The fashion powers-that-be have at this point, fully embraced the role of social media in the industry. If Vogue magazine’s multiple (borderline exhaustive at this point) selfie spreads and made-for-Instagram campaigns didn’t clue you in, perhaps the CFDA’s stamp of approval will. The U.S. fashion industry’s governing body announced the addition of a new category for its fashion awards, which will be held on June 2 at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. The board has nominated 8 Insta-stars for the first “Instagrammer of the Year” prize, whose winner will be determined by normal people like you and me. The CFDA opened the competition today, with the option to cast votes for your faves from now until May 30 at CFDA.com or by “liking” images bearing the hashtag #MyCFDA.
But don’t expect to see the winner take the stage at the ceremonies. Instead, the ‘grammer with the most votes will get to attend the awards, posting great little behind-the-scenes extras with the hashtag #MyCFDA to the council’s Instagram account.
So, who are these eight nominees anyway? We delved into their Instagrams to see what made insiders like Rachel Zoe, The Editorialist‘s Stefania Allen and Kate Davidson Hudson, and The Coveteur’s Stephanie Mark put them on the shortlist for this honor.
@donalddrawbertson
Donald Robertson, now known as Drawbertson, is the head of creative development at Bobbi Brown. He was also one of the original founders of M.A.C. Cosmetics and has served as creative director at Glamour, Marie Claire and Cosmopolitan. His posts exude an artistic, gritty glam, combining street art techniques (like spray-paint stenciling) to create freehand fashion illustrations crafted often from duct tape and paint. You’ll find adorable likenesses of designers using walnuts, as well as too-cute-for-words snaps of his new infant twins.
@dapperlou
Lougè is the Brooklyn-born helm of the men’s fashion and lifestyle site, Dapper Lou. As a “self-taught creative force,” Lou delivers arresting, saturated photos, artwork, street style, some very delicious-looking plates, cityscapes and scenes. His ‘grams will add welcome splashes of color to your timeline, so gorgeous that you’ll want to print them out and frame them.
@aguynamedpatrick
Patrick Jannelle, self-proclaimed man about town, is the director of the Spring St. Social Society, a group of art and culture-obsessed creative types who put on events in NYC, to help, as they say, “bolster the creative culture in Manhattan.” If you’re hungry, prepare youself–this IG is a food porn minefield and has enough images of cappuccino foam designs to illustrate a “how to” book. His sights of the city (and other’s he’s traveled) are done through a supremely artistic eye, making it little wonder that he’s amassed over 100,000 followers.
@paridust
Pari Eshan isn’t your average street style blogger. Most dress to stand out, she dresses to blend in. Eshan’s outfits, fantastic as they are, serve as a backdrop to the corresponding modern art she poses with. The whole shot, then, becomes a work of art that she just happens to be a part of. The clothes aren’t an afterthought—how could they be when she so carefully put them together to match the art?—but more like an added bonus, worked in with the environment.
@troprouge
This is the Instagram account for street style blogger Christina Caradona of Trop Rouge. An extension of her website, Cardona is a part of the more traditional street style set, documenting her #OOTD’s and, of course, the wonderful perks that come with being a personal style blogger.
@amy_stone
Amy‘s part of The Gap‘s global marketing team, so as a social media maven, it comes as no surprise that her IG would be award-worthy. Postcard-like images of everything from artistically-shot #OOTDs, to stunning architecture and fresh flowers are what you will get from her account. Be prepared for impossibly beautiful slice-of-life images that will give you some serious Insta-envy.
@hokaytokay
Photographer Amanda Jasnowski knows a thing or two about delivering an arresting image. Her IG provides BTS look at some of the shoots for work, what she’s up to when she’s not working, and colorful, scenic landscapes both urban and pastoral.
@bessnyc4
Bess NYC founder Doug Abraham‘s Instagram is almost exclusively images of artwork, particularly collages combining high fashion brand ad campaigns with dark, sometimes a bit gruesome, images of the decidedly unglamorous. It’s a twisted-yet-beautiful take on fashion.
