Fashion Inspiration on Instagram

 

Some months back I took a social media class here in Sonoma at Cafe Mac. The person teaching it was Lucy Petricka of Blush Social. She’s young, she’s darling and she didn’t hide the fact that Instagram was her favorite of all the social media platforms. When the class was over she offered a 30-minute free consultation and I took her up on it. I was cranky about learning a new-to-me social media platform but I was also curious.

I’d mostly heard of young people doing Instagram–like the Kardashians and Taylor Swift. I was already on Facebook and Pinterest a little bit. Did I really want to take on something new?

When we met Lucy told me that Instagram would be perfect for my visual business in fashion. She thought I should be posting pictures of myself on my feed instead of pics of my pet cat Bella, lattes, and platters of berries.

My North Dakota Lutheran upbringing popped right up to tell me why I should NOT be posting pictures of myself: “Don’t draw attention to yourself. People will think you’re conceited.” I’d heard that all the time growing up.  I explained to Lucy why her suggestion about posting pictures of myself made me cringe. She wouldn’t back down so I came at it from a different angle.

“I can understand it for young people but who’s going to be on Instagram looking at what a 60-year-old is wearing?” I said.

I thought I had her there but no, she didn’t even twitch. She pulled out her phone and showed me Instagram feeds by women my age, near my age, or older.

 

 

 

 

“Look at how many people are interested in the mature woman,” she said. Their follower numbers were staggering! 1K, 5K, 12K, 20K, 30K.

Impressive, but I was pretty sure none of those ladies were Lutherans.

“People like seeing you dressed in cute outfits. You do it every day anyway. Just have Russ take a picture of you and send it to me; I’ll do the rest,” she said.

I was still not a believer but I was willing to be coached.

 

My Instagram conversion experience

Lucy’s words were in my head: “Take pictures.” I started asking Russ to take pictures. I asked Erin to take pictures. Sometimes I asked sales associates in stores to take pictures.

I’m still in the early months of this relationship but I am officially engaged…in Instagram. I love the visual format. I love finding fashionistas all over the world who inspire me with their looks. I’ve become a follower.

 

I’m happy to be here

Here’s me on Instagram: @brendakinsel. I think I’m here to stay. You’ll see a lot of me on my feed but I also love posting pics of women in my life who inspire me.

 

 

I hit the 1K mark this month for followers on my Instagram feed and so far no one has left me a comment like, “You’re so vain!” My community on Instagram is supportive, not catty; encouraging and positive. I can go on Instagram and instantly I’m around people who love fashion like I do. It feels like summer camp and I’m meeting lots of great new people.

 

Sharing a list of people I follow

I wanted to leave you with a list of people I follow who also focus on women over 50. Please share with me some of the people you follow. I’d love to check them out!

Enjoy!

 

@iconaccidental

@styleatacertainage

@theladyofstyle

@chicover50

@fiftynotfrumpy

@themidlifefashionista

@awellstyledlife

@redcliffestyle

@bywayofberlin

@codigopilar

@airofdistinction