Brands with amazing Instagram accounts

It seems the cat's out of the bag. This is my third post about Instagram, so it is safe to say that I'm a fan of the app. This particular social media platform is great for some brands, but can be near useless for others. Instagram is the photogenic hub for inspiration that comes from the frequently updated pictures that individual users can upload whenever. It's like the mobile, real-time version of Pinterest. And brands that have strong identities and that are able to communicate their brand valus to customers with a simple flash of the camera have done quite well for themselves. For a brand to do well on Instagram, it has to post pictures that inform or, more importantly, inspire its viewers. So even though Home Depot is an incredibly successful store, people aren't dying to scroll through filtered pictures of tractors and two-by-fours, knowwhatI'msaying? Not the ideal type of brand to utilize Instagram. On the other hand, bakeries, cosmetics companies, clothing companies, department stores and generally any entitity whose livelihood is based on the pleasure and "feel-goodness" that its customers gain when they use buy said brand's/store's products - these are the ones that Instagram is perfect for.

Some of the brands that are keeping their presences alive and well on the platform include:

@alice_olivia = alice + olivia by Stacy Bendet - Pretty, colorful pictures showcase the brand's "lovely and whimsical" USP always make me feel happy when I stumble upon the latest Instagram pics. Seriously, see below umbrella picture. Smiled, didn't you?

@rebeccaminkoff = Rebecca Minkoff - Minkoff's line of accessories would be alluring even without an Instagram account to showcase them every day, but the team behind this brand's social media presence cranks out great stuff that makes Minkoff stand our in the forefront of my mind. From the pithy, consistently updated Twitter account to the cheeky Instagram photos, viewers get the idea that those at the helm of this brand are both talented and genuine. And funny. See below photo.

@bcbgeneration = BCBGeneration - Provides an easy mix of down-to-earth, fun-having photos as well as pics that exude glamour and attitude. 

@marcjacobsintl = Marc Jacobs - I've always had the feeling that Marc Jacobs loves to push the envelope just to see how far people will go in their pursuit of fashion. I think that he has a tongue-in-cheek approach to life, taking nothing too seriously, but having fun all the same. The brand's Instagram serves as a perfect way to display images that support my theory.

@targetstyle = Target - Target secures it's place as the country's the foremost purveyor of chic-yet-inexpensive goods with these pics.

@henribendel = Henri Bendel - A store dedicated to providing its customers with decadent, gilt-edged, glitzy odds n' ends (purses, key fobs, jewelry) gives the same e-treatment via Instagram with photos of its in-store offerings and of pictures of NYC. (Side note: The holiday windows of its New York shop are beautiful, as is the holiday catalogue).

@topshop = Topshop - This British import has captured American hearts with its adorable, on-trend outfits and accessories that seem to be a fusion of the H&M, Urban Outfitters, American Apparel and Target aesthetics.

@anthropologiecom = Anthropologie - Anthropologie, like J Crew, has mastered the art of "disinterested chic" AKA "I'm going to plan out my outfits so that they look crisp, tailored and on-trend, but by accident. Not like I meant to." And yet I'm hooked line and sinker by these pictures that always make me want to immediately be transported to wherever said pics are taken.

@narsissist = Nars - Using the same username for both the Twitter and Instagram accounts, @narssisist is one to follow as the short statements always leave me intrigued and the pictures never leave me wanting. The fact that Nars products are luxurious and last forever is wonderful in and of itself, but the behind-the-scenes pictures of the brand's artists, events and goodies are always a pleasant treat.

Nail art Instagram accounts to follow

Propelling off of my previous post on the coolest nail art blogs, plus the post that compiled some of the best fashion Instagram accounts to follow comes a list of nail art Instagrammers whose constantly updated stream of vivid photos will.blow.your.mind...or at least inspire you to grab some polish and get all Van Gogh on your own nails.

Nail art is hot and cool...yada, yada, yada. But why tell this when instead, I can show? For instance, simply type in 'NOTD' as a tag in an Instagram search and up will pop over 52,000 pictures of users who have captured their 'Nail Of The Day' manicures and posted them for the world to see. And so, without further ado, here is the breakdown of those making waves in the nail art scene (meaning that they are doing really, really cool things).


Nail art Instagrammers

• @ig_nail_art - This user posts an assortment of custom manicure pictures that have been collected from various YouTube tutorials, blogs and other Instagram users (whom she acknowledges in her comments). Because this account tracks other people's nails, it provides links that will allow you to follow other nail fanatics. 

A few of the photos:

• @misunis - Eunice paints nail sets and sells them via her etsy shop, www.etsy.com/shop.misunis, but she also paints her own nails and uploads snapshots of the finished product each day. Good stuff. 

A few of the photos:

Speaking of her etsy shop, my favorite of her designs include this tribal pattern and these scrumptious-looking pastel cupcakes!

• @pixiedustz - Not only does she upload daily pics of her nail designs, girl posts step-by-step tutorial pictures to go along with each manicure so that viewers can recreate them on their own nails. Not only is she creative, but the fact that she's willing to break down seemingly elaborate designs makes me like this account that much more. Because I like nice people, you see.

