From Korea to Kansas, Culture Trip celebrates 50 of fashion’s most stylish women; creatives who are revolutionising the conversation around gender and identity through style, activism and a ferocious approach to life.
Where once fashion might have been considered vacuous, today it acts as one of the most powerful mediums for cultural commentary and empowerment of historically marginalised individuals. Although there’s still a long way to go, at its best fashion is an inclusive community that more so than ever welcomes and celebrates diversity. Culture Trip’s fashion editors Jill Di Donato and India Doyle select 50 of the most exciting feminist influencers in fashion that you need to follow now.
Isabel Hendrix
This plus-size model is all about self-love, no matter what size or shape of your body. In fact, she thinks it is not her place to speak about others’ bodies at all.
Stacey
Making a splash with her multi-colored afro, statement makeup, and an attitude that lets haters know she just doesn’t care about other people’s opinions, the influencer known as Stacey bucks traditional fashion industry trends.
Jaraé L. Holieway
Fashion magazines like Vogue and Glamour have tapped Holieway for her sexy, sassy style. Her feed explores what it’s like to bring sex appeal to your look in a way that’s all about self-acceptance and empowerment.
Jonnaray Ramirez
Retro, rockabilly, and full of positive vibes, Ramirez’s feed invites women to contribute to her zine, which is all about self-expression. Ramirez encourages women to share their feelings in a safe environment designed to build women up.
Hobbes Ginsberg
Filmmaker, photographer, model. Ginsberg’s feed is not only filled with super-fly non-gender-binary fashion, but casting calls as well. If you’re in the Los Angeles area, scroll through her feed for hot tips on indie roles in fashion and film.
Claudia B. Manley
Writer and academic Claudia B. Manley has an impressive #OOTD feed as her closet is filled with avant-garde designers. A refreshing take on fashion and its foibles, Manley’s feed offers food for thought alongside her eclectic wardrobe choices.
Nicolette Mason
This influencer covers everything from style to life-hacking tips, all from a queer and proud standpoint. Mason’s been featured in all the major fashion magazines, and has teamed up with mainstream brands to bring her voice to a larger platform.
Alyssa Coscarelli
The fashion-market editor for Refinery 29, Coscarelli lets her feminist flag fly. Her feed offers not only wearable style for the urban woman, but inspiration on how to make the personal political.
Karen Blanchard
Model, blogger, and hardcore influencer, Blanchard’s message is loud and clear: own your style. Her feed is not only filled with instructions on how to achieve a look, demystifying beauty secrets, it’s filled with cheeky slogans that remind you to embrace your look.
Aimee Song
From fashion to interior design, Song has built an empire with her blog, and her social feed is just as inspirational. Her honest voice about what makes her insecure shows women you don’t have to be flawless to be an influencer in the fashion space.
Paloma Elsesser
Since beauty guru Pat McGrath discovered Elsesser, the influencer has been the face of campaigns for streetwear brands like Supreme and fast fashion retailer H&M. But her message isn’t necessarily just about style: it’s about surrounding yourself with a fierce squad of female friends.
Frédérique Harrel
This U.K. blogger is an entrepreneur and founder of SHE Unleashed, a workshop for women to gain confidence and ownership of everything from the inside out.
Katie Sturino
This plus size model just launched a “chub rub” stick for women who don’t give a damn about having a thigh gap and want to stay comfortable during the summer heat, when chafing can occur. Sturino’s feed is filled with all kinds of body positive mantras and inspiration.
Aleali May
May’s blog made her an international influencer who also consults and models. But it’s her street style uniform that opts for sneakers over heels that makes her a feminist influencer who should be on your radar.
Rachel et Nicole
Rachel and Nicole Effendy are Brooklyn-based bloggers who not only experiment with trends and style, they fill their feed with irreverent mantras about gender expectations that challenge industry norms.
Gabi Fresh
Gaby Gregg has been a fashion blogger for almost a decade. She bases her style musings on rejecting the notion of “dressing for your body type.” This self-proclaimed feminist’s feed is full of body positive messages and inspiration.
Blake Von D
Having a “what to wear to resist the patriarchy” dilemma? You can shop the looks of this digital influencer and attorney on her Instagram and website. Her goal: to give women of color visibility in the fashion sphere.
Rachel Nguyen
Ngyuyen’s feed is one of the wayward beauty queen. Sex positive and full of fly fashion risks, this blogger’s ironic and playful aesthetic will make you feel like all sorts of a woman.
