The Outfit Finder on how she makes money Instagramming Love Island clothes
Are you (like us) obsessively wondering where you can buy Love Island Anna's bikinis? Or Amber's cute pj's? Or Molly-Mae's entire wardrobe?! We know someone who can help.
Credit: Laura Rider (The Outfit Finder) – Instagram
Laura Rider, a.k.a The Outfit Finder, can source the celebrity looks you love for no extra charge.
Followers don't have to pay a penny to find out where to buy Love Island outfits but, through clever marketing techniques, Laura's managed to turn her knack for online shopping into a nice little money earner.
We chatted to Laura in 2019 to find out everything from the story behind The Outfit Finder, to her tips on getting A-lister style for less, to (a big one) which Love Island couple she wanted to win...
The story behind The Outfit Finder
Credit: Laura Rider (The Outfit Finder) – Instagram
When we spoke to her, Laura Rider was completing a Media, Culture and Communications degree at Liverpool John Moores University. With a love for media and fashion, she launched The Outfit Finder and hopes to follow a career that combines her strongest interests after uni.
Now with around 100,000 followers, The Outfit Finder's quickly building a reputation for being a go-to place to discover where Love Island contestants get their clothes from.
After noticing that a lot of people wanted to know where their favourite celebrities shopped, but few were able to find out, Laura started the Instagram account. She told us:
I constantly used to notice hundreds of people commenting on the Instagram posts of celebrities, particularly reality stars, asking for their outfit details.
Reality stars are the big thing at the moment, so a lot of people follow their fashion.
Often they wouldn't tag the details or respond to comments.
With a good eye for fashion, Laura found she could quickly and easily identify where outfits were from online.
I am constantly online shopping and realised I would often recognise outfits from when I have been scrolling – I'd often just know where an outfit was from when I saw it.
I'm also very familiar with a lot of brands so sometimes recognise an outfit through the particular style of it.
If I don't recognise an outfit, I won't stop searching until I find it!
We all know the frustration of wanting one particular item of clothing but not being able to find it anywhere – so how does Laura manage it?
I'll check all of the most popular sites first, and use keywords to search for the item.
It can be frustrating to find some outfits as they can be from years ago and sold out. But I still search to find out where it was initially from so I can see if they have any similar styles, or if they plan to restock.
How does The Outfit Finder make money?
Credit: Laura Rider (The Outfit Finder) – Instagram
As The Outfit Finder began to build a following, top fashion brands started taking notice.
Although not affiliated with any TV shows or TV broadcasters like ITV, The Outfit Finder has affiliate links for some huge stores.
Affiliate links are pretty much just like normal links and don't charge users anything extra – the only difference is that whoever posts them can earn a bit of cash when someone uses them to make a purchase.
So, when Laura posts an affiliate link alongside an image of a celebrity wearing an outfit, she can earn a small percentage of whatever customers spend after clicking through from her page.
How did The Outfit Finder start using affiliate marketing?
I was contacted by an affiliate manager at Pretty Little Thing in around 2018. Since then, I've affiliated with even more amazing brands, such as ASOS, Missguided, Topshop and Boohoo.
It's only a small commission from the brands but it's nice to be in a way rewarded for my hours searching.
To find out how you could earn money from affiliate marketing online, check out our guides to making money from social media and from your website.
What's next for The Outfit Finder?
Credit: Laura Rider (The Outfit Finder) – Instagram
The Instagram page is growing mega quickly. The Outfit Finder's following rose rapidly when Laura created the account and it's attracted the attention of some big names.
While still at university, Laura manages the page alongside her studies and, if her follower count's anything to go by, she's doing a very good job. When chatting about how she balances work and uni, she told us:
It can be very hard to focus because I can't stop checking the page for outfit requests! I like to find them quick so end up glued to my phone sometimes.
Luckily, the summer break is helpful – I do try to go on the page during the evening though, when everyone else is also likely to be sat scrolling on their Instagram feeds.
The page showed no signs of slowing down. Laura said:
I will continue to find outfits that are sent to me through direct messages on Instagram.
There are so many reality stars and celebrities, so I don't think I'll run out of outfits to find.
There was one particularly exciting development that she was planning:
I'm also working on a men's outfit finder, so I'll have double the work!
How to get Love Island outfits on a budget
Credit: Laura Rider (The Outfit Finder) – Instagram
You might think people in the limelight all wear clothes with terrifying price tags – but that's not always the case, as The Outfit Finder shows. The chances are, you're already shopping at the same fashion stores as a lot of the people you see on TV.
But, when A-listers really do wear brands way outside of a student budget, there are easy ways to recreate the look for less.
Here are Laura's top tips on getting celebrity style without breaking the bank.
If you're looking to create celebrity looks for less, stick to brands such as Pretty Little Thing and Missguided. They're really cheap and usually offer discount codes.
If there is a celebrity outfit you like, but it's out of your price range, search for its key details on the cheaper websites so you can find similar matches. Include details such as the neckline style, the length of the sleeves, the colour.
The big online brands often make similar styles of more expensive brands too which is handy.
And, our favourite tip from Laura:
Accessories can make an outfit! A plain outfit can be easily made to look more expensive with a few layered necklaces and a nice belt.
Love Island fashion
Credit: Laura Rider (The Outfit Finder) – Instagram
Which contestant's style do you love the most on Love Island? We asked Laura which Islander had the most popular look:
Molly-Mae Hague has the most popular outfits at the moment – she already had a huge following before becoming a reality star so I think that's impacted it.
As an influencer, she already has amazing fashion too so I love finding her outfits and she's able to pull off anything!
Finally, the big one – who did Laura want to win Love Island?
My favourite from the start was Lucie, but when Joe left I supported Amber and Michael – I thought they were the most genuine!
Hoping for a new wardrobe without spending a fortune? Have a go at upcycling your clothes.
