WeChat may be where it’s at right now when it comes to keeping social media fans in the loop in China, but countless fashion-forward Instagram accounts are still going strong despite the app being blocked on the Chinese mainland. Many of the talented account holders are celebrity style bloggers and models who have already established a huge following and bring one-of-a-kind insight into their curated, stylish world.
Here are seven Instagram accounts you should be following:
1. Leaf Greener (@leaf_greener)
Former senior fashion editor at ELLE China magazine and student at Raffles International School of Design in Beijing, Leaf Greener now runs her own WeChat magazine called LEAF and a website where she gives her two cents on design trends. To top it off, the fashion maven has collaborated with top brands including the likes of Chanel, Joyce, and Estée Lauder. Her own style is followed closely by leading fashion publications around the world, and she was recently featured as the face of the holiday campaign for Converse x Woolrich.
Thank you Converse for choosing me to be your 2015FW Woolrich new collection campaign face. #Converse
A photo posted by Leaf Greener (@leaf_greener) on Dec 7, 2015 at 6:30am PST
2. The Haute Pursuit (@thehautepursuit)
Founder of The Haute Pursuit site Vanessa Hong has that story of starting out that everyone dreams about: she was doing a 9-to-5 job before getting bored, starting a fashion blog, and becoming successful enough to quit her full-time gig. Now, she splits her time between Vancouver and Beijing in addition to flitting around to fashion weeks. Fans of minimalism and monochrome will not want to miss out on her lavish style shots.
Cou cou from the @thpshop.co office today wearing Coach practically head-to-toe (more on my snapchat: thpsnaps) #CoachHoliday #thpshopco
A photo posted by thehautepursuit (@thehautepursuit) on Dec 21, 2015 at 3:17pm PST
3. Nik Wang (@nikmode)
Actor and lifestyle blogger Nik Wang hangs with the likes of Chinese fashion model Liu Wen and Instagrams about it. He is known as a go-to for what’s happening in the Beijing nightlife and fashion scene, but has recently settled in Shanghai, where he updates his fans with daily street style snaps of his sartorial elegance, plus refined neighborhood eats.
The man who is traveling with tens bags…obversely #NikMode DailyLook X #RalphLauren #menstyle #mensfashon #trend #travel #travelinstyle
A photo posted by Nik Wang (@nikmode) on Dec 20, 2015 at 3:15am PST
4. Mr. Bags (@mrbagss)
Tao Liang, or as he is known to his thousands of Weibo, WeChat, and Instagram followers, “Mr. Bags,” is the go-to for styling advice on that coveted high-end accessory for Chinese fans. His photo-filled articles feel as if the number of suggestions for that “perfect bag” doesn’t have a cap. He maintains his blogs while studying at Columbia University in New York, so who knows how he finds all that time for online shopping. One thing is for sure: the Chinese purse enthusiast may owe a lot to Mr. Bags’s multi-tasking skills.
Tomorrow is a brand new day. Walking into a new chapter of my life. #graduation
A photo posted by @mrbagss on Dec 8, 2015 at 3:56pm PST
5. Wanwan Lei (@wanwan_lei)
Co-founder of M Woods, a privately-owned art museum located in Beijing’s 798 Art District that opened last year, Wanwan Lei is in Beijing’s group of young, avid art collectors and hugely involved in the contemporary art community. Her husband and co-owner of M Woods, Lin Han, is also a millennial collector who kicked off his auction purchases with a painting by Zeng Fanzhi.
#dior #byebyerafsimons
A photo posted by Wanwan Lei (@wanwan_lei) on Dec 21, 2015 at 2:42am PST
6. Xiaowen Ju (@jujujuxiaowen)
All eyes have been on Xi’an-born model Xiaowen Ju since talent management company IMG discovered her online in 2010 and invited her to New York Fashion Week before she started gracing international fashion magazine covers and editorials. Her Instagram is a mix of those images that make her famous, like her holiday 2015 Gap campaign, and snapshots of her beloved cats.
#themagiceyeliner
A photo posted by Ju, Xiaowen 雎晓雯 (@jujujuxiaowen) on Nov 25, 2015 at 8:48pm PST
7. Fil Xiaobai (@filxiaobai)
A street style guru from Chengdu, 25-year-old Fil Xiaobai kicked off her fashion career after attending Paris Fashion Week in 2012 and now takes her vibrant looks and signature white hair to Instagram and WeChat.
❤️❤️
A photo posted by Fil (@filxiaobai) on Oct 30, 2015 at 2:47am PDT