Jennifer Inglis, better known as The Style Crusader, has lived a life defined by movement across borders, careers, and a shifting perspective on fashion. A childhood split across nine countries led to building a successful blog and walking away from the influencer bubble. In hindsight, they’re experiences for which to be grateful. Now based in the Midwest, Inglis has become known for her look at thoughtful consumption, preaching a message resonating with hundreds of thousands: “What you have is good enough.”
FROM REBEL PRINCESSES TO REFINED BRUTALISM: CHRISTINE BOLAND EXPLAINS FASHION’S FUTURE MOODS
IN CONVERSATION WITH “STYLE CRUSADER” JENNIFER INGLIS
Open your favorite social media app, and you’ll be hit with content creators pushing the latest trends, must-have pieces, and this week’s viral “it” item. Sure, it’s fun to follow fashion shows, scroll street style, and save outfit inspo—but let’s be honest, it’s getting out of hand. Enter Jennifer Inglis, better known online as The Style Crusader, who’s cutting through the noise with a message that feels like a breath of fresh air. “What you have is good enough.” She says, “Your clothes are worthless if you don’t wear them.” And the real flex? “A tiny closet filled with pieces you truly love and wear all the time.”
By turning 18, you had lived in nine different countries. How did that shape who you are today, and what is your relationship with clothing?
“I’ve never thought about it, but it had a huge impact. My dad worked for a U.S. defense contractor, so we spent my childhood living in places like Pakistan and Egypt—countries where you couldn’t find the clothes a Western teenager in the ’80s or ’90s would typically want to wear. We’d go back to the States twice a year and do all our shopping at once. Those trips felt magical. The mall was more than just a place to buy jeans that fit—it was a whole experience. Shopping became emotional, not just practical. That shaped the way I think about fashion to this day.”
“Things shifted when I hit high school—it became harder to keep starting over. But I wouldn’t trade the experience. Living in so many different cultures gave me a perspective most people don’t get, and I’m grateful for that.”
How did your journey as a blogger begin?
“It started while doing my master’s in political theory at the London School of Economics. Right before the program began, I looked at the huge stack of heavy books and thought, ‘I need something fun and creative to balance this out.’ So, I started a blog. I was taking mirror selfies with my Sony camera, showing my outfits. Then, I moved to London and met other bloggers. This was pre-Instagram—everything lived on blogs. I went to Fashion Week, shot street style, and started getting invited to showrooms. It all took off right when brands started working with bloggers.”
At 30, your blog had fallen apart, and you were $60,000 in student loan debt. What happened next—and how did that shift your perspective?
“After graduating, I moved to Switzerland with my husband and couldn’t find a job, so I did the blog full-time for five years. It went well—I collaborated with major brands and traveled a lot. But when we moved to St. Louis for my husband’s job, everything changed. There’s not much fashion here—no PR agencies, no designer community. I lost my network and the creative energy that came with it. Without a community, it stopped being fun. I was also getting older and thinking about kids, so I started to want a more grounded life.”
And how did that change your view of life?
“It was tough. The people I started blogging with had become big-time influencers. Watching from a distance made me feel like I’d missed out. But stepping away helped me see how performative and superficial it can be. Having kids helped me reconnect with what’s real. It pulled me out of the influencer bubble, and I realized: this is what life looks like.”
Your mantra—“What you have is good enough”—has become a signature on social media. How did that message come about?
“For the past decade, I haven’t had the extra money to spend on clothes. That forced me to be honest about what I need. I realized it’s not seasonal trends—it’s pieces that last. Constantly seeing influencers push the next must-have made me feel overwhelmed and frustrated. One day, I recorded a simple video saying, ‘What you have is good enough. You don’t need anything else.’ It went viral—half a million views. That told me I wasn’t alone. Since then, I’ve made more videos with that same message, and people have told me it’s helped them save money and rethink their habits.”
“But I’m not perfect either. I’ve loved shopping since I was little. When I buy something new, people call me out: ‘Wait, I thought we didn’t need this?’ It’s about balance. I try to be content with what I have. Buying something new won’t make my life fuller—it’s just stuff.”
Looking back, how did it feel when fashion dictated your life and the blog became your full-time job?
“It was overwhelming. The mental toll of constantly documenting my life made me pull back. At the time, it was all about getting snapped by street-style photographers at Fashion Week. If they didn’t shoot you, it felt like you failed. That kind of pressure was exhausting. Having kids shifted things for me—I no longer want to share everything online.”
You went from a massive walk-in closet to a small, curated wardrobe. How did that transformation begin?
“It’s been hard. Clothes carry emotion and guilt, especially when you’ve spent a lot on them. I’m still working on it. But I started by pulling out the pieces I loved most and hanging them on a separate rack. It wasn’t about creating the perfect capsule—it was just about identifying the fillers, the pieces I didn’t love but kept anyway. I didn’t miss most of them. And without all the clutter, getting dressed felt easier. Decision fatigue disappeared. Seeing only your favorite things—it’s powerful.”
What advice would you give to someone who wants to do the same?
“Don’t try to do it all simultaneously—it’ll paralyze you. Start by identifying the clothes you wear and love the most. That’s who you are right now. Then, go from there. Be realistic.”
Your “Pick or Skip” video series has been gaining much attention. Why do you think it’s resonating?
“It’s fun and a little controversial. People love a hot take. It’s about helping viewers determine what’s worth buying and what’s not. I hope to inspire people to buy things they’ll still wear in five years. Americans donate around 100 pounds of clothing per person every year—that’s wild. We need less. Guidance helps.”
You’ve pinned a Rick Rubin quote to your Instagram: “The goal is not to fit in.” How does that philosophy show up in your work?
“Instagram used to intimidate me—I didn’t have the latest designer bag or a perfect backdrop. I felt like my content didn’t fit. TikTok changed that. It’s less polished, more real. That idea—‘don’t fit in’—is core to what I do now.”
You often list what people don’t need: no polka dots, no butter yellow, no pajama co-ords. So, what do people need?
“Clothes that reflect your life and your taste. For me, a great pair of jeans goes a long way. You don’t need much else when you feel good about what you’re wearing. Start with pieces you wear constantly, then add fun pieces that bring joy. It’s about mixing the foundational with the expressive.”
Do you ever get tempted by trends?
“All the time! That’s why I make the ‘things you don’t need’ videos—they’re for me too. I sit at my desk and scroll just like everyone else. Shopping is fun. But I need the reminders.”
What are your go-to brands for timeless, quality pieces?
“I love La Ligne—they make beautiful sweaters. Pistola Denim is a new favorite: great quality, without designer prices. But mostly, I go straight to the OGs. If you want sandals, buy Birkenstocks—they’ve been doing it right forever. It’s the same with Barbour jackets. They may cost more, but they’ll last you fifteen years. Heritage brands know what they’re doing. The original is usually best.”
What would you tell your younger self—or anyone growing up in today’s social media world—about this?
“Be kind to yourself. You don’t have to figure it all out right now. Experiment, have fun, and don’t take it too seriously. It might feel like everything online matters—but it doesn’t.”
Are you worried about the potential TikTok ban?
“I have mixed feelings. TikTok is where I’ve seen the most growth. But if it disappears? Maybe I’d stop posting altogether. And honestly, that might be freeing. Like the end of an era.”
Follow Jennifer Inglis on TikTok: @stylecrusader
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