When you’re a parent with a busy lifestyle, it’s hard to maintain your own #styleinspo, let alone making sure your mini-me fits today’s trends in microfashion. Who’re we kidding – it’s tough for any of us to maintain year-round inspired, original style. But these days, Instagram serves up more than enough fashion-blogs to keep your look fresh. In fact, some of our favorite style-bloggers are receiving a little competition – literally. I sought out 6 mini-trendsetters (and their parents) whose fashion-forward feeds are worth the follow. Read on to find out exactly why they’re Instagram’s littlest stars, how they maintain that shine, and some super-bright fashion advice.
Lucca (@yo.saba.saba)
The only thing as cool as this 4-year-old Lucca’s style are the photographs by her mother, Jodye, that capture each look. Whether a strong pose complete with dinosaur toys, or a candid silly moment, Lucca’s page feels like a window into childhood. Better yet, Lucca’s fun feed reflects her style, something her and her mom have worked together to create. According to Jodye, “Lucca started showing an interest in fashion around age 3. She liked to help pick out her shoes for the day and started having an opinion about what colors she preferred to wear – pink being her least favorite color. But I love pink, so we have learned to compromise – she pretends it’s the color red – so everyone wins.”
The mommy-daughter duo’s greatest inspiration? “Fashion through the decades – the 60s through the 90s. Each decade had such amazing fashion, from bell bottoms, platform shoes, blazers, to babydoll dresses – it was all so good! Music also inspires [us]. The current artist or bands we listen to have the coolest style!” Lucca and Jodye also love to follow other fashion accounts like @gbeloved, @hello_scout, and @fiveladiesandbeau, as well as retailers @modernqueenkids, @stellabella.co, and @arbii_label.
Lucca’s looks stay inspired with help from decades-past, but just like a favorite pair of jeans, her and Jodye’s advice to other aspiring fashion kids will never go out of style: “Have fun with it, be bold, make a statement, [and] stand out – because blending in is so boring!”
Princeton (@princeandthebaker)
Princeton embodies everything it means for a child to love fashion. According to his mom, Keira, who teams with her son to design his feed, it didn’t take long for Prince to find his taste: “Princeton really started getting into fashion when he was 4-years-old. He loved to wear fun prints and always dons a hat with every outfit!”
While Princeton and Keira work together to style and accessorize each look, the 9-year-old likes to pick based on his mood. “He likes to start with a cool graphic tee – his current favorite is his yellow Gucci bee top. He mostly loves wearing the cool hats from Aussie-based Fallen Broken Street.”
When it comes to inspiration, Princeton has plenty to draw from, whether that means iconic style influencers like model @lukasabbat or other fashionable kids like @tristinandtyler. “Our greatest inspiration would have to be the ultimate style icon Pharrell Wiliams and the distinguished gentlemen of @artcomesfirst. Their style and creativity comes out in their fashion choices.”
And when it comes to his own fashion choices, Princeton has a few important words of advice. Keira said, “He really wants other kids to know you can be cool and confident when dressing up in your favorite outfit. Princeton thinks all kids should wear what they want. Fashion is what you want it to be. It’s expressing how you feel, or who you want to be for the day! If you like it wear it!”
Sparkle (@_callmesparkle)
With a recent appearance on MTV’s “TRL,” under her belt, this pint-sized fashionista is just getting started. One look at Sparkle’s feed, curated by her mother, Simone, reveals how this fierce 4-year-old earned her nickname. Strong poses paired with bright, daring looks match Sparkle’s effortless confidence. And that’s exactly where Sparkle and Simone find inspiration.
“Her style reflects who she is before she even says a word! As of late, she considers her style to be sassy. Whenever we are taking pictures she has an alter ego named Sherisha that gets into character and gets all sassy! She hopes her style not only influences people to create their own but to own it! Thankfully, Sparkle doesn’t know what’s ‘trendy’ or ‘in,’ she just picks out what she likes and rocks it with confidence.”
