I loved doing these daily outfit photos. They raised my style consciousness to another level, and I felt I was starting at a fairly high point to begin with, if attention to and interest in style and daily outfit creation was the criteria. I'm not saying I'm the most stylish woman in the world, and I don't hold myself up as a style icon. But I consider carefully what I'm wearing every day and enjoy the process of getting dressed, a process I give my attention and energy to. I never dress 'just to cover my nakedness' but always to enhance, shift or support my mood and to communicate and express myself, even if I'm not precisely sure what it is I'm saying.
I wanted each outfit to feel and look finished, to go the full 100% and not skimp on those final details that can turn an outfit from okay to outstanding, from fine to fabulous. I also wanted each outfit to be an authentic expression of who I am, to look and feel like "me" and not be constricted, controlled or contrived.
I could do this exercise again and I'm sure the photos would be better - I learned so much by making mistakes, by trying things out and working things out through trial and error.
Today's guest post is by Jill Chivers, my friend and colleague and regular video co-presenter here at Inside Out Style Blog. Jill is a speaker, writer, coach, professional facilitator and workshop leader and avid movie watcher. 
She is also an advocate for conscious consumption and created the world's first online program for women who want to create a healthier relationship to shopping, themselves, their wardrobes and their wallets. One of the things we have in common is we are both fascinated with style, identity and the significance of clothing.- Have you ever done a daily outfit photo exercise?
- What were your high points, and learning points?
- What impact did doing a daily outfit photo have on your style, and did that impact last?
- What did you enjoy, and what was a challenge?
- What advice would you give to someone else who's contemplating doing a daily outfit photo activity?
Why Taking An Outfit Photo Can Really Help You Become More Stylish
Over to Jill
Picture it: June 2017. In a few weeks' time, I'd be heading to Melbourne to work with Imogen for a few days, one of our activity's being the filming of some more videos for Imogen's fabulous Inside Out Style blog (yes, the one you're reading right now). As is her usual practice, Imogen asked her readers for some suggestions: what topics would you like to see us do videos on?
I've been in love with clothes and getting dressed and this thing called style for as long as I can remember.I'll just pause here for a moment and tell you how much Imogen and I enjoy doing these videos, and what a journey it's been. I can't even recall how or precisely when we started, but it seemed like a good idea for us to sit together and chat about various style topics, record them and for Imogen to post them on her blog. From the beginning, we loved these chats and so did many of you if the responses received are a good indication. Every time we get together, we film more videos, and we love doing them.
So, there I was, looking at the responses coming in on Imogen's Facebook group on what topics we were being asked to talk about in our next series of videos. So many interesting topics to do with style - specific things and general things, practical aspects and more philosophical or psychological aspects - this was going to be an interesting set of videos! One of the topics we were being asked to talk about was layering - how to do it well, what works and what doesn't when layering, how to do light layers, and where personality fits into the layering picture. Well - this was something I knew about, living in a temperate tropical climate where layering was required almost every month of the year from sweltering summers to wonderful winters.
Instead of packing all the many examples of layers I have in my closet and could show in a video to show the many and various ways layers can be approached, I sent Imogen a photo of me that day wearing a layered outfit and asked her if she'd like me to take a daily outfit photo, showcasing layers. We could pop these photos into the video post, and that would same me some checked luggage fees and allow me to pack light. Was this a good idea, and should I take more outfit photo's, I asked Imogen. Yes, she said! Easy! I thought. I'll just grab a photo of me every day in my usual attire and bounce them over to Imogen and that'll be that. Well, the best laid plans - it didn't quite work out that way.
Now those of you who know me, whether it's here as a guest on Imogen's blog or over on my own site, know that I have had a long-standing love affair with style and clothing my entire life.
Doing these daily outfit photos made me consider more carefully every element of my outfit, especially the finishing touches. It made me lift my style game. It made me step up and be better, style wise.
Getting dressed is fun, clothing is a form of creative expression, and deciding who I want to be today and how my clothing choices can support that presents a raft of possibilities. Style and clothing are something I think (and feel) about a lot, and I put effort into my outfit choices every single day, even if it's a cruisy doing-nothin'-much Sunday and I'm not even leaving the house.
I wasn't going for perfect, just perfect for me (at least on that day). I wasn't going for flawless, just what makes me feel fabulous. I wasn't going for stunning, just a creative expression of my style for that day.
Doing these daily outfit photos for Imogen's blog was such a creative exercise, and I hadn't anticipated how much fun (or effort) it would be. It took energy and attention that I wasn't quite expecting it to, mostly because I thought that my usual daily approach to getting dressed would suffice - and it didn't. I needed to do more for these daily outfit photos, at least for them to be of sufficient quality for Imogen's high-quality blog.
Each photo was an exercise in creativity.
First, to ponder and put together all the elements of my ensemble from the foundation to the final touches - from underwear to my outfit's basic pieces (supporting acts) through to accents and hero pieces, footwear to accessories, and the final touches of hair and make-up. Whilst not Vogue-quality, I wanted each photo to say something interesting and relevant about layering, and for each photo to be unique in some way. Second, I needed to think about the location and staging of each photo - the background, the light (or lighting), how I was standing or positioned in the photo, my posture, leg and hand position, facial expression and head position, what I was doing with my hands. So many things to consider about a good photo for a style blog!
I loved doing these daily outfit photos. They raised my style consciousness to another level, and I felt I was starting at a fairly high point to begin with, if attention to and interest in style and daily outfit creation was the criteria. I'm not saying I'm the most stylish woman in the world, and I don't hold myself up as a style icon. But I consider carefully what I'm wearing every day and enjoy the process of getting dressed, a process I give my attention and energy to. I never dress 'just to cover my nakedness' but always to enhance, shift or support my mood and to communicate and express myself, even if I'm not precisely sure what it is I'm saying.
I wanted each outfit to feel and look finished, to go the full 100% and not skimp on those final details that can turn an outfit from okay to outstanding, from fine to fabulous. I also wanted each outfit to be an authentic expression of who I am, to look and feel like "me" and not be constricted, controlled or contrived.
I could do this exercise again and I'm sure the photos would be better - I learned so much by making mistakes, by trying things out and working things out through trial and error.
- Have you ever done a daily outfit photo exercise?
- What were your high points, and learning points?
- What impact did doing a daily outfit photo have on your style, and did that impact last?
- What did you enjoy, and what was a challenge?
- What advice would you give to someone else who's contemplating doing a daily outfit photo activity?
Why Taking An Outfit Photo Can Really Help You Become More Stylish
