It’s been an exciting week. Not only did the new season of Offspring hit our screens but I got to write about it. The lovely Nikki from Styling You is presently sipping Mai Tais and shopping up a storm in Hawaii. As they don’t get Offspring in that part of the world, she entrusted me with writing the debrief. You can read the post here.

I’m also helping out on the Styling You Facebook page and there’s lots of questions about matches for Nina’s clothing and accessories. Nikki was the first blogger to really catch on to Nina’s style and make it accessible to her readers. So she has pretty great insider information.

Meanwhile, I have been trying to source various Nina outfits over the interwebs. So how do you do that? When you see something on a celebrity or on Instagram that you instantly covet – how do you find the information that will make it yours?

Here are my tips on finding your fashion crush …

1. Ask. If you see something on Instagram or Facebook that you absolutely love and the stylish person in question hasn’t divulged its origin, just ask. If it hasn’t been tagged, it may mean it’s an older season item but it’s always worth a shot.
2. Reverse image search. How great is reverse image search? Just upload the URL or image itself into Google Images and it will come back with matches. It’s really helpful for finding the exact match and look-alike styles. If searching from a still, crop the image down to the outfit itself and add search terms alongside the image.
3. Use collective nouse. The Hunt allows you to post a photo of the outfit you are looking for. Other users will be on the look out for you. It’s great fun just to browse and see what people come up with.
4. Shop it. If you know the (designer) label, larger collective shops like Farfetch, Shopbop, The Outnet and Net-a-porter are a good place to start your search. They are often more useful than a designer’s website shop-front, which will focus on the up-coming seasons and may not have a shopping cart.
5. Use fashion sites. Sites like lyst and polyvore are a gold mine when trying to source a particular item. As a bonus, they offer a great set of alternatives if you cannot find an exact match. They also let you choose your price-point.
6. Use an app. There are a number of fashion matching apps available. I like ASAP54 the most. It allows you to upload a photo from your camera roll or from instagram and find matches. You can also search the extensive database for clothing, in much the same way lyst and polyvore work.
7. Look for clues. Many designers have details that are unique to them. A horse-bit buckle on a pair of shoes directs you to Gucci. The subtle use of a camellia is a Chanel signature. ThinkFashion offers a comprehensive cheat sheet. If you devour fashion magazines you start to pick up on the themes.
8. Check eBay. If a look becomes iconic, like Nina’s has, there will be people on eBay selling exactly what you want. At time of publishing, both Nina’s white lacy top and the tassel-trimmed navy maxi dress from the first episode of the new season were available on eBay. It’s often your best bet if something is out of season. You can search ASO Nina Proudman and come up with a treasure trove to plunder. You will also need a treasure trove to buy it.
9. Be creative. Sometimes you just can’t find the item you so desperately want to make your own. That’s when it’s time to get creative. Find something similar, source op-shops and maybe even DIY to make it work. For instance, the gorgeous blue maxi that Nina was wearing on the show has sold out (aside from eBay). Why not source a gorgeous, navy print maxi along with some cute tassel detailing from a craft store and make your own version?

How do you track down your fashion crushes?