15 Celebrity Stylists to Follow on Instagram
From left to right: Zendaya (Photo: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images), Cate Blanchett (Jacopo Raule/Getty Images), Rihanna (Foc Kan/Getty Images), Carey Mulligan (Photo: Michael Kovac/Getty Images)
Putting together a red carpet appearance is a big production that, unfortunately, doesn't get as much play in the media at it should. While we frequently witness the jaw-dropping moments when a celebrity effortlessly emerges to greet fans, press and photographers, we're less privy to what goes on behind-the-scenes — when designers, PR teams, makeup artists, hair stylists and wardrobe stylists come together to create that one (hopefully) memorable red carpet look.
With that in mind and awards season just around the corner, we've compiled a list of top celebrity stylists to follow on social media (with priority given to those who style female celebrities) so you can get a glimpse of all the action that doesn't make it onto the E! News pre-show. And for brevity's sake, we kept the list of clients to those who continually make an appearance in Fashionista’s "Look of the Day" column. Enjoy!
Elizabeth Stewart
Follower count: 21.8K
Clients: Cate Blanchett, Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain, Julia Roberts, Amanda Seyfried, Freida Pinto, January Jones
With Viola Davis's history-making Emmy win and Cate Blanchett's press tour for "Carol," 2015 proved to be yet another busy year for stylist Elizabeth Stewart, formerly a fashion editor at The New York Times Magazine. When it comes to photos of her clients, Stewart often opts for heartwarming, behind-the-scenes photos instead of red carpet images. Take a look at this really cute one of Viola Davis with her family pre-Emmys.
Instagram: @elizabethstewart1
Erin Walsh
Follower count: 14.8K
Clients: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kerry Washington, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kristen Wiig
If you really want to immerse yourself in the world of styling, Erin Walsh's account is a great place to start. It's a never-ending stream of beautiful gowns, accessories, fittings, photo shoots, runway shows and retro photos of Jane Birkin. It's also filled with fun glimpses into her everyday life, which includes outings with her family, Broadway performances and Fridays at MoMA. Walsh, she's just like us. (We wish.)
Instagram: @erinwalshnyc
Jill Lincoln & Jordan Johnson
Follower count: 3,385
Clients: Jennifer Lawrence, Kiernan Shipka, Sofia Vergara
Since leaving Rachel Zoe in March of the past year, styling duo Jill Lincoln and Jordan Johnson have been busy dressing clients Jennifer Lawrence, Sofia Vergara and Kiernan Shipka, the latter of whom landed on our 2015 best-dressed list. Their joint account still reflects its relative newness and is made up of mostly red carpet images, but it's one to keep an eye on in 2016.
Instagram: @jillandjordan
Joseph Cassell
Follower count: 5,775
Clients: Taylor Swift, Gigi Hadid
Joseph Cassell is not the most prolific user on this list, but we're assuming it has to do with the fact that he has enough work cut out for him styling some of the most photographed women in media: Taylor Swift and Gigi Hadid. Cassell's Instagram is chock-full of red carpet images of Swift and Hadid (with lots of helpful wardrobe credit info), but occasionally, Cassell will provide a non-glamorous, albeit humorous, glimpse into his life as a stylist. At the risk of sounding like a voyeur, there are tons of cute photos of his family as well.
Instagram: @josephcassell1
Karla Welch and Kemal Harris
Follower count: Karla Welch: 28.3K; Kemal Harris: 6,093
Clients: Robin Wright, Justin Bieber, Olivia Wilde, Elisabeth Moss, Hailee Steinfeld, Amy Poehler
Off-White, Raf Simons, Givenchy, Fear of God — those were just some of the designers that Justin Bieber wore in 2015, as noted by the editors over at Complex. And we're guessing Bieber's increasing love for fashion last year had something to do with bicoastal styling duo Karla Welch and Kemal Harris. You can follow the two on their joint Instagram account (@kemalandkarla), although we'd highly recommend following them on their individual ones. On Harris's, you'll find tons of sketches, credit information and sources of inspiration for the costumes in "House of Cards." And as for Welch, you'll find a mix of everything from behind-the-scenes images at various shoots to cute family photos. And lots of Bieber, of course.
Instagram: @karlawelchstylist, @kemal_harris
Kate Young
Follower count: 55.9K
Clients: Selena Gomez, Dakota Johnson, Sienna Miller, Natalie Portman, Michelle Williams
Like many on this list, Kate Young really needs no introduction. Her list of clients is a veritable Who's Who of Hollywood, including Natalie Portman, "Fifty Shades of Grey" actress Dakota Johnson (one of Fashionista’s best-dressed in 2015), Michelle Williams and Sienna Miller. But besides Johnson, we were really impressed with how Young took Selena Gomez from a boho-chic former Disney star to a sleek red carpet force to be reckoned with in 2015. Bravo!
