- Industry Insights, Technology & Innovation
Best 5 Women’s Clothing Shopping Apps
- By BLEND Founding Team
- August 4, 2023
The fashion industry has been transformed by digitalisation, with social media and eCommerce making it easy to shop and find fashion inspiration online. This explosion of online fashion content means that shopping online can sometimes feel overwhelming, with endless amounts of choice and different fashion destinations.
A number of apps have been launched to make it easier to stay up to date, find clothes that you love, and put together your dream outfit. From second-hand fashion apps to multi-brand retailers, in this article we review our 5 favourite shopping apps to help you find clothes that express your unique style.
The Rise of Fashion Shopping Apps
Fashion shopping apps have gained popularity due to their convenience, personalization, and social features. They have revolutionized the retail industry by offering users the ability to shop for clothing and accessories from their smartphones. As a result, traditional brick-and-mortar retailers have had to adapt their strategies to cater to changing consumer expectations, with a greater focus on e-commerce and omnichannel approaches.
The apps’ impact on the retail landscape has been profound, influencing consumer behaviour, expanding global market reach for brands, and promoting sustainability and ethical considerations in fashion choices. As technology continues to evolve, fashion shopping apps are expected to remain a dominant force in the fashion retail sector.
Top Women’s Fashion Shopping Apps
When it comes to online shopping, women exhibit a multitude of different styles and shopping preferences. Some are on the lookout for the best bargains, some delight in the thrill of rummaging and thrifting, while others set their sights on luxurious brands and personalised experiences to match.
We’ve reviewed 5 women’s clothing shopping apps, focusing on the pros and cons of each app according to your shopping and personal style preferences.
BLEND
Discover emerging, sustainable and second-hand fashion: with a wide range of emerging fashion brands and second-hand providers, BLEND allows you to discover unique products you couldn’t find anywhere else.
Pros:
- Hyper-Personalisation: With AI-powered product recommendations, BLEND is the best place for personalised product recommendations, to find fashion that truly suits your style
- Social discovery: The app allows everyone to post style videos, allowing users to discover real-life outfit ideas, see products on a range of people and shop through videos.
- Earn for your style: As a BLEND user, you can upload style video content to earn affiliate commission on any sales you generate.
Cons:
- Multiple sellers: Since BLEND aggregates products from various retailers, the reliability of sellers may vary.
- Shipping Costs: Shipping costs may vary depending on the seller’s location and policies, potentially adding to the overall cost of the purchase.
- Sizing and Fit: As with any online shopping platform, it can be challenging to gauge the exact fit of an item, leading to potential sizing discrepancies.
Best for: Tailoring the shopping experience to your tastes and discovering products that align with your individual style.
VESTIARE COLLECTIVE
Pros:
- Curated Selection: Vestiaire Collective offers a well-curated selection of pre-owned luxury fashion items, including designer clothing, accessories, and vintage pieces.
- Authenticity Guaranteed: Vestiaire provides a thorough authentication process to ensure that all items sold are genuine and of high quality.
- Bargain Opportunities: Shoppers can often find coveted designer items at more affordable prices compared to buying new.
Cons:
- Pricing: While some items can be found at great discounts, others may still retain a considerable price tag due to their brand or rarity.
- Sizing and Fit: As with any online shopping platform, it can be challenging to gauge the exact fit and condition of an item, leading to potential sizing discrepancies. Without the ease of returning items that we have grown accustomed to in first-hand retail, this can be a real worry for buyers.
- Availability: Highly sought-after items can sell out quickly, making it challenging to secure specific pieces.
Best overall for: Buying and selling pre-owned luxury fashion items.
VINTED
Pros:
- Large Selection of Pre-Owned Items: Vinted offers a wide variety of pre-owned clothing, shoes, accessories, and other fashion items, providing shoppers with many options to choose from.
- Affordable Prices: Users can find second-hand items at significantly lower prices than buying new, making it a budget-friendly option for fashion enthusiasts.
- User-Friendly Interface: Vinted’s platform is designed to be easy to navigate, making it simple for users to browse, search, and make purchases.
Cons:
- Quality and Condition: Since Vinted is a peer-to-peer marketplace, the quality and condition of items may vary significantly. Shoppers need to carefully read item descriptions and view photos provided by sellers to assess an item’s condition accurately.
- Shipping Times and Costs: Shipping times and costs can vary depending on the seller’s location, potentially leading to longer delivery times or additional expenses.
- Limited Returns: Vinted’s return policy may vary based on the seller’s preferences, and returning an item may not always be feasible or cost-effective.
Best for: Secondhand fashion and vintage clothing on a budget.
LYST
Pros:
- Wide Selection: Lyst offers a vast range of fashion items, including clothing, shoes, accessories, and more, from numerous brands and retailers, giving shoppers a diverse selection to choose from.
- Price Comparison: The platform allows users to compare prices for the same item from different sellers, helping shoppers find the best deals and discounts available.
- Trend Insights: Lyst provides trend reports and fashion insights, helping users stay up-to-date with the latest styles and popular fashion items.
Cons:
- Multiple Sellers: Since Lyst aggregates products from various retailers, the shopping experience may vary depending on the individual seller’s shipping times, return policies, and customer service.
- Sizing Variability: As with any online marketplace, there may be sizing discrepancies between different brands and retailers, making it essential for shoppers to check size charts and reviews.
- Returns: The return process may differ for each seller, and some sellers may have more strict return policies, which can be a consideration for shoppers.
Best for: Product aggregation and showcasing trending and popular fashion items.
WHERING
Pros:
- Digitalizing Your Wadrobe: Whering makes it easier for users to digitalise their closets by creating visual collages of different outfit combinations, to help them plan their outfits and share inspiration with others.
- Styling Ideas: The app offers a valuable resource for those seeking styling ideas and outfit combinations, helping users experiment with different looks.
- Sustainable Shopping: Whering offers access to their women’s pre-loved, independent, rental, and ethical marketplace, where users can experience shopping as part of the in-app experience.
Cons:
- Time intensive: To use the the app to it’s full potential users have to spend vasts amount of time uploading their wardrobes.
- Limited Functionality: While Whering is an excellent app for creating and sharing fashion sets, it lacks some of the robust features and functionalities of dedicated fashion e-commerce apps.
- User experience: The technology behind editing and cropping of imagery has been reported as buggy, cause frustration for many users when uploading their wardrobes.
Best for: Wardrobe orginization and outfit planning.
Conclusion
In the fast-paced world of fashion, women’s clothing apps have emerged as indispensable tools for modern shoppers. Whether you’re searching for the latest trends, exclusive boutique designs, affordable options, vintage gems, or activewear staples, these top 5 apps have you covered. Embrace the convenience of online shopping and explore these platforms to curate a wardrobe that reflects your unique style and empowers you to conquer the world with confidence and flair.
If you are looking for the best personalised shopping experience, try out BLEND – sign up for early access. Launching this Autumn.
Happy shopping!
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