A few weeks ago I announced a contest in this post I wrote about creating an outfit from photography and how you could use beautiful photos as inspiration to create fashionable looks. In this post I also posed a challenge to readers when I posted the photo below photograph and asked readers to come up with an outfit of their own and submit it me for a chance to win an hour virtual style session with me. Today, I am posting the finalists. It’s your turn to vote for the winner.
I received tons of entries. Tons. Like, a mind-blowing amount of entries that I just finished sifting through. Let me tell you, coming up with my top five favorites was like Sophie’s Choice. After all the work the contestants put towards creating their outfits it broke my heart to drop any of them from the running. But I had to choose just five. Arrghh!!! So, if you did a submit an outfit and it wasn’t chosen, please know that it wasn’t easy not selecting you.
You may be wondering how I chose these finalists. I looked a few things. The first was, even if it was a nice outfit that captured the colors in the outfit, how wearable was it? The second thing I looked at was if the outfit not only captured the colors in the picture but fully embodied the feeling of it. The last thing I looked at was if it really stopped me longer than the others. Basically, it had to stand out from the rest, which was hard. Like I said, so many of the entries were beyond impressive and most of the photos fit the criteria above. Everyone who submitted an entry should be proud and my hope is that you will keep on with an exercise like this to create outfits in your wardrobe. As one contestant told me, “Once I started I just couldn’t stop. It was so much fun!”
Anyway, without further adieu, here are the top five finalists, in no particular order. It is now your turn to vote on which outfit, based on the photo, you think should win. In the comments below, write down the name of your choice. I will tally the votes and announce the winner on February 14th.
Outfit From Photography Contest: The Finalists
Entry #1- Karen 
What I liked about Karen’s submission was the way she added the bright accents off of the deep purple and greens in the photo. I not only like the pieces she choose (That coat is gorgeous) but I liked how beautifully they all harmonized.
Entry #2- Amy
I liked Amy’s submission for the same reason I liked Karen’s; the rich deep colors anchoring the bright accessories. There is really something mysterious and dark about the original photo that makes you wonder what what is behind that bright house. I just liked the way Amy worked with all these dark shades and used it as a base for the brights, just like the photo.
Entry #3- Pat
Pat took a totally different approach when creating her outfit. As I announced in the contest, it didn’t matter how the entrants created their looks, they were free to do it any way they wanted. While most used Polyvore, Pat styled her look using pieces from her closet. She definitely proved the outfit is wearable. Unlike the other two photos, Pat’s outfit isn’t as deep or rich, but it still managed to pull together the colors beautifully. I have to wonder if she would have created this look without the photo inspiration?
Entry #4- Rebecca
Rebecca did a very smart thing by using this print in her outfit, it picks up all the colors found in the photo. I liked how she took it a step further and finished the look with a pair of plum boots, earrings and belt, a green clutch and that ivory topper.
Entry #5- Sarah
This last finalist comes from Sarah. I thought it was a very thoughtful and realistic way to approach the colors in the outfit. The look itself is incredibly basic, but what Sarah managed to do was take a typical work outfit and give it some pizzazz by working with the color palette.
All of you who submitted a photo did excellent, EXCELLENT, work! If I learned anything from creating this contest is that I will have to do more in the future!
****UPDATE
Voting for the contest ended on February 14th and the winner was revealed on my Instagram account. Congratulations to Pat!
I vote for Amy, because she picked up the accent colors best, but I adore the clothes chosen by Karen. Rebecca would have gotten my vote if she had used a topper in one of the colors prominent in the photo, rather than a neutral. The dress is genius!
I vote for Sarah. They’re all beautiful outfits but to my eye, she’s the only one who picked out the obvious colour scheme of the photo – it’s all shades of green with a blue and a red accent. Those mossy green trousers are gorgeous too.
Those pants are from M Missoni. Sadly I don’t think they are available any longer. http://www.farfetch.com/ca/shopping/women/M-Missoni-wide-leg-trousers-item-10897482.aspx
Oh boy. Well it’s been a toss between Amy and Sarah because they are both styled to my taste, for every different events. I have to go with Sarah for the red shoe and (what I hope is a) purple bag.
Karen. The scarf just nails it.
Are you sure you don’t mean Amy? Karen’s doesn’t have a scarf.
Obviously, I’m conflicted! I’m still going with Karen, despite Amy’s excellent scarf.
I’d have to go with # 1 and # 3. I loved that dress and feel it really evoked the mood of the photo. And # 3, Pat had the courage to put herself into it and show us how great her outfit looked. With real clothes. From her real closet. But kudos to all your contestants whether they made final five or not. What a fun project.
Just so I can properly tally, do you have one you want to vote for? I know it’s hard. Everyone, even the ones that didn’t make it to the finals, did an amazing job!
