The days of traditional shopping - long lines, paying full price - are long gone thanks to technology. Whether it's a sample sale, homemade accessories or an exclusive luxury piece, it can all be yours thanks to your smartphone or tablet. When it comes to getting shopping right, these 9 apps are the best of the best.
This fabulous app gathers products from hundreds of online stores, allows users to browse for products by brands, color, price and more. ShopStyle links directly to retailers' websites where users can make instant purchases. It also saves your favorite items, which can be shared with friends on Facebook or Twitter. And if that weren’t enough, the app sends notifications when specific products go on sale. That’s the art of shopping perfected if you ask us.
The eBay Fashion app focuses on helping buyers browse and find new and used fashion items easily. The best part? The amazingly simple search feature. It offers a broad range of refinement options that allows to quickly narrow down the exact product that you are looking for. When you save items to favorites, the application stores them in the Closet section, there, you can drag and drop items into another window to compose an outfit and save it. Something that organizes our outfits quickly and easily? Sold.
This year, fashion addicts went crazy for fast fashion/designer collaborations and drooled over the wardrobe of stylish uber famous sisters (see: Solange & Beyonce; Ashley & Mary-Kate). Well, in the case your favorite department store is out of the trend your heart belongs to, this European e-tailer gives you everything you need. A fabulous part of this app offers a “Toplook” section populated with designer outfits worn by your favorite celebrities. And the app is totally in your budget: it’s free.
We went bananas when Zara offered online shopping in September. Rightfully so. While it’s not as imaginative or visually stimulating like the rest of the apps on this list, it gets you straight to the product without any hassle. It’s organized and uncomplicated which is the way shopping should be. We dare you not to get addicted.
In case you need unbiased shopping opinions from others, Pose is the way to go. It’s the latest fashion app to boast photo-sharing integration. Don’t you like to get your friends’ advice before you make a big purchase? Pose understands and make it possible with their app. You photograph the items you want and upload them to the app. Friends can immediately ‘love," share, or comment on the photograph, so you can shop with confidence.
When our favorite high-class yet affordable department store launched an app, it seemed appropriate (and may we say, overdue?) The chic, stocked “Style Watch” section will ensure you are buying on trend and if that’s not enough you can scan the barcode in store to find items online or in another store in your size if it’s not available at your current location.
Popular shopping website, Etsy, is now a well-designed app. Inspect the suggested “Treasury Lists” on the homepage of the app or browse by category such as art, candles, crochet, geekery and much more. Not only is it visually appealing, but user-friendly for both buyers and sellers alike. Etsy has now become synonymous with exclusive. And now it’s available at your fingertips.
If there’s one thing about online luxury sample sale site, Gilt, is that it’s insightful. You can grab and drag items into your shopping cart, so there’s not much moving around to various screens. It has a very catalog feeling which if you’re into shopping – you’ll love. You can flip through Gilt’s new items every week by designer & label. Gilt’s also notorious for hosting sales targeted only to iPad and iPhone shoppers. Apple lovers have been treated to exclusive sales with products generously priced. It’s safe to say you’ll be hooked. Talk about a guilty pleasure.
Your favorite UK stockist with your favorite luxury labels will easy become your favorite app. With an immaculate weekly mag showing off their new products and featuring exclusive interviews, you can also touch what you like and instantly shop for it. Love it? Click it, then shop it. Isabel Marant and Chloé while you wait/rest/play? Hello? We’re in.
