What Is This All About?

Why I am making a Substack

I recently discovered Substack through stylist Allison Bornstein posting some of her favourite newsletters on her Instagram Stories. I downloaded the app and read a few of the posts by Leandra Medine Cohen and Jen Zablotny and really enjoyed the very simple layout and lack of fancy editing and photos.

I’ve been searching for somewhere to post my thoughts on some really niche topics without the effort of editing photos and formatting webpages correctly and I feel like this could be the place. I also know that a lot of people might have 0 interest in what I’d like to write about so I don’t want to force-feed them it through other platforms like Instagram.

I’ve listed some of the things that have been of interest to me lately that I’ll probably discuss in further detail down the line:

• Tracking the cost per wear of all my clothes, shoes, and accessories. I had never even thought about the concept of this but I saw a TikTok by Becca (@blondebrokeandbougie) talking about it and it just fascinated me. I downloaded her spreadsheet template and have now been tracking everything I’ve worn for 1 month and 1 week. I’m hoping it helps me understand my shopping habits better and helps me get more use out of my wardrobe.

• Recreating outfits from Pinterest. I’ve thought about making some Instagram reels trying to create outfits inspired by Pinterest. The downside of this is that I need to film it and I honestly can’t be bothered to do it. My aim in doing this is to diversify what I’m wearing and try to mix up my regular uniform so I don’t get bored of my wardrobe so quickly.

• Selling clothes I no longer wear on Vinted. I’d like to go on a “big” holiday next year so I’m trying to find additional income streams and this seems like an easy opportunity. In the past, I haven’t been so successful at Depop so I’d like to change that.

• Discussing my sources of outfit inspiration and why I like them. I’ve found myself taking a lot of screenshots and photos of mannequins to save for future inspiration when I’m getting dressed. It would be nice to have a place to compile these and draw conclusions.

To round off my first Substack post, I thought I’d share my outfit from today which was inspired by a mannequin that I saw in M&S yesterday.

I wouldn’t normally wear an oversized jumper with wide-leg jeans as it can feel just a bit too big but I thought the mannequin here looked nice. I took note of the chunky loafer but they are just not for me and my size 8 feet.

This morning I decided to replicate the outfit with my Arket jumper that I scoured the internet for and finally found secondhand on Depop. It is quite itchy so I have to wear a long-sleeved top underneath it but I quite like the the neck of the top peaking out. I paired it with my Zara wide-leg jeans and new Adidas Gazelle trainers.

I know to some this may seem like a very low-quality picture of my outfit but that’s the reason I wanted to use Substack. Looking at the outfit, I don’t think it is overwhelming in size like I originally expected therefore I think it was a success. Sadly, I had to cover it up with my raincoat as it’s been pouring today but I think on a nicer day I could swap the M&S bag out for my Jeenaa triangular one.

A final note on the Substack name: I spent roughly 30 minutes the other night discussing names for my Substack with my boyfriend, Simon. He came up with the suggestion ‘Does This Look Weird?’, which I ask him almost every time I try on a new outfit. It seemed apt and I wanted to move away from ‘Lily Interrupted’ for a new era of content.

Thanks for reading this far down the post. Here’s hoping I can keep up the habit of posting.

Lily