The Art of Authenticity: The Evolution of WeWoreWhat with Founder and CEO Danielle Bernstein
The Art of Authenticity: The Evolution of WeWoreWhat with Founder and CEO Danielle Bernstein
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Danielle beleives authenticity and staying true to yourself is the most important thing when you’re an influencer.
“Learning how to say no has been one of the hardest parts of my career. Thankfully, it's helped me earn the trust of my followers. If I said yes to every deal that came my way, I would be promoting every tummy tea and gummy bear supplement, and that just wouldn't be authentic to my brand.”
— Danielle Bernstein
What makes a great influencer? Danielle Bernstein, Founder and CEO of WeWoreWhat believes it's all about authenticity and staying true to yourself. With over 13 years of experience as an influencer, Danielle has always been transparent with her audience. This allowed her to build trust and longevity when releasing or promoting products. Today, she joins us on this episode of The Speed of Culture to share her inspiring journey as an iconic fashion influencer.
Danielle's rise in the fashion industry has been nothing short of extraordinary. Her world-renowned fashion blog, WeWoreWhat, which launched in 2010, now boasts more than two million followers on Instagram alone. In addition to her success as an influencer, Bernstein was recognized by Forbes “30 Under 30” at just 24 years old. She has also launched multiple companies—including tech startup MOE and clothing brand Shop WeWoreWhat.
Tune into the latest episode or read the transcript below to learn about the role of authenticity and transparency in influencer marketing.
Authenticity as a Currency: Authenticity is the key ingredient for an influencer, which is vital to effectively influence consumer purchasing and establish a genuine connection with your audience. As an influencer, only promote products you truly believe in. By being transparent about your experiences, you will cultivate trust and longevity in the relationship with consumers.
Mental Health in the Influencer's World: By sharing her life journey, including both struggles and wins, Danielle has cultivated a sense of connection with her audience, which proved effective in creating a loyal following. However, she highlights the mental toll of constantly “being on.” Balancing personal openness with mental well-being is crucial for anyone in the public eye to reach long-term success.
Genuinity Over Perfection: It’s important not to overthink the content creation process or fixate on likes or community engagement. Genuine and less-curated content often resonates more with audiences. Focus on creating organic, relatable content that reflects real moments. This mindset helps you foster a more authentic connection with followers and streamlines the content creation.
From Influencer to Fashion Mogul: Danielle's journey from influencer to fashion entrepreneur showcases the role of ownership and strategic thinking in building a lasting brand. Recognizing the fleeting nature of influence, she leveraged her audience's insights and personal taste to identify market gaps, starting a swimwear line that closed $2 million in sales on launch day. Danielle's approach helped her diversify her revenue streams beyond influencing
Thriving in the Creator Economy: In the crowded creator economy, where everyone from micro-influencers to established names competes for attention, the market's oversaturation poses a challenge in distinguishing genuine, trustworthy content. Even small influencers can effectively market products if their audience is highly engaged. However, effective content creation is about selective partnerships and maintaining authenticity. This selective approach builds trust with followers and ensures long-term credibility in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
Listen to Danielle on the Speed of Culture podcast today and discover the evolution of WeWoreWhat.
