You’re currently reading Chapter 11 of The Ultimate Guide to Creating Your Fashion Portfolio (in a weekend)
How do you find the best fashion design portfolio inspiration and examples?
First, you’re reading this book so you’re already doing way more than most fashion designers out there.
I’ve done my best to do a lot of the digging through a lot of crap Google, Pinterest, StylePortfolios.com, Behance, Coroflot, etc for you.
But listen.
The internet is a crowded place and there’s a lot of stuff out there…and I know this isn’t the answer you want, but you have to put in the effort.
There is no one stop shop for this.
There is no one place that has hand curated the best of the best.
If there is? I haven’t found it.
If you do? Email and let me know [heidi at sewheidi dot com]!
But in the meantime, you just have to dig.
Personally, if I could only look in one place? It’d be Pinterest. When it comes to your fashion portfolio, finding inspiration is a visual search – and Pinterest gives us that.
Here’s the good news though. This isn’t a task that should take you months or weeks or even days. If you don’t see examples in this book that are good enough for you to get started, take an hour or two with a glass of wine and start digging. That’s plenty of time to find 3-5 good examples you can use as inspiration and reference for your own book.
Take those and get to work.
Afterall, you’re a fashion designer. It’s your job to find inspiration and apply it to your work.
The same goes for your fashion portfolio.
How do you not get discouraged when you start finding fashion portfolio examples that are better than yours?
It stings.
That moment you feel like your book is looking amazing.
For the first time in a while…
You’re proud!
You’re confident!
You feel good about your portfolio!
FINALLY!!!
And then, because you’re addicted to Pinterest and the internet and can’t stop browsing all the fashion portfolio sites (we’re all guilty), you keep looking at other people’s work.
It’s hard not to compare yourself.
And just like that, BAM. It’s like being plowed over by a semi truck when you start finding portfolios that are better than yours.
The solution? Simple.
STOP looking at other people’s portfolios.
STOP comparing yourself to other fashion designers.
STOP being obsessed with making yours the best in the world and spinning your wheels on it for months, or even years.
Adhere to the one weekend timeline I gave you at the beginning of this book, get it done, and then STOP.
Let yourself carry the feelings of confidence and pride into your next interview.
It will show, brands can sense this.
Confidence will exude and that helps tremendously when it comes to getting work.
I know it’s easier said than done, but trust that when yours is done, it’s your best work.
Trust that you’ve done the best job you know possible.
Trust that it’s just what it needs to be.
You don’t need to make a career out of putting your fashion portfolio together.
Let go of the perfectionism, it just needs to be good enough. If you’ve hit that benchmark, move on.
Go to Chapter 12: Fashion Portfolio Checklist and Layout Examples
CREATING A FASHION PORTFOLIO IS OVERWHELMING AF
You can go it alone, OR get step by step guidance with examples, checklists, and best practices (for free)!
Drop your info below for a free copy of my book to help create a professional portfolio!
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Fashion Design Portfolio Layouts: Online and Physical Books
Chapter 2: Fashion Design Portfolio PDFs: Digital Tech Tips
Chapter 3: Fashion Portfolio Overload: How to Stay Organized
Chapter 4: What to Do When You’re Stuck on Your Fashion Portfolio
Chapter 5: What (and How Much) to Include in Your Fashion Design Portfolio
Chapter 6: Can You Include Client / Company Work in Your Fashion Portfolio?
Chapter 7: Portfolios for Fashion Design Students and Entry Level Jobs
Chapter 8: Fashion Portfolios for a New Category or Job
Chapter 9: Fashion Portfolios for Technical Design or Merchandising Jobs
Chapter 10: Job Interviews and Your Fashion Portfolio: Meeting Brand Expectations
Chapter 11: Finding Fashion Portfolio Inspiration
Chapter 12: Fashion Portfolio Checklist and Layout Examples
Chapter 13: Getting Fashion Portfolio Feedback
Chapter 14: Updating Your Fashion Portfolio and Being Prepared for Opportunities
Chapter 15: Protect Your Fashion Design Portfolio
Chapter 16: Fashion Portfolio Motivation: Competition and Staying Relevant
BONUS! 73 Free (and Cheap) Fashion Trend Forecasting Websites + Resources
