Do you know what it takes to become a beloved, buzzed-about influencer, buyer, or fashion editor with thousands of followers and scores of fawning comments on your every post? POWER! And no, we’re not referring to an ability to approve laws or attend global summits — we’re simply talking about a fully-charged phone battery. A career tied to social media requires that your mobile device be on and ready to capture a fleeting moment of video for a Story, hold hundreds of outtakes from your mirror-selfie sessions, notes for market appointments, and speedily load new Instagram posts as you scroll your feed — all while summoning an average of nine Ubers per day. While the success of an influencer hinges on a multitude of factors (not to mention a mysterious and ever-changing algorithm), a fully-powered cell phone is one of the most crucial ones — and that’s why many a digital maven swears by a mundane but much-needed secret weapon: the portable phone charger.
With New York Fashion Week wrapped up as of yesterday — and the remainder of fashion month just kicking off — the influencers and editors who have dutifully attended and documented every press preview, presentation, and show here in the Big Apple are coming off a week of heavy phone usage and serious reliance on the chargeable electric device that have bailed them out of many a low power mode jam. We polled some of our favorite friends on the feed about the portable chargers that they swear by to keep the updates coming during those crazy long 9 - 5 (a.m.) fashion month days.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.Julia Gall @juliasgall Accessories Editor, Marie Claire
Power Source: Moji Avocado Soft Touch External Battery 2600 MAH Power Bank, $29.99, available at Kohl’s.
[Ed note: Julia’s original fruit-shaped charger is no longer available online, so we found the closest produce-section approximation.]
“I have had this bright red apple-shaped charger since 2012. Inexplicably, I have never misplaced, left behind or let someone permanently borrow it. The same cannot be said for any other charger I’ve had, let alone any piece of technology after seven years. As a freelance fashion assistant, it was pitched to me via email from the press for this brand called Apel Pi and it was just too cute to NOT request a sample to try. It has survived 11 international fashion months and is actually part of the squad. Friends literally say “You know it’s fashion month when you got the Apple”, “Where’s the Apple?”, “The Apple just saved me”. It conjures a giggle from anonymous seatmates desperate for a charge or servers at a restaurant between shows. It’s cute, it’s somehow indestructible, it’s my essential fashion month mainstay. The grand takeaway is, take a chance on the cheap and cute charger if it makes you happy — who knows how long it will be a part of your life!”Ryan Norville @cinnamonryan Florist
Power Source: AWAY Carry-On With Ejectable Battery, $225, available at Away.
“I originally got my charger in an Away carry-on. After TSA regulations didn’t allow me to fly with the charger in the suitcase anymore, I started to carry it around with me for day to day use. I like that when I am traveling I can still store it in the suitcase so that I know where it is, and just pop it out before getting on a plane.”Erica Choi @eggcanvas Digital Design Director, Barneys
Power Soure: Anker PowerCore 13000 Mobile Charger, $37.99, available at Amazon.
“Anker battery chargers are workhorses, and the really minimal and chic aesthetic of their products doesn't hurt! I have this size for when I'm running around the city and need it for the entire day – it charges an iPhone X up to 3x, which is just perfect. I have the larger size for travel as well!” Adele Tetangco @buddy_lembeck Chief Merchant and Marketing Officer, Brand Assembly
Power Source: Apple XS Smart Battery Case, $129, available at Apple.
“I got tired of carrying around a portable charger and a cord. So I decided to go with something that attaches to my phone. With this Apple charger/case combo, my phone lasts all day.”Shea Daspin @shea.daspin Creative stylist, Express
Power Source: Anker PowerCore II 20000, $59.99, available at Amazon
“My Amazon charger is pure functionality — it charges overnight and then holds eight full charges throughout the day, with two USB ports that can work simultaneously! It’s a bit clunky, so I don’t carry it at night in my clutches, but besides that, I've literally never run out of juice, no matter how many apps are running.”Sherri McMullen @shopmcmullen Founder, McMullen
Power Source: Xtorm Power Bank, about $44, available at Xtorm
“Fashion week is both fun and hectic so I need something that can keep my phone charged through shows, meetings, and into dinner with friends. I use the Xtorm portable charger since it’s sleek looking yet charges my phone quickly.”
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