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Original poster

Have fashion Instagrammers had their day?

36 replies

D20 · 10/01/2023 07:19

I can’t remember the last time I bought something because I’d seen it on Instagram but I do look on Instagram for different ways to wear something like the platform Dr Marten’s the other day so I wouldn’t want them to disappear completely.

Maybe they do better with different demographics or maybe the stuff in the shops at the minute aren’t right for me in the first place?

Not sure if it’s the financial climate too and lots of sniping about freebies and too many adverts.

Or have I missed the next new thing where people are getting fashion inspiration from?

OP posts:
JackieDaws · 10/01/2023 17:35

I have to admit that I film getting ready for work every morning and post it to tiktok and Insta. Started with 0 followers last year and now have around 60,000. I got in to Insta's affiliate scheme and I do make a bit from it. It pays for the heating tbh. My followers went up by 10000 over December.

I generally receive one or 2 items a week, and yes I wear them in the videos and mark clearly it was gifted, or free. Not linking on here, god no.

Homedeco · 10/01/2023 17:37

I've never used instagram but I really hope there will be an end to influencers.
Only because, and this happened a few times, I find a really nice dress online only for it to be sold out instantly because some influencer posted about it before it hit the shops.

This will never happen - the world is only becoming more connected and more digital. If it isn’t influencers selling out clothing, it will be celebrities or royal family members etc as the culture will remain largely like it is now. Online shopping means that you can instantly but something you see online and like - hitting the shops won’t factor into the equation. Online shopping demand won’t decrease, brick and mortar stores are struggling.

petridishmystery · 10/01/2023 17:46

BumBumBumBumBum · 10/01/2023 16:51

I get the sense that Nadine Baggott actually gives the stuff she reviews a run for it's money whereas it seems Sali Hughes shills for anyone that pays her these days - I cant take seriously all the "I've used this for years..." bollocks. You've only got one face, love. It's impossible to have tried all of these products, use them all enough to find out whether they work and then keep on using them.

Beauty influencers have been utterly shafted by the move to affordable, ingredient- led skincare in the last few years as it's becoming less tenable to promote all the high end stuff ( although Caroline Hirons is still ploughing on, I see)

beauty rather than fashion, but it’s always a red flag for me when someone insists they’ve used a certain product for “years” when the product has only been around a matter of months, I’ve noticed that a few times. I know some people just naturally exaggerate but I always feel more like they’re trying to make the product sound more tried and tested than it really is.

Original poster
D20 · 10/01/2023 17:49

BumBumBumBumBum · 10/01/2023 17:27

I do tune out when I see that something is #gifted or #ad or #affiliate. I'm very glad that legally it has to be declared because it does save me a fair bit of time in being able to dismiss peoples opinions almost completely wholesale.

Logically I understand that you're either going to love or hate an eye cream -but as soon as I know it's a freebie, the odds that the reviewer is going to gush about it being amazing go up tenfold.

I do respect people giving their 'honest opinions' but those freebies are going to dry up quicker than an open tube of mascara if there's too many bad reviews. So the system is already skewed to favour positive reviews. And the lower down the influencer ladder you are the more likely you are to get dropped if the favourable reviews arent forthcoming.

At least with fashion influencers I can actually see the clothes on a real person.

Beauty reviews are so much more difficult to decode, as trying to review and describe something accurately that I might use totally differently ( eg foundations when caked on and a filter is used on the video) is impossible.

Yes some schemes do work like that. I literally just need an account with Picky and an Instagram or tick-tock or YouTube I think and post using the relevant hashtags/tags. Whether I get to trial them is based on a worldwide sweepstake (apart from some countries where it would cost too much to post to) and posting my review by a set date. If everyone thinks a product is crap that company probably wouldn’t opt to send things out for trial again but who would want them if they are crap anyway? I’m not judged based on follower numbers (because mine is very low!) or engagement which is why I participate.

OP posts:
Original poster
D20 · 10/01/2023 17:50

JackieDaws · 10/01/2023 17:35

I have to admit that I film getting ready for work every morning and post it to tiktok and Insta. Started with 0 followers last year and now have around 60,000. I got in to Insta's affiliate scheme and I do make a bit from it. It pays for the heating tbh. My followers went up by 10000 over December.

I generally receive one or 2 items a week, and yes I wear them in the videos and mark clearly it was gifted, or free. Not linking on here, god no.

Wow that’s some growth and good for you. Would you mind me asking if you got under a management team to get that many followers or if it’s just word of mouth?

OP posts:
BumBumBumBumBum · 10/01/2023 17:55

@D20 that's interesting to know, thanks for explaining.

Niftythrifter · 10/01/2023 18:00

I’m not on Instagram but I do like watching selected You Tubers. The ones that I watch the most I watch because I have an interest in what they say and they do hauls however given that they are plus size and I am not then there isn’t much influence to be had in terms of fashion!

wibblewobbleball · 10/01/2023 18:23

BumBumBumBumBum · 10/01/2023 16:51

I get the sense that Nadine Baggott actually gives the stuff she reviews a run for it's money whereas it seems Sali Hughes shills for anyone that pays her these days - I cant take seriously all the "I've used this for years..." bollocks. You've only got one face, love. It's impossible to have tried all of these products, use them all enough to find out whether they work and then keep on using them.

Beauty influencers have been utterly shafted by the move to affordable, ingredient- led skincare in the last few years as it's becoming less tenable to promote all the high end stuff ( although Caroline Hirons is still ploughing on, I see)

YES to this about SH. "Oh I've used this for years" - well I've followed you for years so I know you bloody haven't or you would have mentioned it before now on one of your many posts about cleanser or whatever.

ArmyofMunn · 10/01/2023 21:19

The one Instagrammer I've stuck with is ChloeLovestoShop. She looks amazing and just seems like a really nice person.

I recently signed up to Meet Me at the Barre online classes on her recommendation.

Delatron · 10/01/2023 21:39

I stick to a few I like - who I think are nice people and I do like the updates about their lives too! -
Chloelovestoshop
Doesmybumlook40
TheFashionLift.

I also follow a few younger ones, despite being 46. So I like Polly Sayer.

All these accounts are helpful. They do real
life shopping and try ons. I know they work with brands but if I don’t like something I don’t buy it.

It’s quicker than me trawling through the Zara website for example and I have no time for shopping.

I’ve never understood the hatred for ‘influencers’ though. Don’t follow if you don’t like. We all have a say over whether we are ‘influenced’ or not. I need ideas!
I think they put a lot of effort in to their platforms and good luck to them. They are making hay while the sun shines and it could all disappear in an instant.

user06221 · 10/01/2023 23:04

I prefer influencers who do styling videos rather than the ones who just do huge hauls or constant gifted items. It's nice to get ideas of ways to style an outfit, and then I might go out (or go into my wardrobe) to find similar pieces at a more affordable price.

I tend not to be interested in buying the exact item that an influencer is promoting, especially when it is just one affiliate link after another. Although at the same time, I appreciate that it's also how they make their money.

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