FASHION Magazine

It’s hard to define something that completely surrounds you. Like trying to describe the taste of water or the smell of a perfume you’ve been wearing for years, the definition of this past decade in fashion has proven elusive. We’re sure in time for FASHION’s 50th we will be able to grab onto a few trends […]

The post ’10s in <em>FASHION</em>: the Rise of the Social Media Superstar appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Each Friday, we’ll be profiling one of our favourite movers and shakers on social media. From the pop-up power of Pinterest to the beautifully crafted images on Instagram, we’re learning the tricks of the trade from the ladies that do it best (and most stylishly, of course).

From a trip to Paris to customize her own eyeshadow to a JustFab Shoes collaboration in support of a military charity, Dulce Candy Ruiz is one YouTuber we want to know more about. And clearly, we’re not the only ones: She’s amassed a following of over 1.2 million subscribers on her beauty and style-focused channel Dulce Candy.

When you see street style shots of this petite California girl, it’s hard to imagine that Ruiz is a trained Army mechanic with a tour to Iraq under her belt. But it was her time on active duty—spending weeks in an army combat uniform—that made her crave a creative outlet for all things girly. Thus, Dulce Candy was born. Consistency and maintaining the special connection she has with her viewers is what has catapulted Ruiz to her impressive number of YouTube (and blog!) followers, and it’s also helped her land well-deserved collaborations. We love that she’s not afraid to admit that her personal style has evolved through a few hits and misses. Read on as we get to know this beauty and style vlogger more and got her to share some tips for all you aspiring YouTube gurus.

Each Friday, we’ll be profiling one of our favourite movers and shakers on social media. From the pop-up power of Pinterest to the beautifully crafted images on Instagram, we’re learning the tricks of the trade from the ladies that do it best (and most stylishly, of course).

Photography courtesy of Instagram/Carmyn Joy

Photography courtesy of Instagram/Carmyn Joy

Photography courtesy of Instagram/Carmyn Joy

Photography courtesy of Instagram/Carmyn Joy

Photography courtesy of Instagram/Carmyn Joy

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carmyn joy instagram

Edmonton-based photographer Carmyn Joy Effa proves that talent trumps all when it comes to social media. With an Instagram fan base of more than 84,000 followers, the popular photo-sharing platform has become her springboard for creative opportunities.

However, you’ll be hard-pressed to find the selfies that dominate so many Instagram feeds in her portfolio. Instead, Effa finds inspiration in objects and still life shots (retro stationery, colourful plates of food and her cat are popular subjects). “I am interested in the stories that lie behind the things people collect, purchase, find, and place value in.” Did we mention her vintage-like photos average 1500 likes? That’s right. Quite the Instagram rock star.

Thanks to the social media platform, not only has she met new friends all over the world, but also has come across a few life-changing opportunities including a recent collaboration with MTV Canada for a short documentary project held in Toronto, which featured her amazing photography skills and, obviously, her Instagram feed.

From talking about her favourite photographs to her dreams of opening her own company, we got to know the girl behind the phone lens for this week’s Social Media Star feature.

Each Friday, we’ll be profiling one of our favourite movers and shakers on social media. From the pop-up power of Pinterest to the beautifully crafted images on Instagram, we’re learning the tricks of the trade from the ladies that do it best (and most stylishly, of course).

Stylist, personal shopper, mother and social media maven Alexandra Evjen is the definition of a tastemaker. Based in Phoenix, Evjen founded her own styling business AVE Styles to “help men and women feel confident in their appearance.” Like us, Evjen is a firm believer in the power of social media, and credits her Instagram and Facebook as valued networking tools. Most impressive, however, is her Pinterest account that has over 900,000 followers! Not your average fashion-obsessed pin-star, Evjen’s Pinterest influence branches far beyond outfit inspiration to the worlds of home décor, food and more (though she says fashion is her biggest obsession).

