Style Inspiration? There's An App For That!
We live in an information age, a time also known as the computer age or digital age. Global economies are now based on the computerization of information; just ask any big organization how much they spend on backing-up of crucial company data. This therefore means that information is the new currency. I've said a mouthful there haven't I? Before I get carried away with my nerdy computer language, what this simply means is that we live in an era where computers allow us to explore all our personalized needs thus simplifying our decision making processes.
In the world of fashion, the information age could not have come at a more appropriate time, there is literally an app (a software application designed to perform certain tasks) for everything these days. I will probably get crucified by the chairperson of the stylists'-secrets-community, *chuckle*, for sharing such but I will go ahead anyway. As a stylist, I swear by these fashion apps and if you can, download them, use them, you may find that they are equally useful for you too. Yes, we say it everyday that style is personal and what-not but everyone needs some form of inspiration or the other, right?
*Pose (www.pose.com)
This is the holy grail of fashion apps and is available for iPhone, iPads and Android gadgets. What this app does is, it enables you to see what to wear, how to wear it, what to wear it with and where to wear it. It is a central collection of tips and tricks, complete with a lot of images from all the world's top fashion trendsetters. The fashion tips and style inspiration there are absolutely invaluable. So the next time someone buys you a hat and you do not know what to wear it with, Pose will probably be your best starting point.
*Polyvore (www.polyvore.com)
This is the ultimate style guide. On Polyvore you can create looks, see which colours work best with which colours and play around with different style items. Imagine you had a wardrobe with limitless and countless clothing items, accessories etc, Polyvore is that online wardrobe. The app also tells you how much each look costs and where you can get the items from. It is sheer brilliance.
*Trendstop (www.trendstop.com)
This app has the latest fashion trend forecasts, trend analysis as well as retail store trends, street fashion trends etc. Basically if you want to know what will be on trend next season and how to wear it, this is the app for you. It is highly usefully to full-time fashion buyers and stylists but even ordinary folk looking to have a distinct style may find it useful.
*ShopStyle (www.shopstyle.com)
If you prefer overseas online shopping (which by the way, believe it or not, sometimes works out cheaper than buying locally) then you will love this app. It is like window shopping online in over 2000 stores all at once. The clothes and accessories are well organized, making your life even easier.
*Pintrest (www.pintrest.com)
As the name suggests, on this app you can 'pin' various items that interest you and fashion is very big on the app as many people pin and share fashion pieces that inspire them or their looks. It is also a great way to market you products if you are in the fashion industry, for example.
Sometimes I wonder how we ever survived without our gadgets and smartphones, we literally carry our lives in those things now. From cellphone banking, to cooking, to getting dressed and everything in between. Do you have any apps that make your life easier, what are they, fashion or otherwise?
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Written By: Koko Shabangu
