Thinking of becoming an influencer in 2019? Here's how Hello Fashion turned her side hustle into 1 million followers...
In 2019, 'influencer' has become many people's idea of a dream job. And why not? It's the perfect balance of creativity, freedom and fun, with many who have 'made it' saying they wouldn't change it for the world.
Christine Andrew, founder of clothing label Shop Hello Fashion and blog, Hello Fashion , has been in the influencer game for over seven years and her feed is total fashion, lifestyle and family #goals.
She knows her stuff and is selfless enough to share her insider secrets with anyone looking to grow their own following. Here, she chats to GLAMOUR about how she turned her 'side hustle' into a successful business, insider Instagram tricks and her current beauty routine...
Gets rejected from fashion school. Starts own label anyway.
For many influencers, starting a brand usually comes second. But for Christine, it was the complete opposite. "After being rejected from fashion school, I was determined to find my own outlet to share my creativity, love of fashion, and other things I am passionate about", she says.
"So in 2011, as a 'side hustle' (to working as an assistant manager at Aldo shoes in a shopping centre) I started my clothing line ILY Couture, which has since transformed into ShopHelloFashion." "I wanted a way to show some of the products we were selling, and I loved sharing my fashion finds that were on sale, so I started my blog, Hello Fashion." In her first year of launching the blog, Christine says she didn't post that often, with just one post a week. But in the second year, she became more consistent and increased her posts which saw her following take off.
Instagram filters, presets and getting 'the shot'
Now with 1 million followers on Instagram, Christine is pretty open about sharing the secrets behind her profile.
When it comes to curating her feed, she admits she does try to keep her posts unified. "That’s one of the reasons I made my own presets (which can be purchased and used to filter your own photos) because it helps unify the colours", she says. "Sometimes I do think I overthink it, but I try to go with the flow when I can!"
As for how long it takes to get 'the shot', Christine says this varies from picture to picture. "Sometimes it’s only two or three takes, sometimes it’s a picture someone else took that I just love, and sometimes I can take over 100 pictures and still feel like I don’t have the one I want!"
"Especially when I am doing creative shoots, I will have a clear vision of what I want to capture so it can take hundreds of shots to get the exact photo to tell the story I want to tell."
When travelling, Christine uses a Canon Mark 3 camera, but majority of the time her photos are taken on iPhone.
How to stop breakouts? Hand soap, apparently...
With so many followers, Christine gets a lot of questions. And aside from queries about her family and growing an audience, she's asked a lot about skincare.
"I firmly believe that consistency is key and the best way to achieve good skin year-round", she says. "I use retinol every night. I used to be hesitant about using it because my skin is so sensitive, but I love Vichy’s LiftActiv Retinol (Liftactiv Complete Anti-Wrinkle And Firming Night Care is the UK equivalent at £30). I also swear by SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore Moisturiser (£130). It’s an investment, but 100 per cent worth it!"
As for banishing breakouts, Christine reveals a bit of an unusual approach...
"It seems like everyone tells you not to use hand soap on your face, but if I have a breakout, for some reason if I use hand soap for one night it always clears it up!", she says. "It must dry it out or something. I wouldn’t do this repeatedly but it works for a breakout here and there."
Second or third day hair is better than freshly washed. Fact.
Think influencers have all the time in the world to look pretty? Think again.
"My hair is in a messy bun 75 per cent of the time because I don’t have time to get ready", says Christine. "Dry shampoo is my lifesaver."
"Although freshly washed hair feels amazing, I try not to wash my hair too often. I personally love day two and three hair because by then any frizz has calmed down. I find that it is much more manageable and just works better in my favourite messy bun, or a blowout."
Current makeup favourites
Christine's makeup is always on point and she tends to favour a bronzed look and bold lashes, with the occasional red lip. These are her current makeup bag favourites:
Hoola Matte Bronzing Powder, £26, Benefit
Climax Mascara, £21, Nars
Combo Control Milky Face Primer, £25, Bareminerals
Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner, £19, Nars
Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation, £32, Lancôme
Being a 'blended' family & sharing kids online
Since starting Hello Fashion seven years ago, Christine says the biggest change in her blog is that it's no longer just about her. "As my audience and family has grown, people have become interested in what my family is doing as well. So we started a page for my husband Cody and my son Beckam to focus more on family and lifestyle instead of just fashion."
"I have a lot of fellow moms that follow me with kids of a similar age who can relate and enjoy hearing about him and want to know details on his clothes. Beckam is such a main part of my life and my blog, so it felt natural to create an account for him for us to use for him as he grows up."
Christine says she receives loads of questions about being a stepmum and having a blended family, which is why she shares her experiences.
"I share a lot of our life, but if our kids aren’t in the mood at a certain time, I never force them to be on it or have their photo taken. We still keep a lot of moments for ourselves, but I am always honest about what’s going on in our life. My kids are such a big part of my life so it would be hard for me not to include them."
The future of influencers & career advice
No matter what the future holds, Christine doesn't think influencers will be going anywhere any time soon (yes, even if Instagram dies a slow death).
"I think the industry is always evolving and the platform could possibly shift, but connecting and sharing their voice is something that people will always be wanting to do in some way."
So if you're still looking to pursue a career as an influencer, Christine shares her pointers...
Find something unique that you can bring to the industry, be true to your voice and don’t try to imitate what others are doing.
Success doesn't happen overnight, it takes time. If you are really passionate about a career in the fashion industry then eat, breathe, and live fashion. There's more to it than just pretty clothes, so be prepared to work hard.
Don't just be in it to make money. Do any job with passion because you love it and eventually you will be able to make a career out of it.
I saw this quote on Pinterest a couple years ago: 'Work while they sleep, learn while they party, save while they spend, live like they dream.' It always really stuck with me. If you want to achieve big dreams and goals it doesn't come without sacrifice in the beginning.
