Comments on: (quick) fashion question(s): do you want to be rated?

By: stylefyles

stylefyles — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:27:31 +0000

It seems as though most are in agreement:

Comments are cool, ratings are not.

I try to post pics to wardrobe remix, weardrobe and lucky style spotter, but I’m not a fan of the function in lucky style spotter that enables others to anonymously rank your style/look without providing details for their ranking.

It is nice to get feedback, but usually, once I’ve snapped the photo and viewed it on the screen, I’ve already made up my mind about which elements of the outfit work and which don’t. Still, I don’t mind constructive criticism…I’m willing to read/listen, but if I really love something, no amount of negative feedback or constructive criticism can make me change my mind.

By: laura

laura — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 17:52:21 +0000

[nice to hear]

By: laura

laura — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 17:51:54 +0000

i don’t want to be rated either. i love what i wear and i don’t really care what others think about it. of course, it’s still to hear what others think about your outfit. that’s what i like about groups like wardrobe_remix: people don’t criticise you (at least not in a rude way), they only tell you which elements about your outfit they like most. i would never post my pictures to one of the “rating”-websites.

By: Bella Di Nonna

Bella Di Nonna — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:30:59 +0000

A very interesting topic. As with those who’ve previously replied to this, I feel very uncomfortable with the idea of “rating” outfits in this way. One of the brilliant things about fashion blogging and online fashion communities is it’s a fun way to try out different looks, see what others are up to, and be inspired to create your own style. If you like someone’s style, that’s wonderful, but if not – well, that’s okay, but just as you wouldn’t tell someone on the street that you dislike their outfit, there’s no need to do it online.

However… I also do know that I always check in on the “Remixers of the Week” post, and I love it when an outfit I’ve posted gets lots of comments. Personally, I like the way the online fashion community seems to operate on the principle of praise that which you like, ignore that which you don’t. I don’t intend to join any sites that inspire people to negativity.

By: Danielle

Danielle — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 05:59:54 +0000

I’m wondering if it’s just the current generation of young people (of which myself am included in) that feels the need to so harshly criticize each other. The reason why I follow your blog is because, unlike some of the other fashion communities you mentioned and on livejournal and such, you are an actual inspiration. Yours is not overly trendy and does not promote conformity. Looking at fashion rating communities really tires me out and causes me to lose faith in a lot of things. I don’t even post my outfits because I know I am not even close to being hip enough, but just looking through outfits sometimes gets me down, I hate to admit. Everything looks the same, and anything that deviates from the norm is scrutinized to the very last bit.

I just sometimes wish I was alive back when people seemed to be more accepting and loving towards their peers. Perhaps it’s just the internet that sheds light on hatred, though.

I don’t know. I’m discontent with a lot of things, but thank you for being such a good person.

By: Marijke/LeFiffy

Marijke/LeFiffy — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:52:20 +0000

Very interesting post.
I strongly dislike the idea of pressing outfits in a ranking, which would mean that you can’t relate the outfit to the personality of the wearer.Maybe these ranking sites are so popular because it’s easier to push a hot/not/maybe/button than to leave a comment that puts your opinion into words.
It’s contra-individual, I think. “Wear this and you’ll win, wear that and you’ll lose” would be the consequence and that’s exactly what most of the w_r-people don’t want to have.
But, on the other hand, I have to say that to a certain extend “The Remixers of the week” may create some kind of sense for competition in some people’s head. Don’t get me wrong Tricia, I know it’s far from a usual ranking-system but I remember a poster that put a line like “if I don’t make it to Remixers of the weeks with outfit, I’ll never make it” or something like that under her picture.
I guess you can compare it to the flickr-explore-fetish, which I personally don’t get, most of the pictures there don’t appeal me very much.
Well, as I said, I hope you don’t get me wrong, I enjoy to look at the week’s finest from your point of view.

By: danielle

danielle — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:07:19 +0000

i feel that outfit rating is one step to the left of those tabloids that slam celebrity outfits. i think it’s a juvenile idea, at best. i don’t think there’s any negative intent on the surface of such systems, i just believe it’s a very immature source for validation.

By: futurelint

futurelint — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:36:47 +0000

I don’t like that so many places have ratings… it discourages me from joining them because I don’t want to hear other people’s criticisms on my outfits (especially since most sites allow you to rate anonymously which I think just brings out the worst in people). I can tell from w_r and the number of commentsI get on an outfit if a lot of people like it or not, which is enough for me. In the same way, if I post an outfit and all anyone comments on is the shoes (or some other article of clothing) I know that perhaps the rest is dull or just okay. Regardless, I don’t really want to be rated.

By: alleaso

alleaso — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:15:17 +0000

Rating for me is a no. What is ugly to one person may be gorgeous to another. I don’t believe it should be up to one person, or a group, if something is “fashionable.” Everyone sees outfits differently so what you may see as overwhelming and clashing someone else may see as bold and confident. I do think it’s appropiate to compliment others style when you like it or even to give small amounts of constructive critisism if you see something you like but could use a simple little tweak. Such as “that’s a great skirt, I bet it would look amazing with a red blouse” that’s not saying that the current outfit is bad, but it is giving you the option to try that. However blantly telling someone their outfit is wrong is unacceptable. I read on one site that viewers were encouraged to leave commetns on their favorite or least favorite pictures. I don’t think it’s right to tell someone, who’s in something they love, that you hate their outfit. It’s just rude, there is nothing helpful about it, in any way.

By: elle s'ennuie

elle s'ennuie — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:01:00 +0000

I’m not a fan of rating websites of any kind, be it fashion or ‘hotness’ up to the vote (except perhaps sites for rating kittens, but only if the only option is to rate every kitten a 10 ), so I stay away from them.

For outfits posted elsewhere, be it w_r or blogs or other places, the rule I go by is that I only say anything if I have something good to say, and only offer criticism/advice if it’s explicitly asked for, never otherwise. Because it’s not like math were you can point out that 2+2 does not 5 make – what to me might seem unflattering or clashing or simply aesthetically unpleasing (all of these judgments are very subjective anyway), might be exactly what the person putting together the outfit was going for. In the end, it’s the dresser’s vision that is the end result. It’s up to the viewer to appreciate it or not. To offer ideas of alterations to make the outfit “better” suggests that there exists a scale where all outfits lie somewhere between “BAD” and “GOOD”.