Instagrammers have turned to the food on their plates, art backdrops and even their own pets to help showcase personal style.

by Anna Meyer

illustration by Jillian Deutsch

Instagram’s massive success is in part due to the app’s emphasis on creativity. Upon joining, many users have become in touch with their inner photographer, foodie, fashionista or some combination of the three, plus more. Although the social media platform is simple in design, users have taken off running with creative account themes and innovative collaborations of mediums. Fashion bloggers of the world have found a successful online community to share their unique collaborations of art and style on Instagram, and originative accounts have grabbed the attention of many.

Following the model of Twitter’s real-time search feature, Instagram released an update last week that completely changes the way users can browse trends. Instagram’s “Explore” page is now more oriented toward trending topics, places and people, offering organized collections of events and categories for users to follow as they’re posted. Instead of seeing the same kings and queens of the popular photo-sharing app, the improved search helps users discover other accounts that leave their feed feeling less repetitive. Using the new “Explore” features, I’ve curated a list of the best style accounts to follow that focus a unique lens on fashion and personal style.

 

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Keith McCurdy / @bangbangnyc

This account features the work of one of the most celebrity-trusted tattoo artists around, Keith McCurdy, who has tattooed the likes of Miley Cyrus, Rihanna and Cara Delevingne. The ink style is varied and includes both colored and black-and-white designs, but the work is skilled and breathtaking. Nothing showcases someone’s personal style quite like a tattoo, and McCurdy’s portfolio of work is a fascinating look into his clients’ permanent style choices.

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David Fung / @mensweardog

Photographer David Fung took two things you adore, puppies and a well-dressed man, and put them together with this account. Each post displays a put-together outfit modeled by his suave pup—Bodhi the Shiba Inu. Scrolling through this feed will guarantee a few “awwws” from you and your friends.

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Pari Ehsan / @paridust

Pari Ehsan describes her style as being “inspired by all the exquisite art and architecture that surrounds me” on her website, and her account features a harmonious collaboration of fine art and personal style. Her photos commonly feature outfits that coordinate with a fine art background, and sometimes she even dresses like the piece itself (check out her Frida Kahlo inspired look!). All of it makes for an aesthetically cohesive account.

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Bleach London Salon / @bleachlondon

This account of Bleach London salon’s clients is a good enough reason to buy a plane ticket and head over to the UK yourself. Featuring babes with candy-colored hair and others who are brave enough to experiment with bold haircuts, Bleach London’s account has endless inspiration for alternative hair.

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Shamekh / @shamekhbluwi

By using everyday patterns and landscapes as inspiration, visual artist Shamekh layers fashion illustrations over real life backdrops. The use of beautifully detailed, hand-drawn sketches paired with the magnificent world around us gives a stunning new perspective for pattern inspiration. It’s like putting the city’s skyline right into your wardrobe.

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Ari Cohen / @advancedstyle

Popularized by the 2014 documentary Advanced Style, this account features the charming style of older generations of New Yorkers. Proving that style doesn’t disappear along with youth, Ari Cohen showcases silver-haired fashion icons flaunting looks that only come with years of experimenting. Be prepared for feathers, sequins, and bright lips paired with confident grins.

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Anka Itskovich / @the_line_up

Fashion stylist Anka Itskovich captures photos of well-dressed individuals seen on the streets of New York City, creating an honest and diverse depiction of personal style. “I hope the narrative of The Line Up will help create an engaged and interactive community—a style tribe,” Itskovich explains in an interview for Instagram’s blog.  It’s the perfect account to remind followers that innovative fashion isn’t just for celebrities and style bloggers; it’s for anyone who’s passionate about personal expression.

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Jennifer Williams / @what_my_daughter_wore

Brooklyn artist Jennifer Williams looked to her own daughter and her daughter’s friends to create illustrations that display the style choices of young girls. Focusing on the short period of adolescence during which conformity hasn’t infiltrated the style choices of girls, this account is a playful and nostalgic look at early fashion.

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Gretchen Röehrs / @Groehrs

By incorporating real food with chic fashion sketches, Gretchen Röehrs creates images that feed our hunger for style inspiration and give us a new way to look at what’s sitting on our plates. Her feed proves that inspiration is always right in front of us, and lets followers enjoy a playful spin on color. Who knew a banana peel could look so glamorous? 

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Theresa Berens / @theresaberens

Brooklyn-based graphic designer Theresa Berens’ account fulfills your artistic craving for eye-catching patterns and colorful graphics, featuring both original illustrations and bold arrangements found in real life. Her posts are refreshing and striking, and they give a spirited look through the lens of a true creative. 

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Anna Meyer is a journalism student at the University of Kansas. An arts enthusiast from Minneapolis, Minnesota, she previously worked as a correspondent for KU’s chapter of “Her Campus.” You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Jillian Deutsch is one of the editorial assistants at The Riveter. She’s currently studying journalism and women’s and gender studies at the University of Missouri. When she’s not reading feminist blogs, longform journalism or nonfiction novels, she’s probably looking at photos of cats or dreaming of French baguettes. You can catch her on Twitter or @JillianDeutsch on Instagram.