Hello friends, and welcome or welcome back to the blog.
QUOTE
“If a book about failures doesn’t sell, is it a success?” ― Jerry Seinfeld
First. How are you? I hope you’re doing well, enjoying these “hot-comb-hot” temps (but staying cool), and making the most of this summer season.
Friends, would you think I’m crazy if I said ᯓ
“It took me five days to find one outfit I favorited on Pinterest”? Well, the rumors are true.
I take Pinterest for what it is: a sharing of trends, ideas, and pretty things, and now since Pinterest has this “collage” option, you can create boards to style outfits, rooms, illustrations, and anything you can imagine. Which is wonderful when you really think about it. A media source to curate and collect items and give you tons of inspiration.
This all started with this one outfitᯓ
This cuteness rolled up in my feed (by @evsilvat), and I fell in love. I had to have it. It is so simple yet put together, and since Pinterest lets you search images for store links, I figured it would be easy. However, let’s remember what Pinterest is.
It’s a platform designed to “like” and create pretty things pulled from sources like store websites, blogs, and anything and everything pin-able.
Granted, Pinterest is my main source for how to style my outfits. I’ll see a fit or an item, go to that website, and see if (1) I can afford it, and (2) if it’s even a thing that’s available. Because in some cases (as mentioned above), items are pinned from EVERYWHERE, whether they’re shopable or not.
For this particular outfit, I went all the way down the Pinterest rabbit hole, and those are hours (and days) I’ll never get back. 😮💨
I was never trying to recreate this outfit piece for piece. So I began to re-imagine it for me. I wanted a different type of Adidas (the ones shown are Sambas, but I wanted the Japan). I don’t need that little bag (I have something similar), nor did I think that exact skirt would be flattering on my figure.
The goal isn’t to copy someone’s outfit—it’s to make the look your own by finding pieces that fit your style, your budget, and your wardrobe.
One thing I noticed during this search is that Pinterest heavily favors Amazon and affiliate links, so that’s often the first place clothing recommendations take you. I try to be conscious about where my clothes are from and how sustainably they are made, and with some of these brands you never know what you’re getting. I’ve had a couple of winners, but most of what I’ve ordered has been too thin, poorly made, or had uneven seams.
The main retailers I avoid are…
- ❌ SHEIN
- ❌ Temu
- ❌ Cider
- ❌ Rihoas
- ❌ Most Instagram/Pinterest boutiques with no established reputation
- ❌ and of course Amazon (unless it’s a familiar brand)
The bigger lesson was learning what’s happening behind the scenes on Pinterest. Many of those beautiful outfit collages aren’t linked to the original retailer anymore—or worse, they’re connected to questionable online shops using the same stock photos. Before you know it, you’ve spent hours chasing an outfit that may have never existed in one place to begin with.
I’ve learned it’s much easier to identify the style you’re after than to hunt down every single item. Once you know the silhouette, fabric, and color you’re looking for, you can shop trusted retailers and build a version that’s uniquely yours—and honestly, you’ll probably end up with an outfit you like even better.
Keep in mind when you’re on the hunt:
☰ Pinterest pins often link to blogs or affiliate pages that no longer exist.
☰ Many “stores” advertising on Pinterest are actually dropshipping sites using the same manufacturer photos.
☰ Many images can originate on Instagram or Canva, not from actual retailers.
☰ Once one image becomes popular, dozens of questionable websites copy it and claim to sell the exact same clothing item.
I’ve looked at 10 different stores for a similar skirt in different shades of green, even looking for a Poplin (cotton) skirt vs. the gauzy one shown, and nada. I don’t believe this is such a popular item that it’s sold out everywhere, and I got to the point where I was ready to give up.
It’s sad because the real reason why I’m having such a hard time is that I want to save a little cash. If I go to the pricier retailers like Quince, Everlane, or Nordstrom, I would find something very similar, but I’d be spending $70-100 (on one item) vs. $100 for the entire outfit (that formula excludes the Adidas), which is not in the budget.
After all this, you may be wondering what I actually purchased. (or not, LOL) That, my friends, is the image header, but here’s that outfit. Does a similar skirt exist? It ─in fact does. Was it worth the hunt tho?🔎
Honestly ᯓ chasing this outfit took the steam out of actually owning it. Yes, I saved a little, because I had to slow down and NOT just impulse buy. But the more I searched, the more I questioned whether I really needed it. 90% of my wardrobe can be worn for all occasions. My clothes must transition from work to outings and everything in between, but I think what I’m really feeling (after all this) is exasperation 😩, where these used to be joy and the thrill of finding an item.
This is the last bit of clothing shopping I’m doing until sweater-weather, because my time is too precious to be chasing down items. LOL
With that, I’ll end today, and I hope I’ve given you some tips for when you like that outfit you’ve seen on Pinterest. Really look at where it comes from and check before you click. If you’re still unsure, ask ChatGPT or Google. Until next time …duces.
