Fashion TikTok-ers Who Inspire Me
Words can barely express how grateful I am for the TikTok platform.
It has single-handedly revived my interest in writing, reignited my passion for style, and renewed my faith in long-form content. Allow me to explain. At first, I was completely uninterested in TikTok because, like many older millennials, I thought it was just a dancing app. Since I don’t dance, I didn’t think the app was for me. Later, I became indifferent to TikTok, feeling like it was just another platform drawing attention away from my favorites—YouTube and Instagram. But then, everything changed when a friend sent me a TikTok with book recommendations. Since I hadn’t yet found a Booktuber or Bookstagrammer I loved, I thought, “Why not join TikTok for the book content?”
That initial TikTok sent me down a rabbit hole—also known as the “For You Page”—which fed me more content based on my interests. The algorithm quickly learned that I enjoy books, style, food, and interior decorating—basically all the things I’m obsessed with right now. It was the style content, though, that sparked the most joy I’d felt online in a long time. Soon, I found myself consuming style content just as much, if not more, than book content.
“Pigmani” by Heather was one of the first style creators I encountered. She talked about her color season analysis results. I was vaguely familiar with color season analysis from a few years ago but never gave it much thought. Heather, however, captivated me with her detailed retailing of getting a color season analysis. I spent hours binge-watching her content. She has a messy maximalist aesthetic that reminded me of Clarissa from Clarissa Explains It All—an instant follow for me. Her style commentary and tips have helped me differentiate my own style from others. Her distinct style made it easier for me to see myself more clearly, as she made complex style concepts feel nostalgic and accessible.
Shortly after discovering Heather, I found "The Cutting Room Floor" by Omndi. Her brand and personal style’s simplicity immediately drew me in. From the green dot to her minimal, crisp style choices, I was hooked. Her TikTok feels like a VIP tour of fashion, from its foundations to its formidable influence on humanity. Watching her content is like taking a college course on fashion history—and I love it. Her clarity of style helps me differentiate my own personal style while learning deeper fashion concepts along the way.
After deep-diving into Omndi’s content, I discovered “Thoughtful Threads” by Jenn. This is the perfect blend of chatty, pop culture, history lessons, and unique perspectives that I look for when I open the app each morning. Whether I’m listening to Jenn’s podcast, reading her Substack, or watching a TikTok, I know I’m in for an overlooked subsection of fashion or style. Her deep dives make me feel like I’m on a FaceTime call with a stylish best friend who’s obsessed with fashion culture. Her content is thought-provoking, well-researched, and filled with a genuine passion for fashion.
An honorable mention is Alexis Nido-Russo, founder of Local Eclectic. While she doesn’t focus on her personal fashion or style directly, it shines through in her detailed breakdowns of accessories. Her TikToks currently chronicle her journey of converting one of Chicago’s iconic mansions into a jewelry store/coffee shop/wedding boutique hybrid. Her content has taught me the differences between fine and fashion jewelry and how those distinctions shape my personal style. Her colorful, bold, maximalist style deeply inspires me.
I’m sharing these TikTokers because they’ve become my current content obsessions, but also because it’s fascinating how, despite each of these women inspiring my personal style journey, none of them shares a style similar to mine. I don’t know if this will evolve over time. Am I drawn to them because there’s a part of me that wants to adopt their style? Or perhaps it’s okay to get style inspiration from those you don’t wish to mimic. You can simply admire them and use their clarity of style, no matter how different from your own, to motivate you to continue on your journey of personal style discovery.
