The 7 incontournable fashion apps

Knowing that fashion is the most purchased sector on the internet, and that 9.3 million French people buy from their smartphone (Source: Fevad/CSA – January 2017), it seems obvious why fashion concepts export to mobile apps. And since fashion industry is an ever-changing sector, always having the last updates available is what the fashion community is expecting for.

 

In France, in 2016, the fashion industry generated a direct turnover of 150 billion euros, which makes it the first business sector (source: IFM). No wondering why entrepreneurs get their interest into it, and why mobile apps relative to fashion have mushroomed these past years. However, most of them have drowned: even though the fashion addicts’ community is rather large, it also is a community in which people get bored easily, they are eager for changes, and they expect aestheticism and ergonomics to be irreproachable. Today, we are taking you on a tour to review the 7 indispensable free fashion apps that have proven to be references.

 

Vogue Runway:

With Vogue Runway app, created by Condé Nast in 2015, no more need for invitation cards to see the most prized runway. The app gives an unlimited access to haute-couture and ready-to-wear runways anywhere in the world, for both men and women collections.

The application features numerous designers, pictures of new and past collections together with expert’s reviews. Vogue Runway could be referred to as a fashion bible, and is an incredible source of information that gives great insights on fashion in general, but also on trends from last years, since archives go back until 2000s! And for those of you missing inspiration, the app also features street styles, with the best looks spotted all over the world.

And even if social networks give us the opportunity to watch runways as they happen, it can be hard to be aware of everything happening, since there is just so much occurring at the same time during fashion weeks. Vogue Runway informs you on the last collections, helps you find your favorite designers on one same place, and to easily visualize the pieces we enjoyed most. The mobile app is very unique in its kind and is a way for fashion addicts to attend runways as if they were sitting on the front row.

If we could add anything, that would probably be the possibility to follow our favorite designers to get the last updates on their activity. Also, being able to save our favorite pieces on our profile or within boards could be of use.

Screenshots of Vogue Runway app
Source: Vogue

 

Vinted:

The Lithuanian start-up, launched in 2013, developed greatly since its beginnings, with more $60 million raised. Available in the United States, United Kingdom, in Germany, France, Poland, Austria, Czech Republic and in Lithuania, the Vinted proved to be the reference in terms of second hand mainstream fashion market place.

If Vinted could differentiate from its competitors, it is also because its founders were able to identify a gap in the market at the right time, and to create a strong and loyal community. More than a market place, the app have become a social network, where users (99% of which are women, between the age of 15 and 30 years old) can discuss with each other on various topics through the forum. The company differentiates thanks to an incredibly large offer and the quality of the services brought to its members. With about 22,3 million items available online, secured payment, package tracking, but also the refund of the item if it get lost or does not match the initial ad ; anything that could present a possible obstacle to the purchase is countered.

The platform success is also explained by the mobile-first policy of the company, which matches the consumption habits of this market segment. Regarding the business model, buyers pay a service fee equivalent to 5% of the item price, which add up to fix fee of 0.7€. And with a purchase made every 49 seconds, the start-up profitability seems certain.

Screenshots of Vinted app
Source: Vinted.fr, lemonlabs.co

 

Lookbook.nu:

Founded by a San Francisco based couple in 2008, first as website, and then as a mobile app, Lookbook.nu allow anyone to post a picture of their outfits. People can tag the brands they are wearing, and share their look with the rest of the community. Towards the end of the 2000s, fashion blogs just popped up, especially street style ones such as The Satorialist, and launched a new movement. Blogs allowed people to express their own style, introduce unknown brands, and inspire others all around the world. Fashion was not ruled by magazines or brands anymore, but by independents. Lookbook.nu was able to take the loop at that moment. Bloggers as famous as Chiara Ferragni debuted on Lookbook.nu. But no need to be a blogger to sign up. And with boards featuring outfits depending on different styles or events, together with tips and fashion influencers interviews, the app is a daily source of information, and helps users search style by regions, colors, pieces, brands, etc…

However, founders stay relatively quiet regarding their progress and it remains quite tough getting figures on the company. Many similar applications have seen the light the years following Lookbook.nu’s launch, such as Fashion Kaleidoscope, Daily Street Snaps, and Thre.ad, but they did not survived.

