Ask the Editor: Who Influences You? Pt. 3

As you know, I don’t follow a lot of Instagram accounts. The number is always under 300, and once a month or so, I will do a mass delete of anyone who I don’t remember following, who is shilling goods without thought, or who posts just way too many stories. But there are a handful of accounts that are longterm staples, and these are the ones who influence me to click the link over and over again.

Kathleen Barnes // I started following Kat so long ago, I can’t even remember when it was. She is the glamorous Southern Belle you just want to drink iced tea on a patio with. Sure, her life is so much more glamorous than mine is, but sometimes you need that. She also has little kids, so I get some great kid clothes recommendations. Most recently she convinced me to buy this fun, rainbow-colored phone case and these fun shoes for Sloane.

Caralyn Mirand // I like Caralyn so much that I actually let her convince me to start using a fanny pack. That’s a level of adoration not even my closest friends enjoy. She has great recommendations for women who shop plus-sizes or mid-sizes, and is always a reliable recommender of bras and swimwear for women who need bust support and coverage.

Cerise Garduno // A family law attorney from Texas, Cerise’s style mixes preppy drama with professional attire. The outfits are realistic for a in-office professional in a business attire environment that isn’t always suiting, but sometimes is. I also like that she doesn’t shy away from showing that being a lawyer sometimes means missing out on a kid-related function or having to rearrange a whole day to make it. As the child of a family law attorney who was a solo-practitioner, I very much remember coloring in the spare office while my Dad worked a Saturday, so it was nice to see someone showing that reality.

TIBAL // Always a favorite follow, Sarah’s taste is a little more expensive than mine, but I’ve bought so many great things. The pore decongestant that I rebuy and the Dior Cuticle Creme I give as gifts are both heavily endorsed. I buy so many things she promotes that when I need to watch my shopping, I unfollow her for a few weeks.

Meghan Donovan // One day Meghan will plan a glamorous trip to Paris for me. She can also plan one for you. And she will probably also sell you a sundress or a cardigan for that trip too. She recently sold me this one.

Blake Gifford // Blake and I have been DM pals for over a decade now. An attorney who now works as a full-time influencer, she has nearly convinced me that I can remodel my entire home myself (even though I know that I can barely work a caulking gun without help). These tiger print pillows keep calling my name even though I have no idea where I would put them, but that doesn’t stop me from adding them to my cart. Perhaps, I need one of her new design consultations.

Meg Defeo // Meg is the cool, effortless Mom style girlie that I think we all aspire to be. If you love a minimal style with casual basics styled beautifully, this is your stop. She convinced me light denim was cool singlehandedly. So when I bought these cropped wide legs this weekend it was in her honor. They’re an absolutely phenomenal jean for $129 — soft, comfy, casual — I wear a 30.

Jean Wang // Seventeen years after we bonded in the blog comments, Jean and I are still pals and her account still shows me how to wear pieces that I already own or just need to complete easy outfits. If you are petite, Jean has the best recommendations on how to find clothes that work on a smaller frames. She also convinced me to order these Crocs sandals.

Yes, I know what I just said. I ordered Crocs, they’re in the box, I don’t know if I can cross that Rubicon, but she swears they’re comfortable and great for the pool and I’m a toddler pool Mom now…I have to go cry for a minute.

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