I've Been a Stylist for 15 Years—Here Are the 11 Brands I Can't Get Enough of RN

In our Ask a Stylist series, we're tapping a new expert each month to weigh in with all of their style insights. Return for a professional's perspective on what to know in fashion.

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(Image credit: @sophielopez)

Stylist Sophie Lopez is known for dressing celebs such as Kate Hudson and Ashley Madekwe for the red carpet. With 15 years under her belt as a celebrity stylist, she’s an expert at styling her clients in designer looks for red carpet events like the Met Gala and Emmys. When it comes to her personal style, though, she gravitates more toward independent designers, which we were curious to hear more about.

"Generally, for myself, I shop the independent, smaller brands because I just find sometimes it’s a bit more wearable,” Lopez explains. "Whenever I buy really fancy clothes, I don’t wear them because they’re too fancy, and I don’t want to wear them. I’m like, ‘I need to protect it.’” That’s why you’ll find plenty of cool up-and-coming labels on her Instagram that you’ll definitely want to take note of.

For Lopez, social media is a source for discovering many of the pieces in her closet. "I find loads of brands on Instagram,” she explains. "Instagram’s really great for finding those little, lesser well-known brands that are not always sold at the big department stores.” Here, get a taste of Lopez’s personal style that’s steeped in fun prints, bold colors, and up-and-coming brands, and shop the designers she can’t get enough of right now.

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(Image credit: @sophielopez)

The brand: Miaou

What to buy: corset-inspired pieces and bold prints

Shop Miaou:

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(Image credit: @sophielopez)

The brand: Nanushka

What to buy: vegan-leather pieces and cool accessories

Shop Nanushka:

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(Image credit: @sophielopez)

The brand: House of Sunny

What to buy: bold prints and colors

Shop House of Sunny:

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(Image credit: @sophielopez)

The brand: Dion Lee

What to buy: cutout tops and modern tailoring

Shop Dion Lee:

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(Image credit: @sophielopez)

The brand: Rixo

What to buy: colorful, printed pieces

Shop Rixo:

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(Image credit: @sophielopez)

The brand: Miista

What to buy: sculptural shoes

Shop Miista:

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(Image credit: @sophielopez)

The brand: Rejina Pyo

What to buy: printed tops and modern footwear

Shop Rejina Pyo:

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(Image credit: @sophielopez)

The brand: Who What Wear Collection

What to buy: elevated basics

Shop Who What Wear Collection:

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(Image credit: @sophielopez)

The brand: Hosbjerg

What to buy: printed pants

Shop Hosbjerg:

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(Image credit: @sophielopez)

The brand: Belle

What to buy: pretty swimwear

Shop Belle:

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(Image credit: @sophielopez)

The brand: Tyler McGillivary

What to buy: colorful prints

Next: The 12 Editor-Approved Trends I'm Wearing Until Further Notice

Associate Director, Special Projects

Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury content and wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, MyTheresa, and Luisa Via Roma, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on assistant styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.