Talk to strangers about fashion

Style advice from friends is filtered through how they already see you. A stranger has no picture of you at all, so you get an unvarnished opinion — and since fashion is intensely local, someone elsewhere can tell you what people are actually wearing there rather than what a trend piece claims.

• Trends you refuse to follow, and the ones you caved on
• Where to actually find good pieces without overspending
• Thrifting, vintage and secondhand finds
• How people genuinely dress where you live
• Fast fashion and whether you have changed your habits

• “A trend you refuse to follow?”Use this
• “Best-value place to shop?”Use this
• “Describe your style in three words.”Use this
• “Best thing you ever found secondhand?”Use this
• “What do people actually wear where you live?”Use this
• “One piece you wear far too much?”Use this

• Ask about a piece of clothing they love and where it came from. Favourite items usually come with a story: a thrift find, a gift, a trip.
• Ask how their style has changed over the years. Everyone has a phase they laugh about now, and it is an easy, fun question.
• Talk about trends as opinions: which ones they would bring back and which should never return. Low-stakes debate keeps the chat light.

Do not comment on anyone’s body or appearance, and do not ask for outfit photos; photos are not shared here for good reason. Brand snobbery and price-shaming make people feel judged. And be cautious of anyone steering you to a “limited sale” website.