Create Daily Outfits From Inspiration Pictures: A Guide

If you’re in a style rut, or simply want to shake things up, I’m here to share my step-by-step process in order to create daily outfits from inspiration pictures. This method isn’t groundbreaking, but sometimes breaking things down into simple steps helps us approach challenges more easily. Let’s dive in!

I have a Pinterest board called Style Inspo—as many of us do—to spark creativity when I feel stuck in a rut and end up wearing the same shirt and jeans on repeat. Sometimes, I use it to see which colors work well together or how different silhouettes complement each other. But recently, I’ve started using it to compare the styles I aspire to with what I already own, identifying the gaps I need to fill to recreate the essence of my inspiration photos. And this is the steps I take in order to create daily outfits from inspiration pictures.

Step 1: From Inspiration Board to Daily Outfits Board

Compare your wardrobe with your inspiration board to see the similarities to create daily outfits

One day, I decided to thoroughly review my Pinterest Style Inspo board instead of just glancing at my most recent pins (tell me I’m not the only one who does this!). As I scrolled through, I noticed something surprising: for some of the photos, I already owned similar items or pieces with comparable shapes or structures. This realization meant I could recreate many of those looks without buying anything new.

I went through the board and repinned all the pictures that felt achievable with my current wardrobe to a new board called Daily Outfits. To my surprise,I found that around 200 outfits could be recreated with items I already own. I call that a success!

Step 1: Repin outfit ideas from your Inspiration Board that you can recreate using items already in your wardrobe to your Daily Outfits Board.

Tip: Check your inspiration board for outfits you can recreate right away with what’s already in your closet.

Step 2: Decide What Items to Add to Your Wardrobe

To create daily outfits from your inspiration you don’t need as much as you think.

While reviewing my board, I realized that for many outfits, I already owned most of the pieces—I just hadn’t thought to style them in the ways shown in the photos. For another subset of images, I found that I was missing just one standout item that made the look special.

Here’s the magic: when you look at thousands of inspiration photos, you might think you need to buy dozens of new pieces. But if you evaluate them with your wardrobe in mind, you’ll often find that only a few recurring items are missing. This is because most of us have a base style, and the styles we aspire to are often just slightly evolved versions of what we already wear.

For example, I realized that adding off-white jeans, a tan sneaker or boot, and a navy sweater would allow me to recreate a significant number of my pinned outfits. These three items kept appearing in my inspiration photos, so I made a list of them as my next wardrobe additions.

Step 2: Group the recurring items missing from your wardrobe in your inspiration pictures and create a list to fill the gaps. White jeans Toteme, Navy Sweater Jacquemus

Tip: Group the recurring items you see across your inspiration photos and create a shopping list to fill those gaps.

Step 3: Style, Style, and More Style

Use your inspiration board as a styling reference.

At this stage, you should be able to recreate many outfits from your wardrobe and your new Daily Outfits board. But what about the rest of the photos that don’t fit perfectly? This is where your board’s true purpose—styling inspiration—comes into play.

On days when I can’t be bothered to think about what to wear, I copy an outfit directly from my Daily Outfits board, head to toe. But on days when I want to experiment, I return to the remaining photos on my Style Inspo board.

Even if I don’t own the exact pieces in an outfit or the statement items that make it pop, I can still use the photos to guide me. Here’s how:

Look at the color palettes in your pinned photos and try pairing your clothes in similar combinations.
Notice styling tricks—like how accessories are layered or how a bandana is used as a belt.
Draw inspiration from the mood or texture of an outfit. For instance, if you love how light reflects off a satin dress in a photo, try incorporating that vibe with a satin blouse in your wardrobe.

“Step 3: Look for style inspiration that sparks creativity and can be applied using similar items in your wardrobe—no need for the exact match!”

Tip: Use your inspiration photos as a guide for emulation rather than replication. This allows you to inject your own creativity while staying true to the essence of the looks you admire.

I hope this system helps you transform your inspiration photos into real-life outfits and sparks some fresh ideas. If this process works for you—or if it inspires new insights—I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Disclaimer: The photos used in this post are not my own and have been sourced from Pinterest. All credit goes to the respective creators and owners.