How To Take An Outfit Selfie (And Why!)
One of our most-loved features here at Indyx is our selfie calendar. It’s slick, it’s SUPER satisfying…and even more than that, it can help you *really* figure out your personal style.
There’s certainly no wrong way to take an outfit selfie, but we’ve heard from a more than a few of you that it can feel a little…awkward. How should I pose? How do I set up my camera? What should I do with my face!?! It’s hard to make a habit out of something that feels like a chore.
We’re here to help! Here, we’ll share our team’s top tips for how to take an outfit selfie that you won’t hate.
But first…
Why should I take outfit selfies?
Tracking what you wear by logging your outfit boards to the calendar is a great start because it builds the foundation of wear data that will allow you look back objectively on what you are wearing and the true cost-per-wear of those pieces. This helps you draw patterns about what types of items you should and shouldn’t invest in - and, can give you the kick in the butt you need to actually wear your closet more.
But, tracking outfit boards alone can leave something to be desired when it comes to figuring out when you FEEL your best. What are the patterns in the outfits that make me feel ‘at home’ in my style vs. those that make my skin crawl? That’s where outfit selfies come in, because they allow to reflect back on those outfits as you wore them on your actual body.
And, it’s not just us that feel this way! There’s a reason that Mandy Lee’s #75hardstylechallenge caught fire earlier this year on TikTok. Taking daily outfit selfies is an integral part of that challenge and, as Mandy herself put it…
“If you’re doing the challenge correctly, you’re going to figure out what is really important to you when you’re getting dressed. Is it comfort, is it self-expression, is it ease, is it many things?”
So, especially if you’re in the process of actively evolving your style, this tool for self-reflection is enormously valuable. That’s why we built selfies right into the app!
How do I take a good outfit selfie?
Okay, hopefully by now you’re on board with the idea of selfie tracking. Here’s how to take a selfie you don’t hate:
Make it a part of your daily routine. If this is something you’re doing everyday, you’ve got to give it a solid spot in your routine or else you’re likely to forget it. Most people do a mirror check in the morning before walking out the door…why not whip out your phone at just that moment and snap a quick selfie, too?
Shoot in your full-length mirror. This is just easiest! Unless you’re a professional content creator, it doesn’t come naturally to most to set up a tripod every morning. Again: keep it simple, stupid. Our automatic background removal does an excellent job of removing any noise.
Stand back! Stand at least 3 feet away from the mirror and hold the camera between eye and chest level. Adjust the tilt of your phone so it’s as parallel to the mirror as possible to avoid distortion while still capturing your full body (including the feet!).
Quiet your inner critic. The idea here is to capture your outfit. So, if you find yourself being overly self-critical of your face or expression in selfies, try intentionally excluding your face by simply holding your phone in front of it! This isn’t for social media, it’s for you.
Practice a few go-to poses. Ones that make YOU feel good. A few options from our team…
Therese: “I like standing at a slight angle with my back leg slightly bent to create a little lean away from the mirror. This angle also helps to capture more of the outfit’s silhouette. You always want to look and feel relaxed, not stiff. Sometimes I tuck my free hand into a pocket to highlight that detail and to visually demonstrate ease.”
Devon: “I also tend to lean back, but keeping my back leg straight. My front leg can kick out to the side or step out to the front. I’ll also typically push my hips slightly back or to the side. The hand that’s not holding my phone can either go in my pocket, tuck behind my back, lay lightly on my thigh, or join in on the fun holding my phone!”
Finally, rinse and repeat. Consistency is the point! There’s no need to re-create the wheel every time.
p.s., if you’re perfectly happy with how you’re already taking your selfies…keep doing what you’re doing! There’s no need to fix what’s not broken. These are just the tips we’ve seen be helpful for those who are struggling.
Since we launched our digital styling services about a year ago, we’ve had the pleasure of working with nearly 1,000 (!) clients to help curate their closets and develop their style. Read our takeaways.
Devon is a co-founder of Indyx and currently leads Growth for the company from San Francisco. She enjoys admiring other people’s gardens and sleeping in with her French Bulldog, Reggie.