Evjen credits her impressive number of Pinterest followers to “joining the social media platform early.” We think it’s more a reflection of her covetable style. Between appearing on Good Morning Arizona’s “Pinterest Interest” segment to being featured on Arizona Midday, Evjen’s presence on Pinterest is the stuff social media—and mainstream media—dreams are made of. The list of opportunities she’s been offered through Pinterest is a long one. Her favourite experience so far: “working with Glamour magazine and Revlon… to curate a dedicated board to 2013’s hottest colours.” And Evjen’s not slowing down anytime soon. Her expertise in Pinterest marketing has provided her with a slew of new opportunities, including “styling content for brands specifically for Pinterest.” If Pinterest is the marketing tool of the future, Evjen is steps ahead of the game.

We got to know the multi-tasking pinner for our Social Media Star feature.

Each Friday, we’ll be profiling one of our favourite movers and shakers on social media. From the pop-up power of Pinterest to the beautifully crafted images on Instagram, we’re learning the tricks of the trade from the ladies that do it best (and most stylishly, of course).

While social media may be just a hobby for some of us, Casie Stewart’s life is all about digital platforms. As the social media director of Community Agency (a circle of artsy and techy people) and a dedicated blogger since 2005, it’s pretty accurate to say social media has taken over Stewart’s life. From documenting her every movement on her blog to conversing with her 15,000+ ‘Tweeters’, she has built relationships across the world via social media. But out of every social media platform she’s on, Twitter is by far her favourite.

Thanks to Twitter, Stewart’s living a whirlwind life she never dreamed possible. She’s partnered with companies like Virgin America, Ted Baker London, Thomas Sabo and Telus (just to name a few) and is currently the host of Coral TV, a platform for ladies who are interested in everything about the internet. Whether you’re looking for opinions on fashion and technology or just some inspiration, Stewart’s sense of humour and positive tone on her blog is sure to make your day. From talking about her social media obsessions to her upcoming partnership with TIFF, we caught up with Casie Stewart for this week’s social media star feature.

Each Friday, we’ll be profiling one of our favourite movers and shakers on social media. From the pop-up power of Pinterest to the beautifully crafted images on Instagram, we’re learning the tricks of the trade from the ladies that do it best (and most stylishly, of course).

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Jay Strut

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Jay Strut

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Jay Strut

For Torontonians interested in fashion, Jay Strut is a name you come across fairly often. Blogger by day, DJ by night, the jet-setting trendsetter developed his now-recognizable Jay Strut brand name in high school. Since then, Strut has been documenting his outfits, projects and adventures on Twitter, Instagram and his well-known blog JayStrut.com. A self-professed workaholic who hates weekends, Strut says that a typical day for him consists of “emails, emails [and more] emails.” So it’s no surprise that his dedication to various social media accounts (he’s been running his Twitter for 6 years) has not gone unnoticed.

A Toronto Fashion Week front row fixture, Strut’s been featured in The Globe & Mail, New York Magazine, Toronto Life and more. His projects have seen him crossing paths with Riccardo Tisci, Elie Saab and Michael Kors. The collaboration he’s enjoyed the most so far, however, was a recent two-day Google+ hangout with Donatella Versace and her team. The experience was facilitated by Strut’s rising popularity on Google+, on which he has over 627,000 followers. Some would consider an interview with Donatella slightly intimidating (cue heart palpitations from just thinking about it!) but Strut was quick to shake the “interview” label away saying, “It’s fashion talk and I love fashion!”

So how does a local blogger end up on Google+ with an international icon? We got to know the man behind the brand for our Social Media Star feature.

Each Friday, we’ll be profiling one of our favourite movers and shakers on social media. From the pop-up power of Pinterest to the beautifully crafted images on Instagram, we’re learning the tricks of the trade from the ladies that do it best (and most stylishly, of course).

It’s hard to imagine that a just-out-of-college Pinterest user would make headline news, but that was the case for Lauren Zwanziger. She’s become a local legend in her hometown of Nashville thanks to her dreamy photos and enviable inspiration boards. Pinning since 2010, this budding fashion designer credits Pinterest not only for her virtual fame, but also a confidence booster for her work.

As a recent graduate of O’More College of Design and a tastemaker on the Pinterest marketing website HelloSociety, Zwanziger has connected with many brands as well as the international community through her pins. Boasting a following of 4.9 million, it’s needless to say that Pinterest has been a life changer for the 21 year-old.

