Danielle Bernstein: Making Fashion Your New Reality
For those of you seeking a future in fashion design, this is the blog for you. I think we can all agree that social media has taken over our day-to-day life in one way or another. I mean, look at what you are doing right now - reading an online blog post and probably scrolling through Tik Tok at the same time… I know I am. When stepping into the influencer world, the social media world becomes a whole new reality. The blog posts and TikToks become about you. Under a microscope, you are faced with judgement, praise, questions, and little to no privacy. So the pizza you devoured at Baba's after a night out on Saturday is plastered for all your followers to criticize. Some of us could not imagine living a life like this. But for those of you infatuated, where do you start?
Being in the industry for over a decade, Danielle Bernstein is the perfect focus. In 2011, Danielle enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, soon transferring to the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Balancing school and her passion for design, she created a blog focusing on street style in the big city. As the world became more consumed by technology and media stars, she watched her Instagram gain popularity, boasting 3 million followers today. This opened her up to a whole new life of opportunity and triumph. And she ran with it.
At only 24 years old, Danielle has been able to venture off into many collaborations, be recognized for the Forbes 30 Under 30 List, launch her own clothing brand, Shop WeWoreWhat, and so much more. Before going on and on about her successes, let's dive deeper. In an interview with Vogue, Danielle emphasizes, “the world of influencing and fashion has changed so much since I started, and it is about how you adapt.” To keep up with the ongoing trends, Danielle has made a YouTube channel, a Podcast, and has even published a book, This is Not a Fashion Story.
On paper, she has a picture-perfect life. But as she grew in the spotlight, Danielle faced many controversies. From photoshopping her posts to accusations of copying designs, the number of haters began to catch up with her fans. So, how do you deal with the inevitable criticism? In Danielle's experience, she uses it to become better. She shares, "It would be crazy to say that every mistake didn't really help me as a person and a business owner.” She has learned “the importance of an air-tight contract in business.” Having full control over your brand is important as your name is attached to every product you put out. In her personal life, she learned to “embrace yourself and your body.” Nowadays, “people want to see raw and real and bad days, and haters just mean you are doing something right.”
Over the 12 years she has been in the fashion industry, Danielle has faced immense love and support but has also been on the verge of being “cancelled,” a term that didn’t even exist when she started. If there is one thing you can learn from her, it is to accept the fashion world for what it is. Work to keep up with the fast pace trends, and learn from your mistakes. Messing up is not a career-ender. Although it may not be as pretty as the vlogs or Instagram pictures, it is important to embrace every downfall and use it as a learning tool.