Gary Pepper Girl
Australian blogger Nicole Warne of Gary Pepper Girl is as philanthropic as she is stylish. Although she loves her couture, she’s also got an eye for street, as you will see in her fierce woman feed.
Shine By Three
Margaret Zhang, the Chinese-Australian photographer, director, stylist and writer based in New York who runs the blog Shine By Three, is a veteran in the fashion industry. As an intersectional feminist, her blog takes on issues of gender, ethnic, and racial appropriation using fashion as a lens.
CeCe Olisa
CeCe Olisa, behind Plus Size Princess, runs her lifestyle and fashion blog under the body positive mantra, “Don’t wait on your weight.” Olisa emphasizes fitness as a way to strength and empowerment as a woman.
Push Pop Collective
Katie Cercone and Elisa Garcia de la Huerta, the women behind the Push Pop Collective, describe themselves as radical, transnational queer feminist artists, who use style as a performative act that celebrates the female form.
Lady Pit Hair
This blog and Instagram feed is user-generated, with women from around the world sending in photographs where they unabashedly share their natural (or dyed) arm pit hair. Because humans have hair.
Fat Angry Black Girl
The woman known as Catherine runs Feminist Corna, a blog and Instagram account that supports radical womanism, with an emphasis on women of color, intersectional feminism, and body positivity. Blog followers can also read Catherine’s original poetry and musings on eating disorders and oppressive structures in culture.
Sandy the Zine
Sandy the Zine, curated and founded by Amanda Lee McCarty and Suzy Mae, is content curated by women for women. Throwback fashion and quotes from prominent women in style challenge hegemonic beauty trends in this feed.
The Mushpit Zine
Founded by Charlotte Roberts and Bertie Brandes, Mushpit magazine marries fashion, feminism and activism, providing a bold and fearless platform for contemporary culture with an engaged political voice. Follow their feed for retro fashion images, lo-fi memes and great slogan t-shirts.
Third local
Ugandan fashion blogger Lamic Kirabo launched her site ‘Third Local’ to speak to millennial women across Africa, and the results are wonderful. Alongside curated style trends expect to find fashion week reports from across the continent, as well as editorial shoots.
Hari Nef
With a captivating appearance in Transparent (2014) behind her, alongside NYFW appearances for the likes of Eckhaus Latta and Hood by Air, model and writer Hari Nef’s is one of the need-to-know names in the industry, empowering women by setting a fearless example for others to follow.
Lulu Bonfils
We’re obsessed with Lulu Bonfils’ milky complexion and killer style, which have earned her a host of adoring fans. Having fronted campaigns for the likes of Nike and MAC and having been featured in Twin and Vogue Italia, model Lulu is a scorching hot name on the industry who isn’t afraid of breaking boundaries or screwing with taboos. Her other Instagram account lulu.bon is a superb source of tattoo inspiration.
Slick Woods
With her distinctive gap tooth, 20-year old model Slick Woods (real name Simone Thompson) has already appeared in Kanye West’s Yeezy lookbook, featured in Calvin Klein campaigns and fronted LOVE magazine. Follow for lit style and attitude inspiration.
Dalal AlDoub
With 2.1m Instagram followers, Kuwait-based beauty blogger Dalal AlDoub offers masterclasses in elegant fashion and flawless make-up. Follow for new beauty tips every day, and great style tips for keeping your outfits fresh.
gal-dem collective
Founded by Liv Little , gal-dem is a vital collective of over 70 women and non-binary people of color across the globe who use their online platform to promote voices that are otherwise marginalised. Radical and smart, this is a need-to-know site.
Synchrodogs
The photography duo behind Synchrodogs are masters of marrying the female form with natural landscapes. While they have shot campaigns for publications such as Harper’s Bazaar and brands like Urban Outfitters, it is their personal projects which captivate most. Check out their “Supernatural Project” series for a thought-provoking introduction to their work.
Gurls Talk
Founded by model Adwoa Aboah, Gurls Talk is a crucial new platform where young women can talk about issues surrounding mental health. Inspired by her own experiences, Gurls Talk is now a central voice changing the conversation around gender and identity, offering a safe and empowering space for girls to talk and share experiences.
