The Work's Already Done

    There's a hierarchy in the fashion world just like in any other and people who copy others' styles, buy the outfit on the mannequin or the store photo are met with disdain and considered to be lower tier.  God forbid you take inspiration from others, No!  Everything must be totally original.  I've always hated that stigma, because it limits fashion to only those with the creative flare for it.  Some people just aren't gifted in that way or interested in trying to be, but still want to look good, and there's nothing wrong with that.

    The outfit you saw on TV or in the product photos was designed by a professional stylist.  Why would you want to compete with that?  If nothing else, I am drawn to a piece sometimes based solely on the way the shop or an influencer styled it.  I don't need to reinvent the wheel, someone else has done all the work for me.  Particularly when I'm trying something I don't have a lot of experience with (See my post about the baggy silk blouse) Wearing it the way you saw someone else style it can be a great way to introduce something new into your wardrobe.  

    Now, I will say that I typically view that outfit as a starting point and once I'm more familiar with the way the piece fits me and works with things in my existing wardrobe, I always branch out and wear it in my own way.  Take this Postmark Bicycle print dress from Anthropologie that I thrifted last summer.  Jessica Day and Anthropologie already styled it for me so beautifully, so why do I have to come up with something else?  Over time I might, but right now, I love the way it looks with the shop and New Girl styles blended together and that's the way I've been wearing it for the past year without feeling any shame or need to try something else.  If a thing works it works and it's ok if someone else did some of the work to make you look good.

Outfit Info:  Thrifted Anthropologie Dress, YeMAK Cardigan, Bettie Page shoes are old from ModCloth