This exchange clarified a new reality: we are no longer drawn to just individual sori and IRL eyes, but to the digital realm—hundreds (or even thousands—even) of our every organization. Millions) from a range of tiny screens that destroy followers, friends and family to co-workers, bosses, potential love interests and complete strangers.
This genre minefield has only become more complex with the proliferation of social-media platforms, each with its own purpose, vibrancy and aesthetic. “What to wear?” Answering the existential question of what now demands of a closet large enough to make you look professional at work, polished on Instagram, flirty on dating profiles and vaguely relatable on TikTok, while occasionally texting your mom on Facebook. Making happy
Anuli Akanebu, 31, a social media consultant with a PhD in sociological anthropology at New York University, said, “The way you dress and the degree to which you show an aspirational version of yourself depends on whether What is the platform?
Dressing for success in the endless era of digital life can be a daunting task, so I consulted a team of “extremely online” experts, ranging from a wardrobe consultant to a TikTok-famous dermatologist—the most popular of all. How to dress for six out of six. Social and virtual platforms. Neither of them recommended wearing an already overexposed monkey-and-banana print.
Tiktok | Keep It Casual But Intentional
Gen Z’s darling, this short-video platform was on a boom during the lockdown. And with girls-night-in costumes like hoodies and teddy-bear knits, it’s stayed true to its casual DNA. “It’s going to come as you are, but you are,” said Oludara Adeo, 33, a Los Angeles-based activist and author. New York body-acceptance advocate and founder of beauty brand Megabeb, wears fake eyelashes for Instagram, but “no makeup and hair to the gym” on TikTok. He added that TikTok is more about the “message” of the user than perfection.
New York dermatologist Camille Howard-Verovic got dressed to share skin-care tips with her more than 169,000 followers. “I made a conscious decision not to wear my white coat all the time.” She wants viewers to feel like they’re FaceTiming with a friend who just happens to be a doctor. Re-wearing her Warby Parker tortoiseshell glasses and gray Gilden sweater works to her advantage. Every time a fan organization asks for credit, “It’s engagement.”
Instagram | turn it all the way
Founded on the basis of filtered reality, Instagram is the brightest social app. “The guy who used to love fashion magazines as a child is copying that fantasy on Instagram,” said social media consultant Anuli Akanegbu. From static photos to videos with stories and reels on Instagram, London’s Annie Choi, 29, head stylist at bridal-focused e-commerce site Over the Moon, advocates clothes that “have the most movement and therefore the most There is a visual impact.” Bling also stands out. Her $20 crystal pants, she said, “shine in a way that never fails me.”
Aspirational pieces are also attention-grabbing. In February, Tina Chen Craig, a Dallas influencer once known as a bag snob and co-founder of digital talent agency Estate Five, posted a rare $3,290 Balenciaga x Gucci puffer. Since then it has garnered over 3,600 likes. Ms. Craig, 52, said, “I’ve got the last one in the country. Still, exclusivity is priceless, argues Ms. Choi. She has found that vintage and secondhand pieces purchased on resale sites like eBay and RealReal attract the most DMs.” Huh.
LinkedIn | Strive for Chic Subtlety
For the professional networking and digital resume site, “You want to look like you’re meeting your best client, your boss, or both,” said Emily Little, 38, founder of wardrobe consultancy Ready to Where. Ms. Little guides the clients. Miranda-on-season-of-“Sex and the City” to project success nationwide without falling back on suiting. His recommendations include advanced work basics and necklines that will appear in the frame of LinkedIn’s headshots. Recently, she’s urged customers to try a cream-colored tweed double-breasted blazer by Theory and a camel Alice + Olivia shawl-collared suede jacket. In her LinkedIn profile picture, Ms. Little is wearing a white Erdem blouse with subtle off-the-shoulder embroidery. She suggests avoiding ruffles, keyholes, and anything trendy at all costs—those clothes can distract from your credentials, as can flashy jewelry. Ms. Little recommends sticking with subtle, timeless earrings and a simple necklace.
Action Zoom | Give a try—for real
After two years of working from home, summoning sartorial inspiration for Zoom is still a battle—but a fight worth it, according to Ms Sturino. “Zoom has changed your in-person meeting to an extent. I Put Myself In Front Of 600,000 People On Instagram With A Struggle Bun, But I Show Up To One [work] Zoom.” In ours, she wore a checked Veronica Beard blazer, a white tee, faux-leather leggings, and a favorite accessory: a knotted headband that looks polished.
Not all Zoom is equally formal, so Maura Walters, owner of a Port Washington, NY, content strategy company that does business through Zoom and Instagram, alternated between two heads: a J.Crew polka for corporate clients. -Dut pussy-bow blouse and a white Free People peasant blouse for “fun” meetings. Makeup is a must when she’s staring at her reflection endlessly: Ms. Walters, 38, uses IT Cosmetics’ Bye Under Eye Illumination and Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm to brighten dark circles. In Pink Blossom. “I’m proud of the face I’m putting forward,” she said. “It gives me confidence.”
Facebook | Just Kick Back and Relax
When it comes to fashion, the social networking giant that started it all has become the “okay, boomer” of the platform. “Facebook is where your aunt shows off her best church outfit,” said Ms. Akanebu. Ms Walters from Long Island admitted that “I’m still on Facebook because it’s a great way for my mother-in-law to see pictures of my kids.” For the professional family portraits she posts on Facebook of herself, her husband and their two daughters, Ms. Walters tends to a “cottagecore” look: dreamy, floaty, unstuffy by brands including Done, Sleeper and Hill House Home. Clothes. She said, “I can run around and pick up my kids in those outfits and I don’t even feel like I’m ‘done’.” Today, that cool, simple aesthetic just seems right for the OG social platform, which, for many users, is less about evoking an image than keeping in touch. And don’t be afraid to pose with that new puppy—your mom will love it.
Dating Profile | Try a Conversation Piece
Many dating apps like Bumble, Hinge and Tinder offer limited real estate for self-expression with a few lines of text and six or so photos per profile. “Featured outfits should paint a picture of your lifestyle,” said Hannah Orenstein, 28, of Brooklyn, author of the upcoming romance novel and deputy editor of dating at lifestyle site Elite Daily. “If you wear something special for your job or a hobby, you should show that,” she said, whether it’s medical scrubs or hiking gear.
There are soft guidelines: An off-the-shoulder shirt is “a flirty choice” that shows a hint of skin without revealing, Orenstein said. Elizabeth Holmesian turtlenecks, meanwhile, may appear “shut-off.” The pieces that spark conversation – what Ms Orenstein calls “message bait” – may be a wise choice. On Ms. Orenstein’s hinge profile, a photo of him wearing a crop top covering George Costanza’s face telegraphs his “Seinfeld” fandom, and receives the most backlash. “I would say that every Jewish person under the age of 40 in the Tri-State region sent me a message about it.”
The Wall Street Journal is not compensated by the retailers listed in its articles as outlets of the products. Listed retailers are often not the only retail outlets.
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