There’s always a hot debate over whether copying someone else’s style is acceptable or not.  Is it truly inspiration, or is it straight-out copycat styling?  When it comes to fashion, art, and other creative fields “copying” is seen as a dirty word. 

As a previous fashion and art major, my professors taught my classmates and I to source material for inspiration on virtually every assignment.  However, the final product was always expected to be an original piece of work.  The phrase, “keep your eyes on your own paper,” also comes to mind when I think of the word copying.  If your eyes wander you may be accused of plagiarism.

When I research information for an AKCstyle blog posts or Instagram reels, the discussion surrounding copying often crosses my path.  Yes, it’s easy to replicate an idea that gained someone else thousands of likes.  But the result is always the same…a feeling of inauthenticity. 

As a creator you feel it, and even worse your audience sees it too.  The same can be said for copying someone else’s outfit from head-to-toe.  I don’t all together discourage clients from emulating other people’s personal style aesthetics.  But there’s an authentic way to do this that helps you stay true to yourself.

How to start finding personal style

The simplest way is by using a platform like Pinterest.  This is one of the first pieces of advice I offer to all my clients because Pinterest is a great way to gather images, videos, and ideas through an organized and thoughtful process. 

If you’ve never used Pinterest, try it out!  You’ll easily be able to pinpoint and save ideas for different style aesthetics you’re intrigued by.  You’ll start creating boards and notice a theme shaping among your pins.  Notice what’s similar in these images to learn your likes and dislikes.

Another platform that sparked the idea for this post is TikTok, which AKCstyle recently joined (shameless plug: find us @akcstyle for tips to help you find your personal style).  If you’re on the app, you know how easy it is to scroll on for hours.  There is so, so, so much content available for your viewing pleasure.    

One of the topics we research for our own content is fashion by using the hashtag, #FashionTikTok.  We see many creators making the same format and style of videos.  Some creators use the same sounds, style of outfits, and even have similar opinions to one another.  Yet, they offer up these opinions as genuine ideas.  Copying is probably the only consistent thing you’ll find on social media. 

This has me thinking, is it always in poor taste to directly copy someone else’s style?

The debate relating to TikTok

The debate is intensifying since the rise in popularity of TikTok.  If you’re not familiar with the controversy surrounding this topic, here’s a quick synopsis.

TikTok started as an app for creators back in 2016.  Most creators choose to record themselves dancing and performing to popular music.  As the app’s popularity continues to grow, a debate over the origins of these dances also continues.  Many users on the app who originally created some of the most viral dances are not credited for their work. 

Some creators accuse TikTok’s algorithm of favoring users with fair complexions and large audiences.  Creators with large audiences are on the other side of the debate gaining notoriety, fame, brand deals, and more.  But these opportunities seem to be based on the false pre-tense of originality.  You can learn more about this controversial topic from our sources listed at the end of this post (npr, Forbes, Reddit). 

Will copying someone else help you?

While this conversation is too big to unpack in a single blog post, here’s my opinion as it relates to copy-cat styling.  I encourage my clients to think about gathering inspiration from different blogs, social media posts and movies to figure out what turns them on.  This process should be seen as the 2022 version of window shopping.

The same can be said for creating vision boards, mood boards, and following designer brands on Instagram.  Scrolling TikTok for outfit inspiration, taking screenshots from your favorite website, and emulating a celebrity’s style are not shameful things. 

Use all these ideas as a reference point for finding your personal style.  As you shop on your own or prepare for a consultation with me, keep these images in mind.  I stress the word reference because finding your personal style is not a process that happens overnight.  Copying the same outfit, you saw Ariana Grande wearing is not true personal style. 

The same can be said for posting on social media.  If you post the same exact video or picture as your favorite influencer, do you still get thousands of likes?  Maybe, but probably not.  That’s because it’s not authentic to who you are.

As you begin your personal style journey, emulating someone else’s style is ok to find out what works for you.  After all, understanding your body shape, size, and height can be a daunting process.  So, I encourage you to emulate the outfits you pin on Pinterest as you start to shop on you own.  This is just a simple way to begin understanding what will work for your life.  Remember, no one is a carbon copy of anyone else, so being authentically you is enough. 

Are you ready to find your personal style? View our services.

Sources:

• “Black TikTok Creators Are On Strike To Protest A Lack Of Credit For Their Work” by Sharon Pruitt-Young | 7/1/2021

• “Does TikTok Have A Race Problem?” by Janice Gassam Asare | 4/14/2020

• “Reddit- Female Fashion Advice”