When I was 13, I visited LA for the very first time as a child actress. While doing a small commercial, I absolutely fell in love with it and I knew that one day I was going to live there. I did. At 25, while living in LA, I was lucky enough to be sent to Sydney, Australia to work on the design of a major hotel. I had a similar feeling, but it was more of an "I so belong here" type of feeling. Instead of Sydney, I ended up moving to NYC, which was mostly because I have family there, none in Australia. I have, however, always kept eyes on my Australian fantasies and thank goodness for instgram, I'm up on the times.
I've been following a few Aussie entrepreneurs + stylistas on instagram and I have learned so much! For one, their instas are filled with black and white decor glamour. You don't really see that in the states. Usually black and white design is done very masculine, very contemporary, very minimalistic and clean. In Australia, the girls take my fave color combination and use it in the most glamorous ways. This is SO ME! I just can't get enough of it.
I realized very quickly that these gals were doing something very right. They were capitalizing on their style and turning it into their personal brands to further their businesses. Each photo found on their instagram feed, website, pinterest and the like is pretty much filled with black and white and pops of metallics throughout. They are showcasing lifestyle, through their personal color palates.
One of the girls @KaylaBombardier , 'grammed one of the shots from my Austin apartment with my gold Tom Ford shoes. (See pic below)
When I teach my girls about personal branding, see ebook here, I always encourage them to go into their closets, go into their daily lives and see what they find. Here in these photos, these girls have nailed down their personal brand to tell a story, that enhances their business. Kayla, does the best job at highlighting ways to use her product, candles, in your everyday life. While always sticking to her black and white theme (and business logo colors), you can pretty much always tell its one of her pics. You are buying into the Bombardier lifestyle.
Take another one of my favorites, Neue Blvd, formerly Abode Australia. They have an Australian homeware e-boutique that also caters to the black and white lifestyle. Their instagram is also filled with photos that strictly show a strong brand image, black, white, silver, copper or gold with touches of marble and always flowers. It's a strict and distinct style and you will always know what you are getting. This is KEY FOR PERSONAL BRANDING or business branding. Staying true to a distinct style and repeating it over and over again will kill your competition.
Instagram is a great way to build and define your personal brand. I just love seeing the images from my favorite Aussie girls. It takes me into their everyday and lifestyle. Totally gives me the opportunity to live in Sydney vicariously!
Aren't these images fun? I just love them. For more on personal branding, check out my Ebook with a playbook and plan just for you. Also, be sure to follow @kaylabombardier , @neueblvd, @njwhite
