15 "Alternative" Fashion Forward Instagram Accounts You Need To Follow ASAP
Get lost inside their wildly whimsical world. By Michelle Varinata
Henry Ng, the Singapore-born Australian fashion influencer, loves to flaunt his fashion flair by playing with pops of prints, unique materials and off-kilter accessories. With the moves of a supermodel, he isn't afraid to transform himself at different angles whenever he's in front of a camera.
Paloma Elsesser has no qualms about being a plus size model. She was first tapped by Pat McGrath to be part of a social media-led beauty campaign. Blessed by the makeup artist-turned-mogul's Midas touch, British Vogue EIC Edward Enninful featured Elesser on the cover as one of the models changing fashion. Currently signed to IMG, look out for the rising model to land some pretty big campaigns.
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Daring to be different, fashion stylist and budding designer Farren Jean Andrea already won the hearts of Rihanna, Bella Hadid and Kehlani. Peppering with references from the glory days of the early '90s, he moulds runway-inspired high fashion styling and contemporary streetwear for a unique, yet wearable aesthetic. This fall, expect him to make waves with Nyden for the ultimate throwback-inspired reboot. (WARNING: you might want to stay up all night to buy the entire collection next month!)
If Aureta Thomollari's account is a series of unrelatable lifestyle choices (i.e. constant holidaying and buying fine art), her addiction to saturated filters (i.e. she uses Huji!) adds to the idea of a dream. From eating sea urchins in Tunis to diving in Greece, her Instagram is definitely an eye pleaser for a five-minute escape from reality. Bringing in her high falutin' editorial-esque style to the boot, Thomollari reminds us of the late supermodel China Machado, who had a predilection for XL jewelry.
This flame-haired stylist is not just another fashion girl. Blessed with killer style, a campy aesthetic and lethal curves, she fearlessly melds different aesthetics to create one heck of a unique outift. Since her status as a street style darling is on the rise, little do we realize that she is brainchild behind Ashish's OTT runway shows and the Kardashian-Jenner clan's go-to stylist for their Elle features.
Founded by Stacey Nishimoto, the former Nasty Gal employee turns her magical touch on vintage apparel. The Los Angeles-based store throws in a smorgasbord of vintage Laura Ashley with splashy designer finds (e.g. Valentino) to create a unique aesthetic that we want cop. (Seriously, it feels like a high fashion '90s sitcom!)
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As the lenswoman behind @charlie__chops, Charlotte Rutherford is the brainchild behind the most eye-popping campaigns and magazine covers. With Paris Hilton as her muse, the easygoing and bubbly Rutherford also has an equally off-killer sense of style that makes us green with envy.
Making her name with close-up shots of the models' bodies, the anonymous creator behind this throwback inspired account features old runway shots alongside vintage Playboy editorials. Mentioning the nitty gritty details from the name of the model to the year of the magazine issue, you instantly know the aesthetic that defined each era from the '70s to the '00s.
Have you seen the quintessential Raf Simons documentary, Dior and I? Of the many cute characters in the film, Simons' creative partner Pieter Mulier comes across as extremely charismatic, kind, and more extroverted than him. We love stalking BTS content at Calvin Klein 205W39NYC on Mulier's account. Although it's quite rare to see his Hugh Jackman-like mien, we can't help but to salivate over his gift for a well-curated feed.
Self-styled as a "bored wealthy housewife", the Melbourne-based archivist posts old party photos, tabloid clippings, magazine editorials and paparazzi pics of Paris Hilton, Spice Girls, Nicole Richie, Pamela Anderson, Kim Kardashian, Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera. Although most of us cringe at our early Y2K photos, we honestly can't get enough of the era's campy glamour that will inspire our next #ootds.
Ever the anarchist, the NYC-based artist's wild antics and outré feed always leaves our jaws dropping. Swirling with a larger-than-life energy, you can feel his OTT presence in every photo whether he's painting a jacket, posing on the street in a Birkin or all dolled up in Gucci sunglasses and a fishnet dress with Ashley Benson, who wore his heart-printed customised leather jacket.
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Call us crazy for telling you to follow her account; however, you can't ignore the boundary-pushing content that Yeha Leung produces. As the designer of Creepy Yeha, she pushes out custom made bondage-inspired accessories and lingerie. If you want to step up your feed, look no further than Leung as your future style icon.
How in the world did we miss out on it?! Growing strong with nearly 500K followers, this Argentina-based account throws in an eclectic mishmash of candid photos (whether it's from the paparazzi or a friend's camera), still pictures of your favourite singers strutting on stage alongside a handful of video clips from movies, TV and/or award shows. Starring our favourite rock 'n roll bad boys (e.g. Axl Rose; Freddie Mercury), Old Hollywood sirens (e.g. Sophia Loren) to contemporary icons (e.g. Bruno Mars), Velvet Coke's feed is the best well-curated treasure trove of pop culture gems. Trust us, you will spend a lot of hours pressing the save button to find the next outfit inspo.
While you don't see much old runway shots, you can pick out your favourite outfit in a poll on Insta Stories as you listen to her Spotify playlists.
P.S. Kendall Jenner and David Spade follow this page, too!
Bundled up in a smattering of tattoos, the eyewear designer has killer style to boot. Inspired by Britney Spears and Stanley Kubrick's Lolita, the NYC-based Takesh is the one who ushered in a wave of 2000s nostalgia before every influencer hashtagged their newly gifted Saddle bags. Never the one to follow the rules, we are thirsting over her anti-establishment approach on fashion.
Building his name on throwing gender conventions out of the window, Richie Shazam is a force to be reckoned with. From hanging out backstage with Adwoa Aboah to being photographed by Juergen Teller, Shazam reminds us of Candy Darling, the late Andy Warhol drag queen who captivated the hearts of everyone back in the '60s.