Photo Credit: Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Simply LA
With a following of 4.6 million on Instagram and 1.97 million on Twitter, suffice it to say that Kat Graham is adapt at navigating the world of social influencers. The fashionable actress, best known for “Vampire Diaries” and “All Eyez On Me,” as well as the recent Netflix film “How It Ends,” recently shared her expertise with a select group of attendees at the seventh annual SIMPLY LA conference, a premier business focused event for fashion and beauty insiders, entrepreneurs, industry leaders and influencers focused on giving the tools needed to succeed in the fashion and beauty industries.
Graham spoke on the Influencer Track—alongside “The Hills” alum Lo Bosworth, Lauren Bushnell of “The Bachelor,” “The Real” host Jeannie Mai and content creator Alisha Marie—for those who wanted to learn about how to grow their audience, monetize their influence, and turn their blogging hobby into a career. And while many were unable to attend the August 11 conference at The Americana at Brand in Glendale, Calif., Graham still wanted to pass along some of the wisdom she shared at SIMPLY LA. Here, she shares seven ways to succeed as a fashion influencer, so that Haute Living readers can make their influencer dreams a reality.
Photo Credit: Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Simply LA
- BE TRUE TO YOURSELF. Staying true to yourself doesn’t just reflect in your attitude, but also can affect the choices you make in style. I always find the truer I am to myself and my style, somehow the happier I am.
- DON’T BE AFRAID TO TAKE RISKS.
It’s really important to take risks when figuring out what style speaks to who you are. There’s also some classic timeless styles that Foster Grant has that can go with any outfit too. - MIX HIGH AND LOW.
Mix it up! I can wear a really high-end designer piece and pair it with some amazing Foster Grant shades. It’s like the icing on top. Even if you’re just wearing a vintage T-shirt and jeans, if you put on the right pair of shades, you can completely elevate the outfit to a whole other level. All Foster Grant sunnies are super affordable. My new collection has nine styles. When I go on FosterGrant.com I even find styles less than that. It’s a great site to go on a shopping spree. - CHANGE IT UP!
As women we don’t feel the same way every day. We don’t wear the same thing every day. So why should our sunglasses not reflect that? I’m known to change sunnies even a couple times during the day, a pair for the day, and a cool tint for the evening. Vibe it out!
Photo Credit: Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Simply LA
5. BELIEVE IN BRANDS YOU WEAR.
Nowadays it is so important to know who you’re wearing. Foster Grant stands for diversity, accessibility, acceptance and showcasing your inner power. I’ve noticed a lot of other fashion brands can stand for the opposite which is exclusivity, elitist attitudes, and overall lack of diversity. Not so cute! Wearing Foster Grant for me is so much deeper than fashion.
6. DON’T TAKE YOURSELF TOO SERIOUSLY.
Have fun with your style! Having multiple pairs of Foster Grant sunglasses means you get to change it up constantly! Fashion is a way to express yourself, but also a way to figure out what you like. But if you are feeling serious, we’ve got some pretty amazing readers too!
7. ADAPT THE TRENDS YOUR OWN WAY.
It’s fun to follow trends, but it’s much more fun to follow yourself. Every style from the super sleek, to the big and bold we have, but at the end of the day you have to rock what you feel you will look the best in, and I have no doubt that you will find that with Foster Grant.
