The 12 Secrets Behind Curating a Fashionable Instagram Feed

Behind every fashion-forward Instagram account is someone with a few clever tricks up their sleeve. Instagram can now quite literally be a full-time job and so a lot of hard work can go on behind-the-scenes on those polished pictures that you often double tap on your daily Insta-scroll. Fashion blogger Aimee Song even wrote an entire 208-page book about how to hashtag, filter and the like called Capture Your Style. If you are looking to up your own Instagram game, there are a number of clever tricks and rules that will instantly give your feed a makeover.

Keep scrolling to find out 12 secrets to having a fashionable Instagram account that we've learned from our favourite fashion influencers.

13-secrets-to-a-fashion-forward-instagram-feed-1853353

Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid are pros at this method. Simple captions (or none at all) keep followers intrigued and are in sync with the immediacy of Instagram. And no one wants to see a paragraph of hashtags. One or two will suffice if any.

A photo posted by on

13-secrets-to-a-fashion-forward-instagram-feed-1853355

A feed filled with just scenery, friends, animals or accessories can get a little stale unless you're going for a theme with your account. If not, include a mix of images and videos to keep it varied.

A photo posted by on

13-secrets-to-a-fashion-forward-instagram-feed-1853357

Often brands will regram the best images posted by followers, introducing your feed to a whole new audience. And even if they don't, your image will still be included in the tagged photos section of the brand's feed.

A photo posted by on

13-secrets-to-a-fashion-forward-instagram-feed-1853359

While Instagram influencers certainly post selfies from time to time, they usually feature something else besides just themselves to shift the attention away from the fact that they're taking a selfie. The most common selfie additions that we see right now? Statement earrings.

A photo posted by on

13-secrets-to-a-fashion-forward-instagram-feed-1853361

This is an easy way to add interest to your feed and spark a reaction. A classic image of Jean Shrimpton, Jane Birkin, Marilyn Monroe or Kate Moss in the '90s, to name a few, are always hugely popular.

Related: 9 Mango Pieces That Are All Over Our Instagram Feed Right Now

A photo posted by on

13-secrets-to-a-fashion-forward-instagram-feed-1853366

Whether bright and colourful, white-washed or muted, a consistently hued feed is a commonality among fashion-forward accounts. Try using similar filters for your posts or blogger-favourite editing apps VSCO and Faded. Katherine Ormerod, of Workworkwork.co, says that "Afterlight is THE app to know."

A photo posted by on

13-secrets-to-a-fashion-forward-instagram-feed-1853368

The posting of Polaroids (the new photo booths) is a recent trend we've spotted on many of our favourite Instagram accounts (including Bella and Gigi Hadid's).

A photo posted by on

13-secrets-to-a-fashion-forward-instagram-feed-1853370

We find that nothing gets likes on Instagram quite like a picture of a pair of shoes.

A photo posted by on

13-secrets-to-a-fashion-forward-instagram-feed-1853372

You'll notice that the biggest Instagrammers typically post images at an angle or avoid including the entire subject in the frame.

A photo posted by on

13-secrets-to-a-fashion-forward-instagram-feed-1853374

While Carrara marble currently reigns supreme, mosaic tiles, colourful walls (particularly pink) and industrial settings are also popular options. Often the background is the main event in a photo, but keep in mind that there's a happy medium. Something overly busy can be too distracting.

A photo posted by on

13-secrets-to-a-fashion-forward-instagram-feed-1853376

Although a flash is often essential for evening posts, fashion Instagrammers often avoid using a flash, instead opting for flattering natural light.

A photo posted by on

13-secrets-to-a-fashion-forward-instagram-feed-1853378

Try using Boomerang or a photo mirror collage app to make outfit posts more fun and stand out on the newsfeed.

A photo posted by on

If you're in need of more inspiration, see our list of the 31 best fashion influencers to follow now.

Allyson Payer
Senior Editor

Allyson is a senior editor for Who What Wear. She joined the company in 2014 as co-founder Katherine Power's executive assistant and over the years has written hundreds of stories for Who What Wear. Prior to her career in fashion, Allyson worked in the entertainment industry at companies such as Sony Pictures Television. Allyson is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a BFA in theater. Her path to fashion may not have been linear, but based on the number of fashion magazines she collected as a child and young adult, it was meant to be.