Lauren Smelcher

Blog profile


After learning that my high school stint at McDonald’s wouldn’t get me a job at a mag, I worked as a freelance journalist for a few years. With much haggling and many annoying phone calls, I got a job at Cosmo! As web ed, no two days are the same – some days I’ll be at a video or photo shoot, others I’m interviewing celebs or updating myself on the latest goss (all for research purposes, obviously).

Apart from that, I have a healthy addiction to cupcakes, clutches and Christian Bale. I once watched a VH1 countdown of ‘The 50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs Ever’ and was proud to announce that I loved every last one of them. I’m very good at tripping over, talking too loud and saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. Oh … and in an acrostic poem that my friends wrote about me, the “e” in my name stood for “embarrassing.”

Blog archive

2008
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
Tue 20
Print Send to friend Archive Comment

Style Stalkers

I just love your shoes/bag/jeans/scarf...

Style stalking: the act of coveting another's wardrobe to the point of purchasing an item similar to theirs.

Monday, lunchtime: Sarah swept into The Shoebox (our office) brandishing shopping bags. This is a fairly familiar routine for us; we head out to buy a $6 sandwich and return $100 lighter, ready for a show-and-tell session. Today, though, Sarah did something different. When she revealed her purchases, she apologised. Trust me; Cosmo kids are never apologetic about shopping!

"Sorry, Loz," Sarah called out. "I totally style stalked you."

Turns out Sarah had spied Lauren's new black heels and wanted a pair herself. Lauren, our editorial coordinator, was non-plussed by the purchase - and I dare say, she was even a little flattered.

Style stalking is nothing new. I recently style stalked Sarah herself when I caught a glimpse of her rockin' new black leather jacket. My mum style stalked me a few weeks back, buying a similar pair of flats I'd just purchased. My flatmate and I do it all the time.

I'm a huge fan of the style stalk - it's like trying before you buy. When you spot an item on a rack, it might not look so impressive, but once you can see how the clothes fit on a real person, they're usually much more appealing. And for the person being style stalked, it's incredibly flattering. What's a better confidence booster than someone emulating your style?

So 'fess up, guys - have you style stalked someone lately?

Number of Comments(5) Add Comment
Posted 21 May 2008 by Licia
Every now and then when im shopping with the girls, we style stalk each other, like find something on a rack and all want it (its hard if there's only one left). But its fun for us, as we all approach how we are going to wear an item differently according to personal taste. Like different accessories, wearing with different shoes. My mum is totally guilty of style stalking, sometimes I find her sneaking into my wardrobe just to see what I have bought recently that she can style stalk.  Report thisReport this

Posted 21 May 2008 by luella
My friends and i do style stalk each other, it's pretty open and encouraged! My bestie has "won" me a few blazers online while looking for some herself. We are just a different size and that tends to decide things sometimes with us as to who gets what! With accessories, if i spot some bargains i tend to buy a few and give them to my friends. I do tend to look at what girls on the street are wearing and get inspiration at times.  Report thisReport this

Posted 21 May 2008 by Renee
My group of friends have a one item covet allowed rule - not an entire outfit from head to toe because it's OTT style stalking to the point of creative laziness. When 1 friend started wearing Chanel designer sunnies, the rest of us followed but we're loyal to different brands to avoid looking like cloned carbon copies - I love my YSL & Versace.   Report thisReport this

Posted 21 May 2008 by Colleen
I had a pet peeve in my early night clubbing days when teenyboppers were so identical with mullet haircuts and Gasp style dresses, couldn't tell one from another. Style stalking is okay done in moderation even for celeb fashion lemmings. Once the imitation started to become too regular (annoying too), so I'd either lie about where it was bought, purchase online (overseas) or op-shop one of a kind finds.   Report thisReport this

Posted 28 May 2008 by lucy
my close friend is a style stalker. She has great fashion sense and pulls off everything she wears but the problem is she buys everything i do or everything i want. if i mention a new item i want to purchase she turns up the next day wearing it! very frustrating.   Report thisReport this


Cosmo Bride

BrideFor the latest ideas and advice Cosmopolitan Bride ensures your dream wedding is exactly that. more »
Thu 20
 

Cosmo Blog

Are you a diva (like me)?

For those who watch our video blogs, you might remember that a few months back, we featured this gem - a how-to guide from Online Divas Hollie Turner and Sara Hills*. (If you haven't watched it, make sure your boss isn't watching and catch it now!)