And why you should, too.
Another pandemic year has come to pass, and before we step (perhaps a little hesitantly) into 2022, we’d like to give credit to some of the creators that sent our screen time averages through the roof in 2021. These TikTok style accounts will inspire you to find new ways to bring life into your wardrobe this coming year. From body positivty to thrifted style and eco-friendly design, we present our roundup of the creators we couldn’t get enough of this past year.
For those in search of size-inclusive style accounts, this New Jersey-based body-positivity advocate will bop her way onto your list of TikTok influences in no time. Denise Mercedes counts over 3.5 million followers who keenly watch for her side-by-side outfit posts in which she and her #stylenotsize co-founder, Maria Castellanos, model the same outfits to show how they pop on different body types; she also offers styling tips, like what to wear with a leather skirt, and even recreated one of her mom’s retro looks.
From FASHION’s March 2021 issue.
@denisemmercedesMe and @mariacastellanos_ri were tired of transitions so we danced it out 🖤 Looks from @abercrombie ##stylenotsize♬ Own Brand Freestyle – FelixThe1st & Dreya Mac
Styling tips and vintage inspo abound on Toronto-based @lexsonator’s feed. Lexson Millington’s muses vary from André 3000 to SpongeBob SquarePants (so you know he’s making a space for fun and fearlessness in fashion), and you’ll be totally juiced up from the joyful colour combos he rocks. You’ll also get a lesson in embracing the versatility of different pieces, as Millington is rarely seen without one of his trusty Telfar bags or his mini Louis Vuitton Pochette (from the Takashi Murakami collab, of course).
From FASHION’s April 2021 issue.
@lexsonatorSCARFT OOTD💞##fyp ##grwm ##fashion ##outfit ##tiktokfashion ##toronto♬ original sound – Lexson Millington
This L.A.-based thrifting fanatic describes herself as a “digital hype woman,” and what she’s most enthused about is wearing second-hand pieces — the more budget conscious and on-trend the better — found at not only bricks-and-mortar stores but also estate sales and sites like Depop. From her lively reveals of purchases from particularly successful “hauls” to her DIY tips for customizing previously owned pieces, Macy Eleni makes a spirited case for not buying new — especially for those who are unfamiliar with shopping vintage.
From FASHION’s May 2021 issue.
@blazedandglazedWINTER THRIFT HAUL!!! who’s SO ready for the ohio thrifting…😍👏🏼😭 ##thrift ##thrifthaul ##thrifttryon♬ original sound – BlazedAndGlazed
Photographer Johnny Cirillo one of the few TikTok accounts to satisfy our appetite for intriguing street style with his candid shots of people going about their day on the sidewalks of the Big Apple. He has captured a chilled-out roller skater wearing an iridescent fanny pack and Hello Kitty face mask and a flamboyant musician who adorned their guitar with an over-sized multi-hued scarf — just average New Yorkers who look anything but ordinary. And the authenticity of their ensembles—something that’s often missing in hyper-polished fashion week images, in which those posing are paid to wear certain pieces — is endlessly endearing.
From FASHION’s Summer 2021 issue.
@watchingnewyork“Everything I’m wearing is thrifted today.” – Morgan ##fyp ##foryoupage ##foryou ##fashion ##nyc ##style ##streetstyle ##vintage ##thrifted ##thriftedfashion♬ original sound – Johnny Cirillo
Prepare to be entranced by this French magazine editor’s elegant but adventurous ensembles, whether she’s wearing Chanel flats and a boldly printed head scarf to tidy up around the house or flaunting an array of vacation-worthy looks that make us wish caftan season was all year long. Karina Vigier’s fearless approach to dressing — one that marries all manner of aesthetics — is so enticing; she favours brightly coloured chunky chains for eyeglasses and confesses to being a wax-print addict. Indeed, you’ll see plenty of these punchy wardrobe pops on her feed. Her styling hacks also give cause to pause. Who better to show us how to asymmetrically button a blouse than a woman who exudes that elusive French-girl cool?
From FASHION’s September 2021 issue.
@karinavigierRépondre à @camiiilllaaaaa677777100 Style 0 😱 Mais moi je m’aime bien ❤️ ##karinavigier ##over50withstyle ##mystyle ##clash ##reponsecommentaire♬ son original – Karina Vigier Officiel
Austin Ottone is a Vancouver-based fashion designer whose work embodies the eco-friendly ethos we’ve come to associate with the West Coast. His creative approach focuses on the reuse of materials (catch a glimpse of how he produces his pieces via his social platform), and he provides instructional guidance on DIY projects, like how to sew a patch onto a piece of clothing. Unique among other Tiktok style accounts, Ottone also shares tips for restoring items like old leather boots and how he goes about accomplishing artistic upgrades with garment dyeing. If you have the inclination to get crafty with your own closet, this news feed abounds with ideas.
From FASHION’s October 2021 issue.
@austinottoneKimono Samples for my POP-UP on DEC 11TH-12TH ##austinottone ##1of1 ##vancouver ##customade ##breakdown ##streetwear ##fashiondesigner ##fashiondesign♬ I Can’t Stop (Ekali Tribute) – Flux Pavilion
One-liners and classic zingers are plentiful on male model Mathieu Simoneau’s TikTok. The antithesis of Ben Stiller’s obliviously-un-self-aware Derek Zoolander, the Korean-Canadian serves up a heavy dose of charm, wit and intelligence as he shares behind-the-scenes clips and roasts himself in the process. Iconic quotes from Simoneau’s “What I Think About on the Runway” series include “I can’t see at all God please guide me,” “You’re walking behind Bella Hadid do NOT f*ck up please” and “Don’t laugh” (just to name a few).
From FASHION’s November 2021 issue.
@mathieusimoneauThe voice makes the end so funny lol♬ U RIGHT X LUXURIOUS – Baby Q💖
Montreal expat Carla Rockmore is changing the face of TikTok, one eclectic outfit at a time. At 54 years young, the jewellery designer is helming the platform’s 50s+ style movement with a mix of flair and funny and has been christened by her followers as “the real-life Carrie Bradshaw,” prompted by her kindred aesthetic and shoe fetish. Not a fashion snob, Rockmore gets just as excited about a flea market bauble or Zara staple as she does about a Dries Van Noten piece, pulling them all together in a hi-lo styling merry-go-round.
From FASHION’s Winter 2022 issue.
@carlarockmoreA good hat hides a bad hair day, elevates your style, and gives a glamorous incognito effect. ##styleinspo ##fashiontiktok ##fashioninspo ##transition♬ original sound – Carla Rockmore