How to Design Yourself as a Fashion Influencer in 8 Stylish Steps

Fashion or style influencers are a type of social media influencer who focus on personal style, trends, and all things clothing. This can include OOTD (outfit of the day), GRWM (get ready with me), styling suggestions, DIY upcycling, thrifted outfits, and any number of subtopics within the fashion realm.

What do fashion influencers do? 

Fashion influencers use social media platforms to engage with their audience on fashion-related topics, often encouraging them to try new trends or styles. They might work with clothing brands to promote products, offer their services as a wardrobe consultant, or even create their own clothing lines.

• Nnenna Echem uses crisp lines, the power of layers, and simple fashion to elevate her outfits, filling her feed with styling tips, key wardrobe essentials, and the occasional beauty post.
• Wisdom Kaye brings a seriously unique fashion sense that blends lowkey cool with high-end swagger, along with humor and playfulness to connect with his audience. He also incorporates his other interests, such as fantasy and sci-fi, into his posts (just check out his high fashion take on “Avatar: The Last Airbender”), demonstrating that being an influencer really is about being yourself.
• Bryan Yambao indulges in high fashion that reflects both feminine and masculine looks. But he’s more than just a fashion guru—he deftly combines humor and style to make fun of himself as well as the high fashion he loves. It’s a winning combo for an audience that may not be able to afford Hermès or Gucci.
• Margaret Zhang, unlike some of the other influencers on this list, doesn’t just focus on her own fashionable looks (though she is an icon!). Instead, the photographer, filmmaker, and former editor in chief of Vogue China turns the lens to capture chic looks on other people, such as the one and only Rihanna.
• Rochelle Johnson serves style, beauty, and luxury, with an emphasis on fashion for curvy women. Her body-positive posts highlight topics such as ways to dress up curves, how clothing from affordable stores look on plus-size bodies, and the importance of size-inclusive companies.

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If you’ve been getting compliments on your style and you’re ready to make a splash in the social media sphere, check out these detailed steps to becoming a fashion influencer.

1. Find your niche.

Johnson’s niche is affordable options for curvy women. Zhang’s is fashion photography. Echem’s is crisp, clean fashion. Yambao’s and Kaye’s are combining fashion with humor. The top fashion and style influencers have narrowed down their approach in a way that incorporates their personalities and interests. To find your own niche, ask yourself what you love about fashion and what could set you apart from others. 

2. Refine your style.

Fashion influencers rely on their personal style as a selling point for their audience. If you want your followers to trust your fashion tips, then they should love your personal look, so it’s very important to hone in on your style. “It’s about having your personal style shine through regardless of the clothes you’re wearing,” writes influencer specialist Jacqueline Zote. 

3. Pick your platforms.

Not all platforms are the same—nor are they all necessary for a fashion influencer. For instance, in Yambao’s first six months on TikTok, he gained 1.1 million followers, and he now has over 4.2 million followers. Compared to his 883,000 Instagram followers, the numbers make sense, since his content is primarily short-form video. Meanwhile, photographer Zhang has cultivated more than 2 million followers on Instagram, making the image-driven platform her bread and butter.

• Facebook, while possibly feeling a bit dated, is good for text, images, videos, and connecting with a huge audience with a higher rate of older users compared to other platforms.
• Instagram is more image-driven but has caught on to videos, with Reels, Stories, and Live post options—meaning there’s a ton of ways to customize content for fashion influencers. With in-app shopping, there is potential for brand collabs that are linked directly in the app.
• TikTok, master of the short-form video, draws in a younger crowd, making it ideal for aspiring fashion influencers who know how to capitalize on trends.
• YouTube gives longer-form video creators the ability to group certain videos together into playlists, thus curating an experience for their audience. For instance, sustainable fashion influencer and YouTuber inspiroue offers several playlists, such as “What is sustainable fashion?” and “Sustainable & ethical brands.”

4. Tailor your content and pin down your posting schedule.

Think about the types of content that interest you, whether outfit of the day, trend challenges, behind-the-scenes, or style tips. When you post, start reviewing what audiences interact with more and revise your content accordingly.

Burnout is common among influencers, but you can do your best to avoid that path by creating a content calendar. Figure out how often you want to post, then figure out when you’ll spend time ideating content and filming or shooting. Choose something that realistically fits you, your personal life, and your digital creator goals.

5. Vogue it out.

While you can get started creating content with just a phone and an idea, it’s good to keep in mind ways you can upgrade your skills and (eventually) equipment. Fashion influencers rely heavily on image and video, which can always benefit from great lighting, flattering angles, and clean backgrounds. But remember that it’s possible to take great photos and videos with just a phone; there’s no need to shell out to showcase your stylishness. 

6. Stay in touch with your audience.

Followers are important, but even more crucial is interacting with them. If they’re commenting and reacting, you should take the time to respond, ask questions, and acknowledge any answers. This isn’t just an opportunity to prove you’re a real person but to illuminate your personality on a more intimate level as well. “Building a network can help you gain more exposure,” according to blog monetization expert Amira Irfan. That exposure can lead to more followers, networking with other fashion or style influencers, and brand collabs.

7. Start building your portfolio.

Companies will often ask for your media kit or portfolio. Think of it as the influencer version of a résumé. It should include information about your social media personality and platforms, the number of followers you have, statistics, demographics, past work, and current partnerships. 

8. Monetize your brand.

• Collabs: If you have favorite brands or companies that you already wear, consider reaching out for a brand collaboration. 
• Sponsored posts: For fashion and style influencers, sponsored content is an excellent way to monetize your platform. Many fashion influencers are upfront about their paid posts, such as Echem, who simply starts each post with the word “advertisement.”  
• Affiliate marketing: You can create passive income with affiliate marketing, which is when brands provide you with a custom link; when someone clicks on the link and makes a purchase, the brand will track your sales and pay you a commission. 
• Products and services: If you’re into fashion enough to want to be an influencer, chances are you have something valuable to offer your fans—whether that’s your own clothing line, tailoring service, or personalized wardrobe advice.

• Engage: Comment, react, and let your followers know you’re a person! It’s also helpful to follow other creators and build relationships for greater audience reach and engagement.
• Be consistent: Posting content regularly means your account will get more face time with followers, new users, and even brands.
• Size it out: If one platform is performing better than another, think about sticking to that site. Rather than spreading yourself thin with multiple social media accounts, focusing on just one can be much easier.
• Curate: Once you’ve started your journey, you may find that you’re a couture content wizard—so be sure to check out our continually updated content creator jobs to find your next gig.