Instagram Influencer Spotlight On: Raquel DeRichs @Perfashionista

1) Tell us a little about yourself. What are you doing now and where do you come from?

I have spent my life working with two of my greatest passions: fashion and travel. I founded Perfashionista TM a lifestyle brand which encompasses both passions. I am the girl next door who was born and raised in Brazil, moved to the US on her own as a teenager and has traveled the world. I have been exposed to more places, cultures, trends, products than your average person or a few combined. I have done pretty much everything in the fashion world from modeling to designing, from styling to fashion merchandise. I’m also a luxury travel expert. Perfashionista is still on its infancy. Its website is about to be rolled out and will be a good mixture of all the above as a blog and handpicked items not to mention hand made items by me. I even have travel planning as part of the services offered in the future.

2) What are your topics of interest? What do you post on Instagram the most?

Lifestyle: fashion, travel, art. I try to incorporate everything as much as possible together. I like telling a story, take you in my travels or just through my day to day life which could be spent at sea in a 5 stars spa or in my bed staring at my red heart super comfortable socks a few days before Valentine’s Day. I like bringing you in.

3) How did your Instagram name come about?

My instagram name came from the brand I created Perfashionista – a name I gave myself: the world traveler fashionista! The name itself is open to many meanings.

4) What are some apps you use to edit your photos? Share with us your photo-editing routine!

I use a few: Frame Your life I mostly use for what the name suggests – framing. I don’t go crazy with frames just the white border most of the time. I use Perfect 365 for a few touch ups on my face. I have photoshop on my computer but rarely use it. I used to add my logo to the pictures but have came to the realization that takes away from the post. I had a few pics stolen a few times despite the fact the logo was there so what’s the point, right? If I don’t add the logo I feel I become more approachable.

5) Any Instagrammers whom you really like? Which Instagrammer inspires you the most?

I follow several well known accounts of huge companies such as Vogue – Spain, Brazil etc and much smaller accounts of bloggers who may have anywhere from 200 to 40 thousand followers. I feel everyone has something to add in their own way. It’s like people watching: someone may be covered in couture from head to toe and you look and then someone else comes right behind them dressed by Forever 21 and you say wow I like how she paired up the denim with that sweater and boots.

6) If there’s one thing your fellow Instagrammers just gotta try now, what’s it gonna be?

I can sell anything to anyone. I literally have sold from earrings that cost 15 bucks to world cruises that cost over 100K dollars. At the end of the day people will buy what they feel will make them feel good (and can afford). I find people are looking more for unique experiences nowadays inspired in a genuine way. I’m currently telling the story of my latest trip to San Juan Puerto Rico. I’m inspiring people to visit PR, telling them where to go when they are there, what to wear. I can pretty much do that with anywhere in the world, any clothes you throw at me because it’s not so much about the place and clothes but the way I tell the story I feel that matters.

7) What’s your favorite part about being an influencer?

I feel I have been an influencer my whole life. The PER in Perfashionista can be interpreted as “in according to” Fashionista. I enjoy persuading people, bringing them in. I enjoy the creative process which works similar to translating something from one language to another. I take a journal with a pink cover that reads a quote by Chanel “I don’t do fashion I am fashion” and I integrate that to my pink sewing scissors and pink measurement tape next to the keyboard on my desk. It’s no longer a quote on a notebook I got evidence ( I sew folks, I’m girly and creative). I enjoy collaborating, thinking outside of the box and interacting.

8) What are some of your top tips to brands for running campaigns? How do you maintain authenticity?

Like I said: you have to tell a story. It needs to be true to yourself. I feel I can put myself in a place, wearing something, eating something as I normally would if I was not being photographed.I take pictures I think I will never use or here’s a perfect example: I was leaving NYC on a cruise I was invited by the cruise line to take part on their inaugural and the person taking my pic said something to me as he was photographing me there in what was a moving moment to me: I brought my hands together as almost in prayer right in front of the World Trade Center (background). Later on I found this picture and used it as a message for Thanksgiving – it’s simple, “homemade” but extremely genuine. You can see it on my feed posted on 11/24. So long a pic can tell a story later it is a good picture! You don’t need to know what you will use for and say with it specifically when you are taking it.

9) What would your advice be on the importance of quality and original content?

Lighting is obviously one of the most important aspects of picture taking as is editing but so is finding a different angle. Pairing the unexpected, for instance. Viking Cruises got a nice ad from me – when I decided to incorporate my trendy shoes to the mat with their logo on it. That was the marriage of my passions right there. I believe I brought equal attention to both my stylish shoes as well as what company I was cruising while wearing them! That to me is originality – I went a step further in editing and moved the picture so that the tiles on the floor would NOT be perfect aligned going back to just the girl next door showing off her shoes aboard a ship certainly not an ad made by Madison Ave. I have learned a little “messy” translates to originality too. Real people don’t have every hair fall in place all the time.

10) What do you like best about partnering with brands?

I enjoy challenges. I enjoy immersing myself on what that product is meant to be, translating my experience to others. I like adding my two cents!

Topics:

• Architecture
• Art
• Cars & Motorcycles
• Celebrities
• Design
• DIY & Crafts
• Fashion
• Film, Music & Books
• Food & Drink
• Hair & Beauty
• Health & Fitness
• Humor
• Nature & Outdoors
• Photography
• Technology
• Travel

Country:

United States of America