That understanding and vision for her personal style and influence began long ago. Sparkle took an interest in fashion when she was just 2-and-a-half-years-old. “She started picking clothes out and giving me her opinion on what she wanted to wear. We pick her outfits based on her mood and weather. More than likely she will pick out a dress – she’s really into dresses these days. ”
Beyond her personality, Sparkle and Simone find inspiration from other bloggers and kidstagram accounts like @Whoworewhatmini, @siddyinthesity, and @zuri. And when it comes to this season’s hottest kid’s trends, you better believe Sparkle has some recommendations: stars, metallic booties, and puffy jackets.
Ryan Secret (@ryansecret)
Ryan Secret and his photographer-mother, Sandra, built Ryan’s passion for fashion together. “Ryan was 2-years-old when it all started...I would put different outfits on him and take lots of photos. He’s enjoyed it ever since.”
Despite his age, Ryan’s already involved in styling his daily look. “Most importantly, he has to feel comfortable in his outfit. I usually pick his outfits, but sometimes I have him pick between pairs of shoes if I can’t decide. He also likes to add sunglasses and a bracelet or watch to his outfit.”
While Ryan loves having his outfits photographed, and enjoys the compliments he receives regarding his style, Sandra focuses on protecting his privacy and comfort. “Ryan is actually not too much aware of Instagram and how it works. I have probably shown him his photos on his IG a few times and told him other people love his photos and what he is wearing. I personally believe he is too young for social media, so I run his account. I hope his style influences other instagrammers [by saying] that you can have great style without spending a fortune.”
Although he’s not directly involved in the social media side of his style-sharing, Ryan has a few favorite accounts including @sil_fash, @ardifashion, @maks_model, and fashion model Mariano Di Vaio. As for new-and-now boys trends, the list goes on and on: military style, suspenders, blazers, hats with poms, ankle boots, bandanas around the neck, scarves, and plaids paired with basics are just a few of Ryan’s current style recommendations.
Laerta (@fashion_laerta)
When I spoke with Laerta’s mother, Ardita, she explained that she might operate Laerta’s Instagram, but Laerta knew how to make style choices from the start: “She was 2-years-old when she first expressed an interest in fashion! She never wanted to go out without sunglasses.”
Now, 6-year-old Laerta appears more seasoned that some grown-up bloggers. She always wears different styles of her signature sunglasses, and couples each look with a perfect pose. According to Ardita, who styles all of Laerta’s looks, “Everything comes naturally! I’ve always been in love with fashion, so it’s very easy for me to put her looks together.”
Ardita and Laerta know that styling doesn’t always come so naturally, so they have a few words of wisdom for other aspiring fashionistas and fashionistos. They recommend famed style-blogger Chiara Ferragni’s feed as inspiration, and shared three style trends all kids should follow this season: “Mini bags, fur coats, and sportswear.”
Amelia (@cissifio)
Littlest, but not least, 2-and-a-half-year-old Amelia and her mother, Cissi, have curated an effortlessly cool, minimalist style feed. With clean lines, neutral tones, and occasional mommy-daughter matching looks, the attainable quality of Amelia’s style makes her feed undeniably attractive. Not to mention, according to Cissi, Amelia arrived with one eye set on style: “I think she loved fashion since she was born. She never complains if we change her clothes and she never has. We love outfits in grey, brown, pink – perfect for every occasion. We don’t like strong colors – more pastel colors, cute bows and shoes.”
Cissi also knows that inspiration for child-style remains mostly up to parents, and she finds some inspiration there. “I love to watch different styles and I love to follow other moms. We love Miranda Kerr, and we follow a lot of fashion accounts on Instagram and famous models. I choose clothes I think will match her and it’s important that she can move and everything is comfortable… Sometimes other moms tag me in the same outfits Amelia has.”
Regardless of the community they’ve found on Instagram, Amelia and Cissi offer one timeless piece of style advice for others: “Choose clothes that you like and feel comfortable in.”