Fashionista To Watch Out For In 2022: Meet The Fabulous Austine

Austine is a Toronto-based fashion/style blogger. As a hobby, she started her Instagram page in 2020 (when the pandemic hit). Ever since she was young, she always loved creating outfits and designs. During high school, she always wanted to start her own fashion blog on Instagram (since Instagram around that time was booming), but she was too nervous to start. She also couldn’t commit to the time since she had to focus on her studies during university and worked full-time afterward. When the pandemic hit, She built the confidence to start her Instagram page. She also finally had spare time. So she brought a white backdrop and tripod from Amazon and started creating fashion content consistently on Instagram. She wanted to showcase her love for neutral tones and aesthetically pleasing outfits/images with everyone. 2 years later, she gained about 13k followers. She now has the privilege of collaborating with local and global fashion/lifestyle brands, and she’s been loving it!

StarCentral magazine recently caught up with Austine to discuss her journey in the fashion industry, and here’s what went down:

Where do you usually shop? Are there any hidden gems when it comes to snapping up some awesome designer clothes?

I’m actually not huge on buying designer clothes. In fact, I don’t own much of that. I usually shop at budget-friendly stores because I believe no one needs to spend hundreds and thousands of dollars to look “fashionable” or “stylish.” I enjoy shopping at local thrift stores. I consistently find high-quality pieces (especially blazers, high-waisted trousers, and blouses) for more than half the price, and I enjoy finding ways to style them.

What are your top tips when it comes to fashion for the cooler months?

Layering! I enjoy layering pieces together to look good and feel warm during the cooler months. I also love adding staple pieces like oversized scarves on top of coats or sweaters. That way, you can play around with colours, prints and wear the scarves in any way you’d like with your outfit.

Where do you look for creative inspiration?

Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok. I draw a lot of inspiration from other fashion bloggers on all platforms.

Is it hard to stay fashionable?

Once you have your go-to staple pieces, I personally don’t find it hard to stay fashionable. Although, this doesn’t necessarily mean you need to have a million accessories or clothes to look fashionable.

How do you walk the line between being unique and having commercial appeal?

I think adding your own twist to current trends helps. Just because you see other people wearing something a certain way doesn’t mean you need to copy that.

Are there any key trends you’ve seen for this year?

Cargo pants, knit co-ord sets, chunky sneakers, and oversized blazers.

What do you think about the state of fashion today?

I think the state of fashion today.. could be better. As everyone knows, fast fashion is a huge issue. I always encourage people to go thrifting as much as they can or to repurpose their current wardrobe instead of constantly buying from companies like SheIn.

What are the clothes we can rid our wardrobes of that are considered very “last season’?

Ripped skinny jeans! (No offense to people who still wear these..)

What fashion advice would you give an emerging fashionista?

You don’t need to follow fashion trends to be “fashionable.” Stick with your own style, and don’t be afraid of looking “different” than everyone else!