From Britney Spears to Chiara Ferragni, celebrities and and fashion influencers have a powerful impact on our society and what we wear. How have they had an influence over you? Andrea Vazquez shares her story…
In a Destiny’s Child haze I spent an unnecessary amount of time kissing my magazine posters of all my favorite boy bands (seriously, what else is there to do when you’re a little kid in the early 2000’s?).
The American Music Awards were starting and I, much like any other kid, believed it was pretty much life-or-death if I did not get to see my favorite celebrities red carpet looks. I would scurry to my bedroom and pounce on my inflatable hello kitty chair, directing my vision to the cinderblock television set to witness history.
Before the shaved head and long before we were so desperately asked to leave Britney alone, Britney Spears, donned a much more iconic look to the AMA’s.
Just picture it. Early 00’s Pop Queen, NSYNC curly haired heart throb, and yes…the matching denim. We survived Y2K and Britney was not playing around, she fashionably walked into 2001 looking her best self.
If Britney was an influencer…
Nearly 18 years later, I think we can all agree Britney’s hair (and our emotions) have gone through a lot. We also can’t deny how much influence her matching denim outfits worn alongside JT had over fashion and relationships to come.
In fact, if technology had been as advanced then as it is today, Britney would have had the most liked Instagram post of all time. Stores such as Forever21 and Fashion Nova would already have had the exact replica of that denim outfit selling out the day after the AMA’s aired.
She would have been considered “Britney Spears: Singer, Dancer, POP Sensation, and Influencer”.
So what is an influencer anyway?
An Influencer is a person who utilizes social media as a platform to establish credibility in a specific industry. A social media influencer has access to a massive audience and can basically persuade and encourage others by virtue of their authenticity and reach.
Empowering females and game changers, such as Chiara Ferragni, Leandra Medine, and Susan Korn are some of the top influencers of today. They each share a common passion for fashion, a cliché term that I usually despise using but it seemed fitting, so we’re just going to roll with it.
Chiara Ferragni, Blonde Salad
Chiara Ferragni is an Italian fashion blogger and influencer who has collaborated with various fashion and beauty brands through her blog “The Blonde Salad”. She was considered one of the Top Fashion Influencers by Forbes in 2017.
There is no doubt that Chiara Ferragni has impeccable taste and style. I mean, her followers were so invested in her and so desperately believed in her style that she was able to launch her own fashion line and followers like me were abusing her online shop.
In high school I vividly recall “borrowing” my mother’s credit card to purchase my very first pair of silver glittery slip-on sneakers that had her signature evil eye on the front.
Once the credit card bill came in I was totally grounded, but I felt like my best self the second I put on my Chiara Ferragni sneakers. Looking back, I think I felt so good about myself once the shoes were on my feet because I recalled her appearing so confident and beautiful when she wearing them.
Leandra Medine Cohen, Queen of Weird
Super mom of twins and absolute queen of my life, Leandra Medine Cohen. She is probably the weirdest person on the planet but her followers (including me) absolutely adore her for it.
Medine is a blogger and humor writer famously known for Man Repeller, a fashion and lifestyle website. She helps people feel free when it comes to fashion. Who cares if you want to wear jeans under your tulle dress, and who cares if you want to wear socks with flip flops, as long as you feel your best nothing matters. Leandra wears confidence as her best accessory!
Susan Korn, Memory Maker
Beginning last year, you couldn’t scroll down your Instagram feed without being bombarded by fruity and fun purses made entirely out of beads. It was a complete blast from the past and everyone was all for it.
These purses are made by Susan Alexandra Korn who began making beaded bags in her tiny New York apartment. Korn is a prime example of how fashion goes around and comes all the way back around (shout out to Justin Timberlake) and about how fashion does not always have to be so basic.
Her beaded bags are nostalgic. She helps bring back my memories of strutting down the aisles of Limited Too wearing mini skirts with leggings underneath and lathering Lip Smackers Lip Gloss onto my lips. Susan Alexandra is a brand that feels familiar. It brings back all the joy and confidence of being a young kid.
What’s practical is logical…
Influencers may utilize persuasion as a form of gaining followers, however, it’s only for their followers own benefit. Social media has influenced the fashion industry more than any other.
Fashion before influencers was a one-sided world. Brands would present their clothing in magazines and consumers would fill their heads with shopping inspiration by flipping through the pages. They created the trendsetters and users followed the trends.
These days, however, celebrities and social media influencers are able to endorse products on their social media channels. And people, much like myself, absolutely love the idea of looking just like them.
If brands want to sell something fast they no longer need to televise it, all they need to do is get a celebrity to post about it. Influencers and social media have played a big role in the rise and awareness of the fashion industry and it is evident that it will not change anytime soon. Dear Influencers and Social Media, we are a Slave 4 U!