Best apps for shopping and style inspiration
Give Candy Crush a break and update your style with these free shopping apps
Keep
Lusting after an outfit you saw on Instagram? This app can help. Keep has a list of more than 100 of Instagram’s most popular fashionable users, as well as other fashionistas and influencers, and helps you find and purchase the items featured in their photos. If you’re not ready to buy one of their picks, Keep will also alert you when items go on sale.
Good for: Finding style inspiration from a variety of sources
Covet Fashion
NYC is the city with the highest number of Covet Fashion users, and it’s easy to see why we’re obsessed. The addictive app allows you to style women’s looks from brands such as Halston Heritage and Cynthia Rowley, and successful ensembles can result in prizes both real (like giftcards and a Nanette Lepore satchel) and virtual. Covet Fashion is a good way to discover new items while playing with your style—without having to invest any cash.
Good for: Channeling your inner Rachel Zoe
House Account
If you prefer boutique shopping over rummaging through the offerings at chain stores, this app is for you. House Account features the newest arrivals from more than 300 of the best boutiques in the country (including Bird and Kirna Zabete here in New York). Browse by trends, designers and store locations to discover hard-to-find, original pieces.
Good for: Wanderlusting shoppers without a travel budget
ASAP54
The phrase Where’d you get that shirt? could disappear from our lexicon, thanks to ASAP54. The app allows you to take a photo of an article of clothing you see on the street (or anywhere, really) and will help you find it (or something similar) from more than 150 retailers like Topshop and J.Crew. Think of it as Shazam for clothes.
Good for: Covert style stalkers
Dapper
Men need shopping apps too. Dapper allows guys to browse and shop based on style (“dressy”) or occasion (“casual dinner”). The more you use the app, the more it gets to know your preferences and habits, which makes future purchases even easier.
Good for: Guys who hate shopping—but still want to look stylish
Give covet fashion a miss, they are far too expensive and have the worst customer service I've encountered!