6 ways to use Instagram as your personal stylist

I am an unabashed fan of the style selfie on Instagram. I know it’s not for everyone. I realise it can look like this ridiculously narcissistic and ultimately pointless thing to do BUT there is method in the madness. By contributing to the #OOTD (that’s outfit of the day) community you are part of a huge group of people who are excited about getting dressed each morning and it gives you access to some pretty serious (and realistic) style inspiration.

6 ways to use instagram to up your style stakes-2

If you feel you need a style boost, why not use Instagram as your personal stylist? Here’s how…

  1. Search hashtags for outfit inspo. There a generic tags like #ootd #everydaystyle (courtesy of Styling You) and #realmumstyle (courtesy of Flat Bum Mum) that will give you a broad cross section of style on any given day. But you can also search for specific hashtags like #howtowearwhite, #bohostyle, #autumnfashion etc. Sometimes it can help to include the #ootd within your search so that you don’t happen on all manner of things you’d rather not. You can search multiple hashtags at once across Instagram by using this rather cool site.  Pinterest is of course a great place for style inspiration as well, but I find Instagram more realistic. There is more diversity in age, body size and style.
  2. Post #everydaystyle selfies. I put more effort into an outfit when I know I’m going to post an every day style selfie. I might add a necklace or play with an unexpected element. This was actually the reason Nikki Parkinson started the whole thing. It’s pretty easy to fall into a style slump when you work at home, for yourself. The every day style community is loads of fun but it’s also a form of style accountability.
  3. Get involved with style challenges. There are plenty of style challenges on Instagram. Sometimes they go for the month, sometimes a few days. I personally love the ones with a daily prompt. They tend to make me think outside the box with my dressing and discover different ways of using my wardrobe. You can read about my experience with style challenges here and here.
  4. Find your style icons and follow them. Instagram is wonderfully democratic. You can follow celebrities, models, magazine editors, fashion designers and A-list stylists. You can also follow that cool mum from Melbourne whose style echoes your own. Find the people that inspire you and follow, follow, follow. I’ve also found accounts I love by checking out who my favourite style icons follow. Hey — I know they have good taste.
  5. Follow your favourite brands on Instagram. Remember to follow the smaller ones – they often have the best accounts. Brands are increasingly showcasing their designs and inspiration first on Instagram so it’s a great way to see what’s coming into store. They often also advertise their sales so you can pick up an on-trend bargain.
  6. Follow fashion week accounts for instant runway access. During the fashion weeks that interest you (I love Fashion Week Aus) follow the relevant accounts for instant access to the runway and behind the scenes glimpses.

And two bonus, extra tips …

If that’s all too much fashion in one IG feed, why not create a separate, dedicated account to follow your fashion icons? It’s now possible to flick between accounts on the one device, so it’s much easier to do.

If you post an outfit that you LOVE and you want to save it for future reference, why not pin it to your Pinterest style board? You can do this from your computer. Just go to your instagram link, which looks like this: https://www.instagram.com/robynamummyandminx/ (with your handle obviously, rather than mine!) and pin away. You do have to have the “pin it” button installed. Here’s how to do that.

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Do you use Instagram as your personal stylist?
Have any fav accounts that I should be following?

22 thoughts on “6 ways to use Instagram as your personal stylist

    • Robyna says:

      I don’t think wanting to look your best and sharing that is narcissistic necessarily – I think it’s all tied in with confidence and valuing one’s self.

    • Robyna says:

      It IS a bit weird at first, but then you end up feeling quite supported by the community and that people genuinely do like seeing what you are wearing.

  1. Shannon@ my2morrows says:

    I love seeing what normal everyday people wear and I really do need to get back into participating in everyday style. My little 6 year old photographer is a bit hit and miss 😉
    And what a fab idea to open a separate acct to follow your fave fashion accounts. Love that! Thanks for linking up to the rabbit hole lovely xx

  2. Bron from Flat Bum Mum says:

    Oh I just love your style Robyna! Imagine a world where we were too shy to share our style. We wouldn’t have met each other or such an amazing community of women. Thanks for the #RealMumStyle shout out. See on Insta very soon. Bron x

  3. Beth at AlmostPosh.com says:

    It took a bit of time to feel okay about posting outfit shots and selfies on Insta when I first started blogging but now I’m happy to post away. I’m not doing it to get validation from anyone but rather be part of the community and maybe – just maybe – someone might go, “oh well, she’s a normal suburban mum and she’s wearing something inexpensive (and/or op shopped) and it looks alright so maybe I don’t have to spend heaps of money either”.

    I also find taking the #everydaystyle shot has saved me from many an outfit mistake. The camera doesn’t lie, even if my mirror does.
    Beth at AlmostPosh.com recently posted…Vani-T Product Review, Giveaway And Special OfferMy Profile

    • Robyna says:

      It’s actually really useful to look back on the photos and see what really worked and what didn’t. You’re right – it’s a very different perspective to the mirror.

  4. Kellie @dressconnectapp says:

    Instagram really is so good for every day inspirations. I also felt a bit silly at first posting photos of myself in different outfits, but doing different style challenges has helped a lot. I have used #everydaystyle, #realmumstyle and more. I will definitely have to find you on Instagram now too.

    • Robyna says:

      It really is! I love the #everydaystyle community and it’s nice to have a hash tag that collects us all together, given the changes that are flagged.

  5. Jenny says:

    Sometimes we know exactly what we want, but don’t know where to find it. So we can get the help of a stylist to track down something similar.

  6. Katie says:

    After going through your article I instantly joined Instagram and start following my favorite brands.It really help to improve my personality.Thank you very much for posting!

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