It started about 10 years ago when I was at MacEwan and did my first field placement in Toronto.
Anton Atienza is serious about style. Having started a fashion and lifestyle inspired Instagram page as one of Edmonton’s original fashion bloggers over a decade ago, Anton has built a recognizable brand with a carefully curated page of graceful photography and original content. He describes his style as “very casual, a lot of oversized pieces and athleisure.
”When I met Anton many years ago at the JubileeAuditorium during a musical performance, one of the first things he asked me was if I had an Instagram profile. “You have to be on Instagram,” I remember him saying. So the next day, I found myself in this mythical land of fashion and style, and he was my first ‘follow’.Anton’s page, constructed by his analytical eye, was well designed, influencing others before he became an actual influencer.
Now, years later, Anton collaborates and creates content with global brands like Jo Malone London, Timex, Amazon Fashion, as well as local ones like Kaavish Spa and Londonderry Mall. His style is evolving, still keeping those clear-cut and precise elegant lines, while favouring unisex pieces that speak both fashion and casual language, and designers that fit his lifestyle.
Remembering how he started his career, Anton says it happened as a bit of a felix culpa. “It started about 10 years ago when I was at MacEwan and did my first field placement in Toronto. A blog was one of the requirements of the program to keep in touch with my instructor and other students.” In these early years, before social media became what it is today, Anton was writing his own copy, taking photos, attending events and curating all this content to present it once he was back in Edmonton.That’s when he started getting really invested in social media, particularly after meeting Marielle TerHart, a plus-size, ethical fashion and lifestyle content creator, as they worked together at a social media agency and on various projects in the city.And from there, it snowballed. He started styling people for photoshoots, growing into a visual merchandising role, and developing meaningful relationships with local and international brands.
When he reflects on developing his style and brand in the digital world, he says it was a lot of trial and error. Once he started finding his own style as a teenager, his go-tos were People Magazine and Teen People. Today, he looks at celebrity stylists like Maeve Reilly to find inspiration. “Maeve really gave Hailey Bieber a 360 with her image. From the typical LA rich girl to a very polished woman with amazing street style and red carpet fashion.”
Having started a fashion and lifestyle inspired Instagram page as one of Edmonton’s original fashion bloggers over a decade ago, Anton has built a recognizable brand with a carefully curated page of graceful photography and original content.
Taupe Blazer – The Frankie Shop
Archer Pants – Aritzia
Blue 90’s Jeans – ZARA
Sea Salt Puddle Sandal – Bottega Veneta
Butter Faux Leather Blazer – The Frankie Shop
White Ribbed Tee – H&M
Blue 90’s Jeans – ZARA
White Air Force One “A” Necklace
His absolute favourite item (right now) is a Frankie Shop blazer; so oversized, you can dress it up or down, perfect for any occasion, and just as importantly, it has perfect quality.“Their gender-neutral pieces are everything right now,” says Anton about Frankie Shop, a brand that’s being worn by celebrities all over the world, putting them in their realm right now.
As an influencer, he finds it flattering when people try to recreate his style, as fashion is all about echoing various styles and influences you surround yourself with. His favourite social media personalities? Locally, Linda Hoang who is always doing exciting stuff and offers the best advice on local eateries.Globally, Maeve Reilly, of course. He loves her way of revamping the styles of celebrities.
If he was to offer advice to other influencers, it would revolve around being authentic, talking to the community you’re trying to build, and being consistent with your image and content.
Anton’s top three luxuries?
“Travel. I actually love going back to the old places I’ve been to. NYC is a perfect example – I get to visit my family there, shop around at Soho and go to my favourite café. Feels so good to be back. Next, it’s skincare, mixing and matching products from affordable to higher-priced; I love finding great products to incorporate into my regime. And finally, health and wellness – being able to work out and eat good food.”
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