Fashion influencers have been the avant-garde leaders at the forefront of the social revolution that has been taking place on Instagram over the past few years. And while heavy hitters like Chiara Ferragni and Olivia Palermo are household names, they aren’t alone as the trailblazers of fashion influence.
The names on this list are of growing prominence in the fashion world and are some of the top fashion figures to keep an eye out for as we begin the new year.
The Scottish fashion blogger is one of the top up-and-comers in the influencer realm. She doesn’t shy away from playing around with silhouettes and styles, opting for oversized blazers and pairing hoodies underneath them. Delving into her style, it’s eclectic and experimental, yet always tasteful. Oguntod started her blog Noordinaryshe in 2014 to “express her personal thoughts about fashion.”
Ada has a strong online presence spread across her YouTube channel and social relevance primarily through both her Instagram and Twitter followings. Not to mention the popularity of the Noordinaryshe blog. Her take on a style some have categorized as ‘androgynous’ has her ascending as a powerful voice in the industry.
Dapper is an understatement in describing budding fashion icon Matthew Zorpas. Born in Cyprus, the stylish Zorpas moved to London to study Public Relations and eventually launched The Gentlemen Blogger in 2012 to showcase his evolution towards becoming a modern gentleman. He has since grown both his blog and himself into a global brand, substantially growing his social presence while winning numerous ‘Best Dressed’ awards from the world’s top luxury publications.
He’s taken over the Instagram world, including GQ’s IG account for a promotional run. He’s worked with legendary brands like Aston Martin, and he’s transformed his love for fashion into a lucrative career in fashion consulting. Zorpas has already clearly established himself as a force to be reckoned within the industry, but expect 2019 to bring him even closer to the forefront of men’s fashion on a global level.
You could say that French fashionista Jeanne Damas is ahead of the curve, both in her fashion sense as well as her entrepreneurial acumen. Before the era of Instagram and Snapchat, Damas was one of the first and youngest to pioneer Skyblog, one of the early digital blogging platforms. Her blog Rouje Paris, which she says “is a tribute to strong women who have inspired”, took off and helped grew her into a powerful voice in the fashion world. Particularly in Paris, the fashion mecca of the world and Jeanne’s place of residence.
Damas is a prominent entity on both Instagram and Pinterest, where she shares stunning images and even her own line of fashion products. She’s known for her wearing her signature red lipstick, so she launched her own line, Rouje, which has been well received by consumers. “It was a dream to create my own lipsticks as wearing lipstick is my talisman,” Damas told Bazaar. “It’s really the only make-up I use. I love red lipstick and it’s actually why my fashion brand is called ‘Rouje’.”
For Anwar Hadid, fashion is in his blood. He is the son of Palestinian real estate developer Mohamed Hadid and Dutch television personality and model Yolanda Hadid. Anwar made his modeling debut in the October 2015 issue of Nylon Magazine. His style is built on a foundation of edgy expression through the medium of streetwear. In January 2017, he was named the face of Hugo Boss Menswear’s HUGO line. He is signed with the agency IMG Models, as well as his famous sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid. Like we said, fashion is kind of in the family for the Hadid’s.
Born in 1999, Hadid has seen massive success at a very early age. He starred on the cover of Teen Vogue June/July 2016 alongside Cameron Dallas. He has also built an immense following on social media, boasting over 2.4 million followers on Instagram. 2019 looks to be a big year for Hadid, as his profile continues it’s exponential growth. It doesn’t hurt that he has recently been in the headlines being linked to Kendall Jenner, which in it of itself will garner watchful eyes in most social circles.
British influencer Lucy Williams is one of the most stylish women on the fashion circuit, and she’s becoming a social icon in the fashion industry. With a keen eye, a large Instagram following, and a slew of wildly popular collaborations under her belt, Williams is already a top-tier fashion figure on social platforms. Her Instagram aesthetic is to be envied, with cohesive stylings and picture-perfect grid work that any Instagram celebrity could learn from.
Williams gained notability as a fashion and lifestyle blogger. She is the founder of Fashion Me Now, an online fashion publication. She doubles as a travel influencer, wandering the globe and documenting her experiences. Her abilities to forecast trends have brought her great admiration, and we expect her profile to continue soaring in 2019.
Leomie Anderson is a British model and fashion designer who is rapidly rising. Anderson has been modeling since 2010 when she was discovered at age 16 while on her way home from school in Wimbledon. She has walked for Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, Chloé and Moschino as well as appearing in Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty campaigns. She was eventually selected to model for the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2015, after her third attempt at casting. In 2016, she founded her own clothing brand, LAPP, and went on to launch the brand in 2017.
Anderson is an influencer with a purpose, and that purpose is clear if you follow her social media content. She has publicly spoken out against racism in the fashion industry, taking to social media, in particular, to call for more inclusive practices in the business. Leomie also appeared on the 2011 reality TV show The Model Agency, so it goes without saying that she is no stranger to the industry. Her undeniable beauty paired with her social awareness and voice in the community, make her a formidable force to come in 2019. In fact, she’s already here.
Sarah and Philippa
Sarah and Philippa are the two stylists behind We Are Twinset. They both work full time as Fashion Editors – so if anyone knows about multi-tasking and ‘making it work’, it’s these two. They take time out of their super busy routine to share colorful-coordinated snaps and videos.
We Are Twinset, their lifestyle blog, is a carefully curated insight into the lives, loves & daily looks of these two fashion editors with over twenty years combined experience. We Are Twinset is an all-in-one place to help you discover where to shop, what to shop for, and how to wear it day in, day out. With a classic eye for style, Sarah & Philippa take trends and make them their own, mixing both high street and high-end pieces in a wearable aesthetic.
A Canadian artist, photographer, fashion model, and director, Petra Collins, rose to fame almost a decade ago. She is well known for the feminine and dreamlike aesthetic in her photography: she’s the poster girl for the “cottagecore” aesthetic that’s taken hold in the fashion world.
Her Instagram account is full of portraits of young women. They alternate between being moody, strong-headed, and at peace with their innermost thoughts, hinting at a larger narrative. Her pictures often feel like they’re ripped out of a Golden Age movie reel because Collins prefers shooting on a film camera.
Fashion hacks, beauty tips and a little bit about her life as a mother – This is what you will find on Rachel’s account. Her Instagram feed is an endless source of inspiration with plenty of outfit ideas. This blogger from San Francisco has a wardrobe that includes a little bit of everything – girly totems, edgy and chic outfits, and glam accents: she’s got it all.
Rachel is a certified fashion guru with an enviable collection of Louboutins to her name. She’s fiercely positive and represents so much of what modern women aspire towards. What’s not to love?
This Dutch blogger received major attention through her Instagram account, which has more than 6 million followers. She created her own personal style blog, neginmirsalehi.com, which curates her fashion and lifestyle tastes. She’s also the founder of Gisou Hair.
Negin Mirsalehi’s career is one to which just about any influencer would aspire. She’s currently one of the most sought-after fashion influencers in the world but her actual story started with beekeeping, of al things. She comes from a long line of traditional beekeepers, and she has included that art and science in her haircare brand, with ingredients drawn from bee farms and her mother’s DIY hair care recipes. Her degree in business administration helps her combine fashion and business practices with ease.