One To Watch: New York Based Fashion & Beauty Influencer, Tones Of Trends
Tones of Trends, started by Aissata in 2019, is a creative outlet for Aissata to share her love for all things fashion and beauty related. She is based in New York, and her Instagram feed is made up of neutral tones and chic style outfits. Aissata posts all about beauty and fashion while showcasing her amazing photography skills. Her goal is to share her favorite brands, trends, and fashion while giving viewers a special insight into city life. In addition to her Instagram page, Tones of Trends also has a blog where Aissata puts together trendy outfits and shares them with readers. She links all the pieces to her outfits so followers can easily recreate the same look. Today, she has over 2,000 followers on Instagram alone, and continues to grow more each day.
Image sourced from @tonesoftrends
What inspired you to get into fashion and blogging?
I consider myself to be an introvert and fashion has always been an outlet for me to show my personality without muttering a word. My blog and Instagram is just an extension of that.
My first exposure to blogging was in 2010, I was still in high school and I just remember being completely obsessed and spending all of my free time frequenting the famous blogs at the time, including Fashion Toast by Rumi Neely, Karla’s Closet by Karla Deras and Sincerely Jules by Jules Sarinana. These girls represented ‘girl boss’ personas to me and were eventually the inspiration for me to start my own blog when I finally moved to NYC in 2018.
How has your social media presence and your blog changed your life so far?
Attending New York fashion week for sure has been a highlight. This was something I had on my bucket list for as long as I can remember and accomplishing that within the first year I started my blog gave me the push that I needed to realize that I’m in the right place in life.
I’ve also worked with amazing brands, made great connections and met amazing people in the industry because of it. And getting recognized outside of social media from time to time is something I’m still getting used to.
Image sourced from @tonesoftrends
How would you describe your personal style?
Clean, minimal and well put together.
Do you think your personal style has evolved due to your social media presence?
Definitely. Social media has allowed me to turn off the noise (which it tends to have a lot of, with new trends popping up every so often). I’m very much confident in my personal style now because of it. I don’t follow trends as much and my closet is very much curated; I stick to the classics and things that work for me.
Image sourced from @tonesoftrends
What was the process of starting your blog and gaining such a large following?
When I started this process, my focus was never on a number. It was about building a close-knitted community and I feel like I’ve definitely accomplished that. It’s this community that few know about and almost feels exclusive and I love that about my brand. I consider my followers as friends, whom I talk to on a daily through DM’s, comments, etc. and I want them to see me as their personal stylists and as someone they can go to for any of their style concerns. That has always been the goal.
What would you say is the hardest aspect of being a social media influencer?
Juggling it with real life. I have a full time demanding job in advertising outside of it and sometimes it’s challenging to juggle everything at once, but at the same time I consider Tones of Trends to be my passion and it’s never felt like work. If anything, it’s what I gravitate to when I want to take my mind off everything else.
Image sourced from @tonesoftrends
On your blog you share many outfits with readers, what has been your favorite outfit that you’ve put together?
This one! I still think about it all the time. The green suit, the green wall, the white sunglasses. It was just a moment when all elements came together in a photo and created Magic! https://www.tonesoftrends.com/2019/07/08/emerald-green-dreams/
Do you have a specific source of inspiration that you look to when curating your outfits?
I’ve always looked to everyday people for inspiration. So street style photos, people in my life, my neighborhood in Lower Manhattan. New York City is such a hub to get inspired the minute you step outside and that’s why I love living here.
I also curate outfits based on my mood, so depending, you can find me being super girly one day and a tomboy the next. So in that sense, I don’t like to keep myself in one category and I think personal style is definitely very much that. It’s what works for YOU as an individual.
Image sourced from @tonesoftrends
Where do you hope to see Tones of Trends in the future?
I don’t think I want to take the typical ‘influencer’ route with Tones of Trends. I consider myself as more of a creator and along with that I want to continue creating quality content for my audience and see where that takes the brand. I see myself creating something innovative with Tones of Trends in the future that no one has done before. It’s something I think about everyday and when that idea comes to me, I won’t second-guess it one bit.
Can you share your socials with us?
Instagram: @Tonesoftrends
Pinterest: Tones of Trends
Website: www.tonesoftrends.com
Article by Arushi Telwar, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Maelle Eugene, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
