Fashion gurus have noted a paradox in modern fashion: the return of classic and restrained tones in clothing on one hand, and the constant pursuit of innovation, driven by social media algorithms, on the other. These algorithms favor the most unusual content, attracting millions of views. For most modern brands, social networks have become the main platform for advertising their products and tracking user interactions.

This has led to fashion phenomena like the microscopic handbag MSCHF, auctioned early last year for almost 64 thousand dollars. Brands compete online, trying to capture as much consumer attention as possible in an era when trends are replaced by micro-trends that change every few months.

Even with predictions of a complete return to “normalcy” in fashion in 2024, it’s certain that brands will continue to vie for attention with provocative and absurd designs. Given the rapidly shifting attention span of the modern individual due to internet over-saturation, one wonders how to keep up with all the fashion trends and news. The answer lies in the very same social networks.

Instagram is teeming with accounts that follow and deliver fashion to the public, closely monitoring new trends and analyzing fashion week shows and outfits of today’s trendsetters. Among these numerous accounts, a few stand out, providing the most reliable information about fashion news in a unique and catchy format.

Self-proclaimed fashion critic @ideservecouture, aka Hanan Besovic, started his blog on Instagram during the first lockdowns. Originally from Croatia and a fashion merchandising student, Besovic began following fashion more seriously after moving to the US. The pandemic and working from home further immersed him in fashion, leading him to start an Instagram blog where he humorously reviews fashion events and analyzes outfits from various Hollywood events. His well-reasoned criticism, laced with irony, resonated with internet users, and in almost four years, his account gained nearly 200 thousand followers.

His posts, discussing trends, the history of different fashion houses, accurately predicting fashion’s future, and marveling at successful shows, caught the attention of fashion world leaders. Besovic is now officially invited to fashion shows as a reporter, and Hugo Boss has even collaborated with him. Despite lacking formal education in fashion, his content is informative, and through his sharp memes, subscribers learn the latest high fashion news. Besovic describes his qualifications as “PhD in memes, master’s degree in throwing shade, and a minor in fashion.”

Madé Lapuerta, a lover of statistics and mathematical precision from a young age, developed a passion for programming in high school. After enrolling in a computer science course at Harvard, she noticed her fashion sense set her apart from her hoodie-and-jeans-clad classmates. This realization led her to believe her fashion passion hindered rather than helped her programming career.

However, during a summer internship at Google, she developed a program to recognize objects in photos. This led to the creation of @databutmakeitfashion, a fashion statistics account where Lapuerta posts mathematically accurate analyses of fashion trends. For example, she noted a 15% decrease in gold jewelry compared to silver at recent fashion weeks in one 2023 post. In another, she observed that despite the popularisation of “quiet luxury” on social media, there was a 53% increase in logos on runways compared to 2021. Her scientifically accurate approach, mixed with humor, tracks even the smallest fashion changes often overlooked initially.

Rogue Garms, a trendy vintage clothing boutique in New York City owned by young entrepreneur Emma Rogue, focuses mainly on micro-trends of the Zoomer generation. It has gained international fame through mini interviews with its visitors, which Rogue posts on the store’s official Instagram and TikTok. In these interviews, young New Yorkers, dressed in original outfits that rival science fiction movie characters, discuss their fashion preferences, “red flags” in clothing, and share what they’re wearing. Therefore, @roguegarms, while not a fashion critic’s blog, is an excellent way to follow the latest trends in New York, a recent hotspot for fashion trends.