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I Copied Someone Else's Street Style For a Week, and Guess What? I Didn't Love It

Oct 22 2018 - 6:33am

Just like you, I can click through street style [1] shots for inspiration [2] all day. But how many women actually challenge themselves to re-create the looks they admire that get photographed on the street at Fashion Week [3]? Could this be an easy task to take on without shopping at all? I had to know.

After NYFW wrapped in September, I browsed through shots of editors, influencers, and models and chose outfits I liked that I could actually picture myself wearing. I stayed away from over-the-top, avant-garde dresses or outerwear that didn't feel like "me" and arrived at six Fall ensembles [4] I could make my own. I didn't try to match up everything perfectly. After all, I was going about this without purchasing new pieces for my closet.

Instead, I took away certain little hacks (like wearing embellished socks with Mary Janes or layering a wrap dress over jeans) and pulled them off my way. Ultimately, I came to two conclusions: the first is that I have so many clothes I never wear! When I saw Farfetch's Yasmin Sewell in her pink blazer, I thought, "Wait, I have a pink blazer too, albeit slightly different in shade, that I haven't worn since 2014!" And I'm sure that if you dared yourself to copy these looks, or any looks for that matter, you'd find yourself reaching for old jackets and skirts you forgot about too.

But I also realized something else: I feel most proud to wear a combination I dreamed up myself. I think it's awesome to find that two different women can take on the same trend in two very different ways, don't get me wrong. But as I stepped out of the house each day, I sort of felt like I was flaunting someone else's great discovery. When people gave me compliments at work — they loved that I paired my graphic-print dress with the aforementioned '80s vintage blazer, for example — I thought to myself, "Uh-huh, that was Yasmin Sewell's idea."

I didn't expect to feel this way, trust me. But this experiment reminded me of the reason I fell in love with fashion in the first place: fashion allows YOU to be the inventor; to be a creator, even if you aren't an artist, per se. I enjoy the process of picking out something I like at the store, trying it on, bringing it home, and welcoming it into my wardrobe to be coordinated with whatever the hell I'm in the mood for. I want to call the shots. When someone tells me they like how I styled my look, I want to feel good about taking all the credit.

That doesn't mean that I didn't have fun trying to emulate the gorgeous ladies ahead, and it also doesn't mean that you won't like to get dressed with a "Pinterest board" of sorts. In fact, sourcing street style might be the perfect way to get ready in the morning for some of you. There is, of course, room to reinterpret what you see and make it work for you. Plus, this tactic is definitely a time saver in the morning when you're staring at your closet and you don't know where to start, I won't deny it.

Let me show you how I went about my daily routine each morning, all starting with one snapshot and the clothes I already owned. My outfits might not be 100 percent original if you want to be matter of fact about it, but at the end of the day, what is fashion if not one big cycle of trends that are refreshed and reinterpreted by us all, season after season, day after day?

The Original Street Style Look

What I liked about it: Everyone loves a good denim dress. It's a one-and-done look, sort of like a jumpsuit. But I like how this outfit had flavor. It wasn't just capped off with embellished Mary Janes but ankle socks, too, which lent it a feminine touch and also played up the zebra-print collar.

My Way

I do own a long-sleeved denim dress, but it's maxi length, and I wanted to make sure to show off my socks and shoes. I went for my belted tank dress instead. Instead of opting for dark footwear, I paired my white Gucci socks with leather block heels and added red circle earrings to match the iconic stripes.

The Original Street Style Look

What I liked about it: I'm always nervous that my slit wrap dresses or shirt dresses are going to open up and reveal a bit too much, so layering with jeans is the perfect answer. While a long, flowy piece like this one can easily help you achieve a look that's fancy or romantic, I like the unexpected casual route you can take with white sneakers.

My Way

I paired my floral velvet wrap dress from Zara with Mother Denim boyfriend jeans and cuffed them at the bottom so my chunky Steve Madden sneaks were on full display. I have to admit, this led me to see this maxi in a totally different light. The first time I wore it, it was with velvet thigh-highs for date night.

The Original Street Style Look

What I liked about it: Net-a-Porter Fashion Director Lisa Aiken expertly combined two different shades of orange with brown accessories, and somehow, this look didn't scream Fall. It was still fresh and cool, and even though bright clothing was involved, you can't miss those art deco heels or that suede bucket bag.

My Way

On a warmer day, I wanted to go sleeveless, but I brought a handy knit along using my new, go-to sweater styling trick [7]. I mixed my own shades of orange but capped off the look with white mules instead of slingbacks. I made like Lisa and coordinated my bag with my shoes.

The Original Street Style Look

What I liked about it: Oversize pink blazer + graphic dress and boots? Easy enough! What an effortless combination that feels polished, even though we're working with oversize silhouettes. Yasmin Sewell finished her outfit with pointed sock booties and a clutch, but I had a different (OK, similar) idea up my sleeve.

My Way

My polka-dot midi dress from ASOS is super comfortable and comes to the perfect length so I can show off my shoes. Rather than heels, I gave this outfit a Western feel with my Tamara Mellon cowboy boots. I pinned my grandmother's starfish brooch to the lapel of my blazer and went jewelry free.

The Original Street Style Look

What I liked about it: So many outfits start with jeans and a white t-shirt, but this one just felt so cool and simple to me. Add on a lightweight jacket, some bangles, and mules, and you'll even look sleek carrying multiple bags, which I am always doing.

My Way

I was really excited about my new DL1961 cherry denim jacket, so I added a pop of color instead of going for something neutral. My Madewell mom jeans are my favorite to rock with a white tee, and I haven't tapped into the PVC trend myself yet, so my white Nine West sandals were the finishing touch.

The Original Street Style Look

What I liked about it: As you may have realized, I'm really into the Western look, so jeans and cowboy boots is a combination I'll gladly take on any day of the week. There's something about a striped turtleneck that speaks to me. It even feels a little unexpected with boots like these, which attracted me to this outfit in the first place.

My Way

This ribbed H&M sweater feels mod to me, meanwhile I gave off all-American/Western vibes with my Levi's denim and Dolce Vita boots. I don't think I ever would've put this look together if it hadn't been for this experiment. It's a mixed bag, but I like it.


Source URL
https://www.popsugar.com/fashion/Street-Style-Inspiration-2018-45331214