TeTe Bang
London-based DJ TeTe Bang is a female drag Queen with fabulous style and some of the best party game in London – spend one evening at her night ‘Jingle Mingle’ if you don’t believe it. Her Instagram is bright and bold, championing a fiery spirit and fearless approach to everyday life, inspiring women to embrace their absolute best and most memorable self.
Lonely Lingerie
New Zealand based lingerie company Lonely made headlines last year when they featured Jemima Kirke and Lena Dunham, un-airbrushed, in a campaign. Their ethos of championing female beauty whatever the shape or size is remarkable for its scarcity in the world of underwear, and the brand’s celebration of female friendship offers all the more reason to get behind their work.
Image credit: Harry Were
Wipp Toronto
Short for ‘Women Inspiring Passion and Purpose’, Toronto-based collective Wipp Toronto are another group of women spreading a positive and enlightened message of self love and enablement. They run frequent events which bring together speakers and individuals to fuel discussions around entrepreneurship, alongside art exhibits, beauty bars and make-up tutorials.
Haneefah Adam
Creator of the ‘Hijarbie’ (the Hijab-wearing barbie), Nigerian fashion blogger Haneefah Adam founded her site Muslimahanie to celebrate style and culture in Nigeria.
Tribe of Chic
Beauty vlogger Gabrielle Mwangi embraces natural beauty. Her Instagram is filled with tips and tricks on everything from how to make a deep conditioner from ingredients in your kitchen to how to detangle your hair, and the occasional tip for flawless style too.
Vagina Dentata Zine
With a mantra that states ‘the future is female’ Vagina Dentata Zine (founded by Smin Smith) takes feminist through a kind of unique lens – science and fantasy fiction. In their own words, it’s “A visual exploration of Science Fiction and Fashion’s relationship” commenting “on the current pertinence of Xenofeminism and SF/designer collaborations.”
Ladygunn
“We believe in those that shape, and push the rules both on the page and in the field,” says Ladygunn, a global magazine that works out of L.A., New York and Stockholm. Their precise editorial celebrates individuals, and their fashion section champions gender fluidity, breaking down binary boundaries and creating beautiful images.
That’s Not My Age
With the rise of Iris Apfel and co, older women aren’t marginalised in fashion as much as they once were. However there’s still a long way to go, which is why women such as Alyson Walsh are crucial. A fashion editor and journalist, her blog, That’s Not My Age, tells style stories through a mature eye, and celebrates women with fantastic fashion sense.
A Nasty Boy
Nigerian publication ‘A Nasty Boy’ is part of the new fashion wave coming out of the country. Their editorial focus champions ‘otherness’ presenting new narratives around both female and male identity. A truly radical platform, follow for new insights and creative inspiration.
Zoé Lawrence
South Florida based photographer Zoé Lawrence is using art to change and engage with conversations around gender and race, and her images are captivating. Candid in style, she shoots fashion and portraits with an emphasis on bright, bold juxtapositions of color – a refreshing twist on the pastel lens that has become prolific in recent years.
Maxine Beiny
Emerging fashion designer Maxine Beiny has made waves with her statement t-shirts that come bearing slogans such as ‘Rebounder’, ‘Grow a Fuckboy’ and ‘What If I’m Average’ and ‘Get out of Suburbia, Free’. Her 90s-inspired designs also weave a grunge aesthetic into the mix, creating a style every woman wants to covet.
Solange
The “Cranes in the Sky” singer makes great records and has impeccable style, while engendering cultural commentary through her intelligent approach to creativity. Across her music videos and Instagram, her aesthetic is a striking and beautiful which, combined with mesmerising choreography, makes for a fully dreamy combination.
Me and You
Founded by BFFs Julia Baylis and photographer Mayan Tolendo, Me and You celebrates the best of female friendships through photography and fashion. Follow for pastel-tinted portraits of glorious imperfections and slogan-printed pants.
Rita Dahdah
Nigerian Lebanese fashion blogger Rita Dahdah is currently giving her IG followers a masterclass in pregnancy style. She champions female independence and entrepreneurship, and having grown her business to over 100k followers in a few years, she clearly has the spirit nailed.
Jung Ho Yeon
Korea’s answer to Cara Delevingne, model Jung Ho Yeon has walked for all the major labels, most recently making catwalk appearances for the likes of Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton and Max Mara. Follow for behind the scenes footage, landscape pictures and ample selfies, which together combine to reflect a woman at the top of her game.