I vote for Pat for putting herself in her own real clothes which nicely captured the green tones from the photo.
I vote for Sarah, hands down. I’m a sucker for the use of lighter and darker shades of one color in an outfit. Plus the pop of red shoes! Nicely done.
I love Sarah’s elegant outfit, made memorable by her use of color pops. But I am voting for PAT, who had the moxie to make it real and model her cute/casual ensemble in the real world.
Can’t pick between Amy and Rebecca.
I’m going to vote for Amy. Though my runner up would be Pat. I like the idea of grabbing the idea and the intent behind the photo but using what she had in her closet – I think that makes the whole thing more obtainable for the rest of us 🙂
BR – any idea where to get the dress from Karen? She’s my vote btw 😉 – Tarah
Hi Tarah, I am going to try to find out! Stay tuned!!
Tarah, here you go: http://www.yoox.com/us/34454255WP/item?dept=women#sts=sr_women80&cod10=34454255WP&sizeId=
Thank you! Not in my size but appreciate the new shopping venue 🙂 Am going to schedule time with you – just can’t get enough of all your great advice!
I loved all of them and their creativity, but my vote is for Pat. As Alicen said, I liked that she chose pieces from her closet–it does show that it’s more attainable for the rest of us.
All excellent choices but I’d have to go with Karen. Professional, feminine,neat, and comfortable. Once I saw her choices, I saw the colors of the photo in a different light!
Karen has my vote! That coat….wow!
the coat is awesome!
What a fun contest! A variety of great ideas. I like the combination from Rebecca the best. The dress has vibrant colors and the accessories have clean, classic lines. Who wouldn’t love to have those boots?
My vote is for Amy. She not only captured the colors of the photo well, it’s also something I could really see myself wearing. Great job! And great contest, Bridgette. What fun!
I agree what a fun contest. I am going to pick Sarah’s. I like the pops of color. Thanks for doing this Bridgette.
I vote for Pat. She showed that real people can actually do this with clothes from their own closet. Great job Pat!
Its important to me to be able to find things in the closet to use and then use them. Pat makes it look so easy
I vote for Amy. I would wear this outfit and she truly expressed the photo.
I vote for Amy. That scarf is gorgeous and just screams the colors in the photograph, and i love how the black leather jacket just balances it all out.
I vote for Karen. That dress and coat just rock it!
I vote for Pat. Nice to see clothes on a real person. She looked great.
Yes she really does. that is my choice too!
I vote for #3 Pat. She is wearing her style well which shows me she likes it.
I can’t decide between Karen and Rebecca! Erm….I think my vote goes to Rebecca. 🙂
Such great entries, Bridgette! It was hard to choose because they’re all so good, but I think I like Rebecca’s look the best. The dress is beautiful and the accessories coordinate very well. I also love the coat! I could see any one of the finalists winning, though. Great work!
I vote for Pat…good eye for creativity I am a very visual person and it was great to see the real deal!
Here is a vote for Sarah’s outfit, I’d wear every piece and I’d love to know where she found those yummy pants!
I vote for Pat. It is more realistic for me.
Karen Karen Karen! I know i only get one vote but still! She was true to the inspiration and all the picks are really versatile. The dress is a blank slate and everything else can be dressy or worn with jeans
I pick Pat’s outfit #3!
I love Pat’s outfit too
Sarah – the colours are beautiful, the whole thing very sophisticated.
Alice
Amy – outfit #2
I like Amy’s.
I vote for Number 5 – Sarah
My vote is for Sarah’s entry Number 5
I vote for Karen’s submission; the dress is fabulous with the flats and love the accent pieces. I will say that all entries were creative and unique approaches~bravo!!
My vote is for entry number 5 from Sarah I like how she breaks it up with the red shoes. But still something I would wear at work if I have to dress formalishious
Love the pants in Sarah’s outfit. I vote for #5
My vote is #3 Pat
Loving the super styling pants in #5. Sarah has my vote.
I vote for Karen. I love the dress AND the coat – they can both be worn with virtually anything..
Karen
These are some great outfits! My vote is for Pat! I am in love with that jacket! I love that she took the inspiration from the photo to heart and pulled it from her own closet!
Karen
Rebecca
Karen and Pat were the best at recreating the textures of the picture. If I had to pick one, it would be Pat. That bag just emphasizes how important scale is. She nailed it.
I think that Pat’s version best reflects the feeling of the photo and is a very consistent look.She doesn’t appear to need your services, but I think she did a fantastic job! 🙂
I think Pat looks lovely in these choices
# 4 is my vote. The green and black texture of the dress even match the shadows of the forest.
That #3 Pat looks great. Hard to really tell with the rest of them if not being worn. She has a clean look with nice color combination, without looking like a Vogue magazine cover. Nicely done.