Monikh Dale

Meet Monikh Dale: personal shopper turned Instagram superstar. She has 50k followers under her belt, runs a website dedicated to her personal style and is now signed with agency Premier. We step into her cozy South London flat on a cold Monday - Tom Ford candles are burning and Friends plays on the TV. Time to talk all things social media, shopping and the beauty of becoming your own boss.

Hi Monikh, thank you so much for being our Miss October! In a sentence: what's your personal style?

Underdressed and simple.

You were previously a personal shopper - you must have loads of tips (and juicy stories). Could you tell us a little more about what has brought you to this point?

It was a pretty authentic journey, as Instagram came about my clients started to notice my daily outfit posts, and requested a blog so they could know more about the look without having to come in and see me. The online influencer market was starting and I was lucky enough to see something move and jumped on at the right moment.

MISS OCTOBER 2 MISS OCTOBER 3 What's the best advice for buying a great winter wardrobe?

Quality is better than quantity. Spend money on an amazing coat, chic bag and classic pair of boots that will carry you through the season. You’re other basics will be the mix and match formula to help make the staples look different each day.

What's a day in the life of Monikh Dale like?

Manic. Researching trends, runway looks, editing photos, planning looks, writing. Seeing what’s new in on the high-street, and then online, EVERYDAY. As well as actually interacting with people at meetings and shoots.

MISS OCTOBER 4 MISS OCTOBER 5 What inspired you to make the move into working with social media full time?

I started doing it because I love writing, and I love making women feel empowered by the way they dress. It was a while into working part time on my ‘hobby’ that I realised there was a building market and I could make my future out of it. I loved the challenge of it being the unknown at the time, it felt a little entrepreneurial.

For those looking to up their Instagram game, what should we be doing?

Be yourself. No one wants thousands of the same thing.

MISS OCTOBER 6 Investment piece or impulse buy?

Investment. Always.

Best place in London to shop?

Selfridges.

What was the last piece of clothing you gave away, and why?

A dark brown faux fur coat to my little sister. She was sending me pictures of similar coats for her to buy for this Winter, and I felt bad having one with tags on in the wardrobe. She owes me.

MISS OCTOBER 7 MISS OCTOBER 8 You can have one hour in anyone's wardrobe - dead or alive - who would it be?