Screenshots of Lookbook app
 

Wheretoget:

French start-up created in 2011, Wheretoget is a both a website and a mobile application on which user scan post a picture of a fashion item they have spotted et ask the community on where to fin dit. Whether it be a celebrity, a blogger, or someone in the street wearing the piece of your dream, the community members will identify where the item comes from, or where to find a similar one. The start-up is connecting users with online shops, and remunerate itself through cost per click. The platform is only available in English since the major part of the traffic comes from America. Wheretoget, which claims to have 3 million members, raised $2 million in 2014, from Alven Capital and several business angels.

But Wheretoget does not operate only in B2C. Ready-to-wear brands can also benefit from statistics, track Instagram and blog mentions, but also import their lookbook. Until then, competition had not hit hard, but these last years, the application liketoknow.it seems to work out well. Navigation is fluent and pleasant, the app provides quality content, which tend to default its competitor.

Screenshots of Wheretoget app
Source: wheretoget.it, maddyness.com

 

Bloglovin:

Bloglovin is a Swedish concept, created in 2007. Nowadays, the company has its offices in Stockholm and NYC, and is a great resource for millions of influencers and brands all over the world. Bloglovin, which claims 25 million visitors per month, operates in both B2C and B2B.

Regarding B2C, the app allows users to follow their favorite blogs and find new ones. Whenever a new article from the followed accounts is uploaded, users are notified. That way, they never miss any post anymore, and have all their favorite content in just one place. Users can also save their articles by themes, and go back on them whenever they want.

Concerning B2B, the company connects influencers with brands. Bloglovin and its millions influencers across the globe, made it possible to create campaigns with major brands such as Burburry, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, H&M, NARS, etc… Influencers are referenced by areas of influence, which make it easier for brands to target a specific audience, such as “young mum with twins mum”, “urbanite wine-enthusiasts” or even “beauty creators obsessed with organic products”. The platform allows brands to implement “scalable custom content campaigns across social channels, and manage and measure these campaigns every step of the way”. (copyright: bloglovin)

Creators took advantage of the wave of blogs and influencers that born these last years. As Hillary Sloan mentioned in her conference on the future of influencer marketing during our Look Forward FashionTech festival, influencers have a personal connection with their followers, and create a trust relationship. This movement revolutionized consumption habits: nowadays, 92% consumers are more sensitive to recommendations made by influencers than regular advertisement.

Screenshots of Bloglovin app
Source: Bloglovin, Hillary Sloan

 

Fashiola:

Fashiola, founded in 2015, is more than just a price comparator specialized in fashion. Users can actually like the items in order to create a wishlist and be informed when the product is on sales. The app claims to be a fashion search engine, where people can easily find the item they are looking for amongst thousands of references, with filters such as size, color, brand, material, paying method, or even delivery deadline. The comparator is present in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, in Germany, Spain and in France. It gathers more than a million items, and 1,800 brands from 50 different online shops, where it redirects its users.

Screenshots of Fashiola app
Source: bfmbusiness, Fashiola, App Annie

 

Ask Jalouse:

The application Ask Jalouse is the result of the merger between the start up Ask Anna, and the magazine Jalouse. Ask Anna, created in 2014 and incubated as part of the 1st promotion of Look Forward, provide styling advises to indecisive users. Whether it be in the morning right before leaving for work, or while shopping, the app provides users with advises and comments from other fashion lovers within the next 5 minutes. Members can also give their opinion on other’s outfit. Ask Anna merged with Jalouse, a magazine targeting young women, edited by Jalou Media Group, who also publish l’Officiel and l’Optimum. From that merge was born AskJalouse, a real fashion social network of where people can swipe, comment, search their friends and post pictures.

Having your very own stylist always right by your side to help, isn’t it every women’s dream? In addition to other members’ advices, users receive insights from the magazine editorial team, composed of experts. In the near future, brands that appear in Jalouse could test their future collections by asking for the opinion of the app members. By taking the information at its source, brands make sure to not fail, and members ensure they will find pieces they actually like.

Screenshots of AskJalouse app
Source: AskAnna, LesEchos

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