A definitive guide to the best ever fashion influencers
Did you know that every 0.25 of a second, a fashion blog is launched somewhere in the world? Well, not strictly true (actually, it probably is – we just don’t have the scientific evidence). But it seems like it, non? And don’t get us started on all the #ootd posts on the ‘gram.
Searching for online style inspiration, it’s easy to fall down the black hole of Insta-hell. When you finally look up from your phone, you realise you’ve spent two whole days scrolling through feeds in Korean – and you’re still in your dressing gown, with no idea what to wear (we’ve all been there). Which sort of defeats the point.
Well never fear, we’ve done the hard search for you. From our favourite UK blogs to the best missives from Milan and the coolest New Yorkers, read on for our definitive guide to the best-ever fashion blogs…
Caro Daur
Who? German-based fashion and lifestyle blogger Caroline Daur is having one helluva moment. And by moment, we mean 1.2m followers on Insta and being hand-picked by new friend Stefano Gabbana to walk the D&G show at Milan Fashion Week.
Why? If you follow Caro on Instagram (@carodaur) you’ll know that she doesn’t have one specific style, she just has fun with fashion and dresses according to her mood. Which means she could be modelling anything from Elie Saab couture to Levi’s denim, and it’s always cool.
Katherine Ormerod
Who? The entrepreneur behind fashion, life and career blog Work Work Work and a stylist and brand consultant.
Why? If you want to know about cool niche brands before anyone else, Katherine is your woman. We also love her everyday style, which instantly makes us want to shop
Marta Cygan aka Life of Boheme
Who: Polish Parisienna Marta Cygan.
Why: No one does elevated basics quite like Marta Cygan, who will make a plain red leather mini and white t-shirt combo look like the chicest thing since Chanel tweed suits. Her lifestyle shots are pretty impressive too.
Margaret Zhang of Shine by Three
Who: Margaret Zhang, a Chinese-Australian photographer, director, stylist and writer based in New York.
Why: Not your typical fashion blogger, this law graduate does everything from styling to taking her own pictures and consulting for major fashion and beauty brands. Her style is versatile to say the least, and she looks just as much at home in Saint Laurent boots and jeans as she does in a Molly Goddard gown.
Charlotte Groeneveld aka
Who: Dutch-born, NYC-dwelling, statement dress-wearing fashion blogger, Charlotte G:
Why: Charlotte provides a sartorial how-to for styling statement dresses and skirts on her blog, Thefashionguitar.com. She mixes up her ultra-feminine style with classic staples, with a quirky twist. Our go-to for dreamy dresses and dazzling prints, catch her at couture week where she makes eveningwear dresses look cool enough to wear by day too. Expect a pretty but fun take on fashion trends.
Pernille Teisbaek
Who: Lithesome, Danish, street style regular Pernille Teisbaek.
Why: Born in Copenhagen, Pernille Teisbæk is the epitome of sleek, Scandi, style perfection. After launching her cult blog, Look De Pernille, in 2012 her pared-back but trend-savvy formula of raw hemmed jeans and Gucci loafers exploded across our social feeds. Check in for regular updates on what will be the next-big-thing in street style trends.
Helena Bordon
Who: Incredibly fabulous Brazilian blogger Helena Bordon.
Why: Hailing from Sao Paulo, Helena Bordon is one of Brazil’s most influential style bloggers. She started her fashion education from a young age courtesy of her mother, Donata Meirelles, the style director of Vogue Brazil. When Helena was just 7 years old, she’d join her mum at all the top fashion shows and eventually interned at Valentino. Now, Helena is co-founder of Brazilian high street fashion chain 284, as well as finding the time to run her eponymous blog, helenabordon.com, which offers Helena’s insider style, travel and beauty tips. Disclaimer: expect holiday envy.
Man Repeller
Who: Fiercely funny New Yorker Leandra Medine.
Why: Of Turkish/Iranian Jewish descent, Medine kicked off her career with a blog called Boogers + Bagels. Her ironic fashion-addict asides soon had her readers rolling in the aisles, and she decided to focus on the topic full-time after a joky conversation while out shopping with a friend about how ‘man-repelling’ all the fashion-forward outfits they loved were. It’s now a male-scaring empire, providing in-depth intel: ‘The difference between Mom Jeans and Dad Jeans’, the fabulous ‘Manstagram’ – all the best fash items du jour – and fun features and style news aplenty.
She says: ‘I really see Man Repeller as an attitude and fashion as a language that we use to connect with other women.’
5 Inch and Up
Who: Finnish native, London-based design graduate Sandra Hagelstam.
Why: She covers fashion and beauty but her blog has always focused heavily on the shoe element. We love her new feature: Shoe of the Month, an exhaustive tried-and-tested of the latest heels – so now we know exactly how comfy Saint Laurent’s ‘Candy’ platforms are and whether they run true to size.
She says: ‘I blog about the things I wear and the shoes I love. My blog is all about high heels and effortless style. Good quality wardrobe basics are what I feel most comfortable in. As long as it’s paired with a 5 inch heel, you will never see me in flats….’
Camille Over the Rainbow
Who: Parisienne expat Camille Charriere, now based in London.