 A few of the photos:

• @thary_xoxo - Hailing from Toronto, Thary S. uploads several different manicures a few times a day, most of which she enters into Instagram nail contests (as you can see when a small piece of paper with a hashtag is held up next to a manicure), which I'll bet she usually wins. Not only do I give her credit for having an amazing work ethic (two manicures per day? Respect.) but each look is very unique. 

A few of the photos:

• @icandynails - The crazy-cool designs on this account come straight from iCandy Nails, a salon based in Fresno, CA. Like many 10-fingered masterpieces, these are well-rendered and colorful, but the artists take it a step further by applying three-dimensional acrylic shapes onto extreme nail shapes such as the "duck feet" and the "stiletto".

A few of the photos:

@bedizzle - B peppers her Instagram account with pop culture designs, from the Olympics to Barbie and Ken, and also with unique patterns, but her claim to fame has got to be the precision with which each nail design is created. Fingernails are not big canvases, but you wouldn't know that from the intricate designs that are flawlessly executed.  Overall, a good stop to get a bit of everything.

A few of the photos:

Fashion Instagram accounts to follow

I wasn't sure how to use Instagram when I first downloaded the app; I thought that it's purpose was to lend an artsy tungsten/sepia-tinged hue to photos that I could then share with Twitter followers.

I was wrong. Once I got the grasp of using Instagram, I started finding and following people that posted photos of the things I found particularly inspirational and interesting, namely: fashion, makeup/beauty, architecture and food.

This post is centered on fashion-centric Instagrammers, so perhaps this compilation of the cool photo-takers that I follow will inspire you as well!


Fashion Instagrammers

• @songofstyle - I followed Aimee's blog, songofstyle.blogspot.com, for quite a while before I discovered she also had an Instagram account. While I read her blog for both the photos and the written content, her Instagram account provides stunning visuals for those times when you are scrolling through your phone and don't have time to get to her blog.

 A few of her photos:

• @cheetahisnb - Alicia, like Aimee, also has a consistently updated, fabulous blog called cheetahisthenewblack.com. Though her Instagram photos contain lovely doses of fashion-centric photos, Alicia also peppers in pictures of her everyday travels, like the occasional cup of tea, nail polish sets or architecture, for example. 

A few of her photos:

• @emilyschuman - From the author of cupcakesandcashmere.com comes photo after photo of delightful treats. Whether in the form of a glitzy manicure, new ballet flats, a striking sunset or any other pretty package, Emily's photos always add an element of glam to my day.

A few of her photos:

• @Inslee -  As a fashion illustrator who creates and sells custom stationery at inslee.net, she keeps her viewers updated with daily photos of her day-to-day affairs, which I am jealous to say always look very, very chic and uber-stylish. I love it when I see one of her newest sketches (some of which are just casual drawings, some of which are commissioned by individuals and others which have been requested by major retailers) pop up on my Instagram feed! It's immediate happiness. One of these days I will pay to have my very own Inslee drawing done, but until then, I'll just live vicariously through the lovely Instagram photos she posts. 

A few of her photos:

• @laceperspective - Lacey keeps up the blog alaceyperspective.com, and her Instagram is full of dogs, dresses, ice cream, beer, jewelry, handbags and bright colors. To sum it up, you might not know for sure what you're going to get when you check her photo feed, but you'll never be disappointed. 

A few of her photos:

• @saucyglossie - You can follow Lindsey's fashion narrative at her saucyglossie.com website where she has mastered the art of pairing high-end and bargain-priced items together to create effortless-looking ensembles that any girl would be able to afford and wear. I can appreciate that. Her Instagram account bounces around from self-portrait outfit posts to city views and shots of the never-fail pairings that she creates with her jewelry and accessories. Definitely one to watch. 

A few of her photos:

• @purseblog - Contrary to the username, this account will give you colorful views every few hours of a far-ranging docket of lovely images, from macarons to the NYC skyline to fresh fruit plates to purses (see, there are purses featured sometimes). This is the girly-girl's constantly-changing aspirational moodboard. 

A few of the photos:

• @fromthefrontrow - Leah Bourne is a fashion writer in NYC, and though she doesn't post extremely often, the images she captures are like photographic gold. Whether seeing her posted photos of designer seasonal collections before the mass public has been given the opportunity to view them (as was the case for the latest Banana Republic, Target and Alice and Olivia lines) snapping photos backstage at runway shows or just sending little photograms of amazing accessories, this account gives you a lot to love. 

A few of her photos:

• @russhmagazine - An indie magazine with a focus on fashion, beauty and the arts, Russh's account will fling you from pictures of pastel-haired models backstage at a Chanel show to classic movie stills to runways photos and back. Might as well tag along for the wild ride. 

A few of the photos:

• @lifeisbananas15 -  Creator of littlemayra.blogspot.com, Mayra updates at least once a day, and fuses her love of sports, healthy food and great shoes into a hopping Instagram account. When she posts food pictures, I immediately want the recipe and when she wears cool shoes, I want to know who designed them so I can grab a pair for myself. And when she attends sports events, I wish my own local teams were worth watching and getting as excited about.

A few of the photos: