The social media craze is alive and strong today and it’s not looking to die down any time soon. Just like with anything that becomes insanely popular, the capitalist nature in humans simply cannot resist monetising this venture. Social media has become such an effective marketing tool. Just when you think you can escape ads that have invaded your favourite spaces like YouTube and Facebook, it has even permeated Instagram with “sponsored” posts and product placement by influential accounts.

Nothing is sacred any more. 

But perhaps nothing was sacred to begin with. With the developments of social media, I have ironically become more selective about the types of people I would follow and the types of websites I would read. I grew sick and tired of YouTubers raving about how *insert name of product* has CHANGED their life and then literally the next week *insert another product name* has changed their life AGAIN. Scroll down and you will find that everything was a LIE and it was all a #AD. Can you tell I’m bitter about this?

With this post, I would like to share my favourite Instagram accounts and websites. I’m excluding YouTube channels because my subscription list is out of hand. We will do a separate post on that entirely.

The bulk of these are fashion and beauty inspirations for me. However, I also enjoy photography accounts and lifestyle sites. The one thing I enjoy about all of them is that they have their own stylistic integrity and they do so despite the need to do sponsored posts or feature certain places or products. I don’t feel as if they are shoving ads down my throat as they are genuine in their creative endeavour.

 

 

1. Carmen Hamilton

A blogger for her own website and Vogue Australia. She is blonde, beautiful and incredibly stylish. Her style is relaxed but well-thought through. Also, she has a blogspot site that is just chic as hell. Who says blogspot is so “1999”? She also makes more flat chested ladies like me feel confident about my body image and shows me how I can look incredibly feminine, without the need to emphasise any cleavage and curves.

 

@chroniclesofher_

 

 

2. Gritty Pretty

Absolutely stunning website and Australia’s leading e-magazine. With the drop dead gorgeous Eleanor Pendleton as editor and publisher, the site oozes “chic”. The e-magazines are free for you to browse and they have quality articles and tasteful ads. I love e-magazines more and more as they are able to play around with gifs and moving images, which adds a dynamic quality to an article. Furthermore, if you are interested in any item they are featuring, you can simply click on the image to shop the product. Internet shoppers rejoice!

 

@gritty_pretty

 

 

3. Jane Aldridge

Writer for the blog “sea of shoes”, one of the first fashion and style websites that I discovered and check religiously at the tender age of 15. Jane’s style is vintage and colourful, which is something I enjoy after a sea of monochromatic fashion shoots. I love her quirky style and her posts are simple and to the point with zero sponsorships. She genuinely loves sharing her fashion style and inspirations.

 

 

@seaofshoes

4. Weston James Palmer

A gorgeous human being with an Instagram feed and website that I am obsessed with. Weston is an artist, currently in LA (he also kinda looks like Jared Leto *yum*). His signature pink accents are everywhere in his designs, photographs and website. Its creative, inspiring and a visual pleasure. His videos are also done in the same style, with his comments handwritten on the screen. If you are having writer’s block or are experiencing a creative rut, check out his work and I guarantee it will get your creative juices going.

 

@westonjamespalmer 

 

 

5. Anna

Anna excels at everything from her blog, Instagram page to her YouTube channel. I enjoy her blog most of all the three mentioned. Her articles are the right length, relatable, witty and with good quality photos. Great and mostly honest recommendations. I love her girl-next-door personality. She feels like an old friend, which is why we are all on a first name basis with her.

 

@viviannamakeup

And it’s a wrap!

All the names are clickable for your viewing pleasure. I highly suggest you check them out because they keep me inspired and give me hope that artistic integrity is still a thing, even when my YouTube subscription and Instagram feed is drowning in a tsunami of sellouts.