Why: The leggy blonde provides a tres chic mix of outfit inspiration – her personal style definitely has that insouciant French vibe – and trend and brand lowdowns. The ‘boutique’ section of her site is a one-stop shop for the pieces she loves – and we also like the fact she has regular wardrobe clearouts via Vestiaire so true Camille-alikes can snap up her actual clothes…
She says: “COTR is a destination for a mixture of emerging and luxury fashion, with a particular emphasis on Scandinavian labels.”
The Frugality
Who: London-based fashion stylist Alex Stedman.
Why: Thrifty tips and hot high street bargains a-plenty, Stedman’s pearls of wisdom focus on how to live well for less, from sharing how she clears her credit card debts to her favourite stylish cheap-eat restaurants.
She says: ‘My blog is a fashion and lifestyle website for real people, living on a normal budget. I swear by affordable clothes and offer advice on what to invest in, and what not to. After all – budget or no budget – everyone likes a bargain.’
We Wore What
Who: New Yorker Danielle Bernstein.
Why: Cool, clean outfit inspiration and handy get-the-look items to click through and buy for each
She says: “WeWoreWhat is a fashion blog I created to provide a daily dose of outfit inspiration from every corner of NYC. I highlight my everyday outfits as well as my experience in this city that never sleeps. What should be the easiest part of everyone’s day (getting dressed in the morning) is sometimes the hardest – and that’s why I blog.”
Wearing It Today
Who: Fashion editor and London-based Italian hottie Laura Fantacci.
Why: The bronzed brunette has gorgeous style, a gorgeous toddler, a gorgeous house and always looks gorgeous. In fact, it could all be incredibly irritating if she wasn’t also so smiley and totes helpful – want the best designer-alike flat sandals? The chic-est white shirts? To know how to do leather culottes? If classic with a twist is your thing and you need styling inspiration, she’s your girl. Top marks for her weekly ‘Mama Friday’ post– goodbye stained tee and jeans, hello Belstaff bikers and the perfect peacoat – her beauty knowhow and her brand extensions. She and pal Petro Stofberg also do a website, Wardrobe Icons, a shoppable edit of the best ‘forever’ fashion items, and a weekly e-zine, ICONS Update. Warning: you will want her life.
She says: “While every other style website focuses on what’s in fashion, with Wardrobe Icons, we reveal what never goes out of fashion. I love a classic white shirt and a simple cashmere V-neck but I also love mad shoes, statement jewellery and a fringed bag. The key, for me, is all in the mix: sequins with denim, a trench over a ballgown. Classic but always with a twist.”
La Petite Anglaise
Who: London-based writer and model Ella Catliff.
Why: The elfin Catliff started writing her blog when she was a fashion intern in Paris, sharing discoveries of new shops and the outfits she wore during her first foray into the industry. If you long to look like a Parisienne version of Alexa Chung, Catliff’s style is for you – her Look du Jour is chocka block with silk scarves, chic accessories and skinny denim aplenty.
She says: “La Petite Anglaise is basically a colourful, fun and (hopefully) well written reflection of my life within the wider context of the fashion world. I’ve also expanded it to include lifestyle, travel and beauty. After all, clothes don’t exist in a vacuum so I love to be able to write about a great outfit and then also share where I wore it.
Advanced Style
Who: New York photographer Ari Seth Cohen.
Why: If you don’t think style should stop at 40 (or 50, or 60, or 70, or 80…) Cohen’s dazzling street style snaps of stylish seniors is a treat. He grew up worshipping both his glam grannies and parlayed his respect for the older lady into a USP as a young photographer in NYC. The story of the blog has been turned into a documentary and he also speaks out on issues facing society’s elderly. But mainly, he just loves taking pics – turbans, capes, full sets of false lashes, OTT baubles…Cohen’s girls got it all goin’ on…
He says: “Advanced Style is dedicated to the style and stories of the silver-haired set. By showing positive images of aging I hope to inspire people to change their perceptions of growing older. With age comes an incredible advancement in personal expression, creativity, and style.”
Peony Lim
Who: Chinese/English stylista Peony Lim.
Why: Flitting between Asia and London, Lim’s uber-polished site is like an online magazine reflecting all the facets of her uber-polished life. With sections on every type of trend and item, the ‘outfits’ section starring Lim’s looks are more like glossy fashion shoots than gritty street style. She also covers food – this week is very fennel slaw – and travel.
She says: “My site is about sharing the things that inspire me and that I hope will inspire others. It’s a whole lifestyle diary, from what I wear, to where I travel. Food is a big part of the site and my life. The style of the whole site is classic luxury. I try never to be trend driven.”
Pandora Sykes
Who: Writer, stylist and ex-Fashion Features Editor at The Sunday Times Style.
Why: Sharp as a tack with the looks and fashion sense of Diane Kruger, we’re hooked on Sykes’ killer combo of great outfits – vintage florals and patent biker, anyone? – and vay funny ‘social commentary’. Recent winners include a love letter to Jilly Cooper and why Sykes will never join Snapchat.
She says: ‘Style should be fun and fashion is not a lone Endeavour. You can be interested in shoes and still care about world politics. My blog aims to be fun but thoughtful – and give people a new way to look at things.’
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