Izzie Ghaffari-Parker runs down a list of movers and shakers in the Black community to add to your feed for a dose of style inspiration.
Chanté Joseph
Photo: @Chantayyjayy
Insta handle: @chantayyjayy
Age: 22
Occupation: Blogger and writer
Followers: 2,566
Why you should follow: University of Bristol grad Chanté has written for gal-dem, Wonderland, and most recently the i newspaper, where she called out the racist and sexist
treatment of Serena Williams after the US Open final. She also founded ‘Bristol is the New Black’, which highlights Black individuals shaping culture in the city.
Personal style: Chanté has the casual and cute ensemble nailed, with frequent pops of orange and yellow, wide leg trousers and flowery wrap dresses. She also has an enviable collection of bikinis which will have you already planning your Summer 2019 wardrobe.
Khalid
Photo: @thegr8Khalid
Insta handle: @thegr8khalid
Age: 20
Occupation: Singer songwriter
Followers: 4.3 million
Why you should follow: Khalid’s debut album, American Teen, explores relationships, loss and adolescence in the social media generation. But it also serves to break outdated stereotypes about what it means to be ‘American’. As he explained to Rolling Stone: “I’m an African-American man with an Afro… and people are looking at me like, this is ‘The American Teen’.”
Personal style: Khalid’s Instagram features frequent snaps of his stylish ensembles, which often incorporate high-end pieces from brands like Burberry and Prada alongside staple light wash denim and brightly coloured tees.
Chimamanda Adichie
Photo: @chimamanda_adichie
Insta handle: @chimamanda_adichie
Age: 41
Occupation: Writer
Followers: 250k
Why you should follow: Award-winning author of Americanah, Purple Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun, Adichie is boldly feminist and delivered a TEDx talk in 2012 about why we should all be feminists too, which was famously sampled in Beyoncé’s “***Flawless”.
Personal style: Adichie’s Instagram is completely dedicated to documenting her project ‘Wear Nigerian’, in which she wears mostly Nigerian brands for public appearances in an effort to promote the brands and boost the Nigerian economy. Of the designs, Adichie says: “I love the clothes, their cut, their whimsy, their colour, their flair, their ability to make me feel like myself.”
Chidera Eggerue
Photo: @theslumflower
Insta handle: @theslumflower
Age: 23
Occupation: Writer
Followers: 179k
Why you should follow: Author of the bestselling What a Time to Be Alone, Eggerue has become a sort of agony aunt for her generation, turning her own insecurity into the viral hashtag #SAGGYBOOBSMATTER. She has also spoken to Metro about the need within feminism to prioritise issues that affect black women: “For me, white feminism just prioritises whiteness and creates racist results.”
Personal style: Eggerue’s blog showcases stylish outfit shoots alongside advice on self-love and relationships and was started due to the lack of diversity and affordable fashion she found in blogging. Most pieces featured are high-street or vintage buys with the odd staple designer piece, like her well-loved Comme des Garçons x Converse trainers.
By Izzie Ghaffari-Parker.
Image: paperbackparis.com