Instagram: @kystyle
Law Roach
Follower count: 99K
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Clients: Zendaya, Ariana Grande, Ruby Rose
From a Rosie Assoulin pants look to a white, almost dystopian Katherine Mavridis dress, it seemed as though every look that Law Roach styled Zendaya in was made just for the young starlet. And good news for Zendaya fans: Roach's Instagram is a pretty great source for her red carpet appearances. And we'd also like to add that his personal photos are pretty great, too. (Wig selfies. Enough said.)
Instagram: @luxurylaw
Leith Clark
Follower count: 25.1K
Clients: Alexa Chung, Kiera Knightley, Kirsten Dunst
If you're looking for something aesthetically pleasing and dreamy, look no further than Leith Clark's personal Instagram account. As the editor-in-chief of Violet, style-director-at-large of Harper's Bazaar UK and designer of L'Orla, Clark's feed reads more like a fashion editor's, and less like a celebrity stylist's. The real highlights here are the incredible fashion shoots, backstage photos at runway shows and cool 'grams from her travels across the globe.
Instagram: @leithclark
Mel Ottenberg
Follower count: 77.3K
Client: Rihanna
One word: Rihanna. The two first met during a photo shoot for Elle magazine back in 2006 and have worked together since Rihanna's 2011 "Loud" tour. The great thing about Ottenberg's account is that it's as fun and exciting as you might expect it to be — there are lots of references to NYC, nineties flashbacks (remember this?) and of course, plenty of Rihanna to satisfy fans. But aside from styling, Ottenberg is also the fashion director of the Berlin-based biannual 032c, and is the boyfriend of buzzy designer Adam Selman. Yeah, you should follow him.
Instagram: @melzy917
Micaela Erlanger
Follower count: 30.9K
Clients: Lupita Nyong'o, Jared Leto, John Boyega, Hilary Swank
Lupita Nyong'o is one of those women who can actually make headlines just by what she's wearing. (Remember her stolen pearl Calvin Klein dress?) Behind her red carpet magic is stylist Micaela Erlanger, who's worked with the actress since 2013. Erlanger also styles Jared Leto, whose sense of style we've really come to admire over here at Fashionista. One more thing: Erlanger also has great personal style — take a look for yourself.
Instagram: @micaelaerlanger
Petra Flannery
Follower count: 3,995
Clients: Daisy Ridley, Emma Stone, Zoe Saldana, Amy Adams, Gwen Stefani, Carey Mulligan
Petra Flannery topped The Hollywood Reporter's Power Stylist list in 2015, and it's no surprise, given Flannery's work with A-list clients like Emma Stone and Carey Mulligan. Besides styling Mulligan in some of her best looks to date (see here and here), Flannery also put together Daisy Ridley's red carpet ensembles during the actress's press tour for "The Star Wars: The Force Awakens." Let's just say that Flannery's Instagram is one to add, especially with awards season rolling around soon.
Instagram: @petraflannery
Tara Swennen
Follower count: 21.5K
Clients: Kristen Stewart, Emily Ratajkowski, Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting, Odeya Rush
In the past year alone, we've talked to stylist Tara Swennen regarding her work with Kristen Stewart and Odeya Rush. Clearly, she knows what works well on the red carpet, and the same goes for Instagram. Besides some great behind-the-scenes photos from fittings, here are some other things you can expect to encounter during a casual browse: a cat dressed as Princess Leia, Spanx for men, a garment bag passenger and holiday-themed In-N-Out Burger bags. Needless to say, Swennen really knows how to put the fun in fashion.
Instagram: @taraswennenlifeinstyle
Victoria Sekrier
Follower count: 3,313
Clients: Alicia Vikander
As Dhani previously noted, Swedish actress Alicia Vikander was 2015's breakout star — both on the big screen and the red carpet. Vikander began working with model-turned-stylist Victoria Sekrier about a year ago after a chance meeting at a Christmas party. Regarding Sekrier's personal Instagram, it's kind of like looking through a personal blogger's, except hers just oozes cool. Besides amazing street style photos, Sekrier's account is peppered with indie magazine-esque editorials, '90s models and, of course, Vikander. You might initially be drawn to her Instagram for aesthetic reasons, but you'll end up following her for her refreshing sense of humor.
Instagram: @victoriasekrier
