Instagram is an endless source of inspiration as long as you know where to look.
Above all, I look for things on this platform that stand out from the crowd. Clothes that I don't see elsewhere. People who have a personal style, a universe of their own.
This allows me to develop my view of beauty and refines my vision of style.
If you don't have a well-defined style , browsing Instagram can help you find it, coming across looks that really speak to you.
This is what we seek to do with our Gimmick video series : dissect inspiring looks from this platform.
Here is a selection of 10 accounts that inspire me and which may also resonate with you.
1. @cityboi_shinn
How to have style when you're short and thin ? Follow the leader !
The silhouettes of this Japanese man who, it seems to me, does not exceed 1.65 meters, impress me.
He wears everything well, very well in fact, and is not afraid of scale. He knows how to manage the proportions of clothes in relation to his body, so that he does not appear small or crowded.
How is it possible ? On the one hand because all his clothes are the right length (sleeves and leg length) which prevents him from bunching up. On the other hand, because its silhouettes are well structured : for example, its waist line is often visible, which allows the upper and lower body to be clearly separated.
He has developed a style of his own, halfway between tailoring, militaria and Ivy League. One of his recurring gimmicks is to wear a casual jacket (bomber jacket, denim jacket, military jacket) over a very formal outfit (shirt, tie, tailored pants, shoes).
2. @sideadjuster
Sideadjuster (he doesn't give his first name) is a Frenchman with great flair.
I would say that the vertical of his style is vintage, which he declines in all its forms : a lot of vintage military and workwear with a touch of sartorial style.
We therefore have looks with pieces of character, a little thick, patinated.
There's a lot of inspiration to be had when it comes to layering here:
- Thick Rocky Mountain Featherbed vest over a camo jacket
- Thick shawl collar cardigan over a western shirt
- Turtleneck + denim shirt + thick overshirt
Also remember the color options: there are shades of white as well as outfits with stronger colors .
It's a nice account with varied but coherent outfits (around this vintage spirit, patinated clothing) and little gimmicks from which we can draw. For example, an affection for western belts:
3. @r_bak_
Want to see something other than tailoring and workwear/military style?
Welcome Raphaël and his cowboy rock style 🤠
Perfecto, bell bottom pants, Aztec patterned vest, western belt, Native American jewelry ... it's the total!
Very few men wear flared/bellbottom pants these days. But we must admit that he wears them very well.
Her style is consistent from head to toe and different from what we're used to seeing, which is nice. This consistency occurs in particular through the massive use of certain clothes to the detriment of others: he almost only wears jeans for example, because that is what is most coherent and logical given his world.
Of course, it is a strong style that is not accessible to everyone . Raphaël also offers some slightly easier looks that you can take inspiration from, without bell bottoms, Aztec vest or heeled boots.
Take for example this one, with "only" a red bandana, a western belt and a light Fedora as distinctive elements.
4. @richardbiedul
Every time he appears in my feed , I say to myself: holy Richard!
Yes, everything suits her (it's her job as a model at the same time). No, we don't have all his looks and we clearly can't wear all his outfits .
But we must recognize that the majority of Biedul's looks are damn successful. He has a certain look and dares to use colors and associations that stand out from the crowd.
Failing to reproduce his outfits identically, I find him very inspiring and I tell myself that we can steal a few style ideas, a few gimmicks from him. For example, very loose pants, the regular use of double-breasted blazers (which we rarely see at the moment), the collar of the shirt which sits over the jacket or, as I see a lot this year, the use of the white tank top in summer:
5. @urban_sartorialist
I like this Instagrammer because he has a good mastery of very different styles. He can wear a suit and tie as masterfully as a hoodie and Birkenstocks , and everything in between.
Of course, his nickname indicates that he's more comfortable with the sartorial style, but he also has looks that are the complete opposite of the tailored style.
This is strong because it involves mastering the codes of very different universes. You need to have a certain open-mindedness, desire and budget to be strong on several fronts.
You will therefore find impeccable formal outfits and more casual outfits that oscillate between Ivy League, minimalist, workwear and sometimes even sportswear.
In short, he can wear everything (or almost)! I also analyzed one of these outfits in my Gimmick video on workwear style .
6. @hwilberg
Hwilberg, aka Henrik, presents a beautiful vision of casual chic style, which is close to the Ivy League .
Her silhouettes demonstrate very well how to mix casual and more elegant clothing.
Its purpose is not to wear a very formal jacket with jeans and white sneakers.
But instead choose casual versions of formal clothing (casual shirts, soft blazers, light cotton pleated pants) and pair them with decidedly casual clothing (t-shirts, baseball caps, white socks).
He navigates between rather dressy outfits with a touch of casualness and casual outfits with a touch of elegance.
He also differentiates himself by adding his touch, his own gimmicks. For example, he will combine a bow tie with military pants, white socks and a flat cap.
In short, I find that this gentleman has a good flow and very often good ideas!
7. @stoffa
This isn't the first time I've talked about this brand but I can't put it down.
This is the pinnacle of soft tailoring . I can imagine myself in all their silhouettes, which really correspond to my current style.
Stoffà is therefore a very high-end (some would say luxury) American brand with a very strong visual identity . They have a niche, a style and they stick to it, don't deviate.
The lines are very pure and minimalist . The clothes are often plain. The shoes are laceless. There are many shades of soft colors. The only elements that stand out are the pockets of certain jackets, the collars of shirts or the pleats of pants.
The clothes and silhouettes tend to look similar throughout the collections, but the color palette varies a lot.
Each season, the brand determines a very precise chromatic range with shades that complement each other perfectly. This summer they explored pastels of yellow and blue and the result is striking.
Follow Stoffà’s work and join me in the soft tailoring team!
8. @le_remy_vintage_clothing
The silhouettes of the last century captivate me.
High-waisted, loose pleated pants, very long coats, sleeveless sweaters... all this seems both far away but also close.
Far because current clothes and looks don't look like that.
Close because we are currently seeing a resurgence of interest in retro and vintage styles.
This account therefore offers archive photos of men's fashion and I find that super cool. And very informative too, because it is interesting to have in mind a certain history of style, to know where fashion comes from.
You will see, for example, photos of pants from the 1920s, suits from the 1930s or even Panama hats from the 1940s. In short, from a time when it was unthinkable to wear a t-shirt to go out because it was considered an understatement. -garment.
Here I am almost saying “it was better before”, well.
9. @paulbinam
You probably know him since we have been working with him for almost a year.
In addition to being a model, Paul also has his own stylistic universe. I discussed it with him during the last shoot and we agreed that his style is “street chic”.
It is very influenced by the American brand Aimé Leon Dore which is exactly in this niche.
Concretely, hoodie, fleece, t-shirt, straight jeans or running shoes will be interwoven with moccasins, a trench coat or pleated pants.
It's a rather recognizable style in the sense that it's not super natural to mix these two styles.
As with the previous accounts, you will find some pretty strong looks and others that are more accessible. I really like this one for example, simple in theory but very strong in practice.
The fairly short jacket highlights the high waist of the pants. The Birkenstock Bostons bring something unexpected but fit in well thanks to their tan suede leather that we are used to seeing on more classic pairs (for example a derby).
10. @rifatto_handmade
Explore this account a little, you will be amazed.
Not speaking Japanese, I don't understand the whole concept, but I have the feeling that it is about a person who creates clothes themselves, by hand, using sewing and embroidery techniques Japanese like boro or sashiko .
The result is spectacular and at this level, it is art.
And you, what are your most inspiring Instagram accounts? Share it with us in the comments!