We’re catching up with this social media star to find out how she pinned her way to the top.

Each Friday, we’ll be profiling one of our favourite movers and shakers on social media. From the pop-up power of Pinterest to the beautifully crafted images on Instagram, we’re learning the tricks of the trade from the ladies that do it best (and most stylishly, of course).

Photography by Michael Dumler

Photography by Michael Dumler

Photography by Michael Dumler

Photography by Michael Dumler

Photography by Michael Dumler

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Danielle Bernstein We Wore What

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Danielle Bernstein We Wore What

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Danielle Bernstein We Wore What

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Danielle Bernstein We Wore What

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Danielle Bernstein We Wore What

Danielle Bernstein, the voice behind WeWoreWhat, offers a daily dose of street style inspiration on her fashion-forward blog, whose popularity is only rivaled by her Tumblr, her Pinterest and her Facebook page. Most impressive is her Instagram page, which Bernstein, who has always known she wanted to work in the fashion industry, credits as having enhanced every collaboration that she’s had the opportunity to do. Recent collaborations topping that list include a capsule collection for vintage mecca Nifty Thrifty, a collection of nail wraps for NCLA and partnership with retailer INTERMIX. With over 2,300 posts on her Instagram account, her page is the perfect one-stop-shop for urban, contemporary street style inspiration.

In addition to being a student at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology, Bernstein works as a freelance stylist, writer and consultant. Oh and fashion blogger, of course. Bernstein started her blog as an outlet for her NYC street style photography, before turning the cameras around on herself. The multi-tasking fashionista, who describes her style as “more on the edgy side,” may have started out behind the lens but now enjoys being front and centre, citing that she’s glad she made the switch. And her 199,000 (and counting) Instagram followers are too.

We caught up with the trend-setting blogger for our Social Media Star feature.

Each Friday, we’ll be profiling one of our favourite movers and shakers on social media. From the pop-up power of Pinterest to the beautifully crafted images on Instagram, we’re learning the tricks of the trade from the ladies that do it best (and most stylishly, of course).

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Lisa Dengler

On her blog, Lisa Dengler describes herself as “just another girl in just another blogging world.” We beg to differ. The Toronto-based, full time architecture student has a notably strong presence on just about every social media platform imaginable, namely her LookBook page, which boasts a cool 14,500+ fans. A fashion fanatic, Dengler cites LookBook as a great way to connect with people who have the same interests as you. “I loved the idea of everyday people inspiring other everyday people,” she says.

With 315 outfits to date on her LookBook page, Lisa Dengler tributes the personal style photography site as the source of various brand collaborations she’s had the fortune of working on. She also credits the social media platform with inspiring her to start her own fashion blog, adding “it’s been a wonderful ride ever since”. Although Dengler’s other commitments, of the academic and fashion-blogger sort, take up much of her time, she still tries to post around 6 outfits a week on her LookBook page. You have to wonder: when does she sleep?

We caught up with the stylish blogger for our Social Media Star feature.

Each Friday, we’ll be profiling one of our favourite movers and shakers on social media. From the pop-up power of Pinterest to the beautifully crafted images on Instagram, we’re learning the tricks of the trade from the ladies that do it best (and most stylishly, of course).

Bay Area power pinner Christine Martinez was one of the first to hop on the Pinterest bandwagon back in 2010. The 8th to receive an invite to the now hugely popular online scrapboard site, Martinez pinned her way to the top with her penchant for quirky interior decorating, fashion, vibrant prints and of course, dog accoutrements fit for her dog Miles. “It was a very cool and unique experience to be on Pinterest when only a handful of others were, and to be able to have so much influence over how people use Pinterest today,” she says.

With over 5 million followers, it would be an understatement to say that the popular social media platform hasn’t changed her life. Not only has she travelled to exotic places to live-pin fashion shoots with brands like Calypso St. Barth and Cole Haan, but her Pinterest reputation has also led her to the role as the creative director for the up and coming shopping social media platform luvocracy.com. To let fellow pinners into her psyche, she’s even written a whole book, The Complete Idiots Guide to Pinterest Marketing.

We did the book one better and got to know more about the girl behind the screen for our first Social Media Star feature.