Social media will get a foul rap for being addictive, selling unrealistic requirements of perfection, and in some circumstances, even being a nationwide safety threat. (TikTok even faces a potential ban within the U.S. due to it!). However I choose to view the web in a extra constructive gentle: I see it as a spot to scroll and discover countless type inspiration. Working example: My newest style comply with, who describes herself as a “maximalist cat woman,” is making me take into account taking extra dangers with my wardrobe—and reminding me to have extra enjoyable with it, too. Enter Eve-Lily Charlotte. 

I first got here throughout Eve-Lily’s content material whereas mindlessly scrolling by TikTok one late night. In her video, the creator and stylist—who is predicated in Manchester—was making an attempt to type a black beaded prime. As she slipped on a brilliant pink mesh prime and satin skirt beneath it, I used to be weary of the method—till she added a sculptural bolero, one single dangly earrings, and pointy Versace pumps. Mixed, the maximalist ensemble, someway, labored. “I name it ‘eclectic maximalism,’ as my outfits are impressed by an enormous vary of aesthetics and a long time,” the creator tells Vogue of her private type. “I’d say I rein it in a little bit greater than quite a lot of maximalists, although: I’m fairly strict with colour concept and co-ordination, in addition to sticking to extra flattering silhouettes.”

I used to be immediately intrigued by her fearless method to dressing. A lot so, that I started to tune into increasingly of the creator’s TikTok movies. “I’ve two primary kinds of TikToks,” Eve-Lily says. “One is my get-ready-with-mes, that are much more relaxed and off the cuff; my different TikTok type has a better manufacturing worth, and these will showcase a variety of outfits, normally with some inventive transitions.” Irrespective of the format, her movies are all crammed with superb more-is-more outfits. In a single clip, she is going to construct an outfit round an orange feathered hat; within the subsequent, she is going to channel a backyard get together vibe in a sunflower gown—with the matching headpiece, after all. 

Seems, Eve-Lily will get lots of her assertion objects from the classic and secondhand world. “I’m nonetheless a charity shopper, in addition to supply pre-loved items on eBay, Vinted, Depop & Vestiaire,” she says. When she does search for new items—on websites like SSENSE and Farfetch—the creator enjoys perusing rising labels resembling T Label, Shone, and Shan Chen. “Chopova Lowena Carabiner skirts [are my weakness]—I’ve a set of six now,” she says. “And footwear: I all the time run to the shoe part in charity outlets, as a result of I’m obsessive about dainty classic kitten heels. I like me a bizarre ugly shoe to raise a extra toned down outfit, and provides it a little bit of persona.”

Watching Eve-Lily seamlessly navigate extra-bright tops or voluminous coats, there’s clearly no outfit idea too wacky or experimental her to strive. It’s made me suppose lots about my very own method to non-public type; why am I so afraid of venturing outdoors of the field? For spring, ought to I be difficult myself to include extra outré clothes into my appears to be like? Her content material has actually acted as an important reminder that style is supposed to be a type of self-expression.

Feeling impressed, I requested the creator the place she will get concepts for her new ensembles or styling concepts. “I like recreating runway appears to be like from my very own wardrobe with layering, pinning, and creativity,” she says. “I additionally ask my followers on tales what they’d wish to see me do.” Maybe I ought to take to my Instagram or TikTok to supply new outfit concepts. Really, that sounds horrifying—however I’ll take her suggestions for pulling off maximalism, ought to I embrace it. “Confidence, creativity, and the acceptance of haters,” she says, is the trick. “I noticed that having haters simply means I’m doing one thing totally different and attention-grabbing, which is precisely what I need to be. That shift in mindset gave me a lot extra confidence in my type—which meant I carried it so a lot better, too.”