The role of fashion influencers: how they impact our shopping choices

Let's address the elephant in the room: I'm a fashion influencer. I make videos about clothes, and yes, I have affiliate links. So take this as a note from the inside.

Influencers basically run fashion now. The runway show and the glossy magazine ad got replaced by a girl on TikTok saying "you NEED this." And it works — because she feels like your friend, not an ad.

That relatability is the whole trick. When someone who seems like a regular person shows you a haul, your guard drops. It doesn't feel like marketing. But a lot of it is — those "obsessed with this!" posts are often paid, and the algorithm rewards whoever posts the most new stuff the fastest. That's a recipe for pushing a LOT of cheap, disposable clothing.

So here's my honest ask: be a little suspicious of anyone (me included) telling you to buy something. Look for the people showing you how to restyle what you own, thrift smarter, or care for the pieces you've already got — not just the ones unboxing a new pile every week.

I try to only point you toward things I actually use and believe in, and I'll always rather you shop secondhand than buy something new on my say-so. The best influence isn't "buy this." It's "you already have great taste — let's use it."

Want the stuff I genuinely stand behind? It all lives on Shop My Favorites, or come dig through the vintage.