Modern women draw more fashion inspiration from friends and colleagues than celebrities, research revealed yesterday.
Experts who studied style and shopping habits among 2,000 women found most have a large percentage of clothing in their wardrobes which they first saw on someone who sits close to them at work or they saw whilst out and about .
A whopping two thirds of females have bought an item of clothing straight after they have seen a friend wearing it and many admitted to copying a whole look from a friend after seeing them look good in something.
Work colleagues and strangers were also more likely to influence the style and type of clothes that women wear with more admitting they decided to buy something after seeing someone else wearing something similar than because they have seen a model wearing it in a magazine.
Half admitted to constantly comparing themselves to their mates in the fashion stakes and the average women has 5 items in their wardrobe that they have bought after seeing a friend wear it.
Despite this one in ten said they themselves would be annoyed with a friend if they bought something they had already bought without checking it was alright first.
The research was commissioned by New Look who quizzed 2,000 women on their fashion buying habits and who they stole their style from.
Peter Robinson, Group Head of Press from New Look said: ‘’We know women nab style ideas off celebrities all the time but it seems the nation’s females should keep an eye on what their mates are up to the girl next door could be your latest style stalker.
“Women are constantly bombarded with new styles, colour schemes and items of clothing which are in fashion, so it’s only normal to be influenced your stylish friends and co-workers.
“Often people come to us because they want to find something their friend has bought and looked great in or are looking for something they have seen on a colleague rather than just because a celebrity has been snapped wearing it.
‘’Many women often struggle to see what they would look like in something worn by an A-lister who has an unlimited budget and stylist to boot and go for something they’ve spotted their friend wearing instead – therefore seeing how clothes look on real women rather than on catwalk models.
‘'We often see mums and daughters shopping together and buying the same clothes, especially when it comes to style classics like the boyfriend blazer, gauzy knits and skinny jeans.”
Six out of ten say they regularly buy something they have seen a friend or work colleague in but always check first.
Twenty eight per cent say they are more likely to copy a stranger’s style than anyone else’s and a third say they regularly buy clothes they have seen celebrities in.
Friends and work colleagues provided the best inspiration for women when it comes to fashion and more than half said they trusted their mates to make good recommendations with a third regularly exchanging pictures and website links to items they think look good.
Four in ten say they dress very similarly to their friends with a similar amount admitting they compare themselves and what they are wearing and feel the pressure to stay on trend.
Northern girls were more likely to copy celebrities than anyone else throughout the country whereas Scottish girls were more inspired by stylish strangers.
The report also showed that women were less likely to feel comfortable copying their friends wardrobes as they got older with women under the age of 35 being much more likely to do it and confident to add an individual twist.
