On outfit selfies
And my total ineptitude at taking a good photo
I have always been bad at taking outfit pictures. Actually, selfies in general.
I can’t do it seriously, I always pull a stupid face or do the millennial “peace” sign (sidebar: I used to find this SO cringe). I’m literally unable to have a normal neutral face, it makes me look like I’m plotting a particularly violent political coup.
Plus I don’t really take things very seriously. I’ve never taken my own photography seriously - if you’re old enough to remember my blog, you’ll remember that my weekly pic was an object on the shelf of my oven; top draw art direction there, I’m sure you’ll agree. Or if you’ve ever had the misfortune of seeing my photos from fashion week; even after 15+ years of attending shows, it’s still terrible. And I’m not sure I care.
I’m a writer, I tell myself, there are plenty of people who take images seriously.
Don’t get me wrong: I can appreciate great art direction and fantastic photography. I’m not a philistine. But I guess I’ve never thought myself hot or interesting enough to take endless selfies of. I’m more of a live in the moment guy, and I’ve tried with photos, but my natural reaction to something just isn’t going to be to pull out my camera and take the perfect picture. I’m aware the two also aren’t mutually exclusive. My usual approach is wave the camera vaguely in the right direction and post what happens. That’ll do. One of many, many, many reasons why I couldn't be an influencer.
I often wish taking great pictures was a skill I’d bothered to learn. But, like my disastrous 6 months trying to learn the saxophone at 16, my main frustration is that I can’t just pick the damn thing up and instantly become Irving Penn or Miles Davis.
Anyway.
When it comes to outfits, I dress very instinctively, with a kind of what am I feeling today and is it appropriate for what I have planned? Recently, I’ve been really enjoying the act of dressing up. Putting on some proper shoes for an evening panel discussion. Carefully choosing things that actually go together according to ‘the rules’, in this case a Hardy Amies maxim: “a man should look as if he has bought his clothes with intelligence, put them on with care, and then forgotten all about them.”
In most Parisian apartment block entryways, there’s a wonderful mirror. Ideal for OOTD pics. I often think this might be what contributes to Parisians’ super-chic looks. My lovely (bijou) building has this tiny mirror. So I’ve been trying again.
But: is this the best I can do? Any tips on better outfit selfies? I’m all ears. Help!
Some other fun stuff for the week:
The first raclette of the season (along with a generous servings of chartreuse, thanks Dani and friends!)
Plotting a trip to Amsterdam, Brussels, Antwerp and London. <3U Eurostar.
Tarte(s) au citron.
Overcoming my intense dislike for booking restaurants by booking restaurants.
Successfully not blowing money on things I want but do not in fact need.