Are We Still Mourning Polyvore?

Let’s face it, Polyvore was everything! What’s a Polyvore you ask? Well, it was the most awesomenest (yes, I made that up) thing to happen to the Fashion/Interior Decor Industries. Then on April 5, 2018, it died.

So much for a header, huh? I thought so! It’s been over 6 months since the beloved Polyvore app/program withered away like white ruffle socks stuffed in a pair of patent leather kitten heel pumps. With the development of newer, fresher fashion forward apps, I have to ask, “Are we still mourning Polyvore?”  Rolling back to that dreadful day, I must admit that I was devastated with a capital “D.” I banked my entire virtual fashion career on Polyvore; I planned on teaching Polyvore classes to the masses, while showing fashion companies, both commercial and couture, how Polyvore could upscale their business because I knew virtual styling was the next big wave of the fashion industry. All of that came crumbling down when I received a DM asking, “Hey D. Ni’Cole. Now that Polyvore is shutting down, what are you going to do?” FREAK OUT! That’s exactly what I was planning on doing. Holding my phone in my right hand and my left hand on the steering wheel (please don’t text and drive ladies and gentlemen), I cried all the way to the parking lot of Walmart as I scrambled to bring my thoughts from a dark space and my emotions under control. I was losing Polyvore for good with no prior warning or consideration that someone like myself had built a tremendous following via social media because of the virtual styling that I could create using the app. I was crushed. Until….

Let me snap out of it! Since the selling of Polyvore to luxury Canadian brand, SSENSE, there has been a “Where’s Waldo” kind of energy floating around as people attempt to find an alternative for what Polyvore used to be. From the looks of the comments posted on Polyvore’s Instagram account, many people are just now coming into realization that the “super app” no longer exists. Filled with emotions, feeling of betrayal, and needing another creative space to vent, many previous users are either arguing to bring back Polyvore or at least petitioning to receive their intellectual property back. Considering the fact that we are approaching year one of the app being sold, I doubt any of those actions are coming into fruition. To tell you the truth, with the app giving us more than 11 years of ingenuity and creativity in ways people had never seen, we (yes, the people who used the app) took for granted that something so amazing and one of a kind could just slip through our fingertips. However, goodbyes aren’t always so bad. With the dismissal of Polyvore, there are so many incredible apps that are arising offering similar forms of fashion creations, social bonding with different users, and the ability to make money off of what’s created. Sound amazing, right? However, you might be asking, “What are these wonderful apps?” Well, if you keep reading, you’ll definitely find out and hopefully be able to find a beautiful relief from the mourning. I call this article, “D. Ni’Cole’s Fashion App Recommendations,” with honest insight and technical tour of how to bring in 2019 with an app to fit your needs, goals, and creative energy.

Fashmates –

If Polyvore had a fashion twin, Fashmates would be it! The structure of Fashmates presents a familiarity of what Polyvore used to be with awesome added features. At first, I was skeptical of Fashmates. I felt that the app had rushed to replace Polyvore instead of figuring out what made Polyvore popular, what users were wanting from a fashion app, and how they could be different from the competition. I mean, who could possibly replace my beloved partner in crime. From 20011-2018, Polyvore was like that favorite pair of Giuseppe Zanotti pumps, or an amazing vintage Louis Vuitton Speedy 35 from 1986 that never aged. It was the fashion mecca (in my book) that I had to depart from and refused to use anything like it. It felt too much like a cheap knockoff. But, I decided to leave the Oscar nominee performance for Most Dramatic Polyvore Stan on Social Media role, and tried Fashmates again. The app has made great strides in improving their overall functionality, while implementing some pretty dope features. I even heard from a fashion source that Fashmates will be introducing “shoppable looks” that allows users of Fashmates to shop the looks they create or what others create, and shop from pictures uploaded from their phones. How friggin’ amazing is that? With that feature, boutique owners, online retailers, and fashion influencers alike are able to sell inventory straight from their camera rolls. D O P E! If this was a fashion class, Fashmates would receive a B+. Although Fashmates is a fairly new contender in the virtual fashion market, it wouldn’t be fair to compare the app of 1-2 years of engineering to Polyvore’s 12 years of learning what worked and what didn’t. Therefore, I think a B is appropriate. They’re headed to an A- soon. Keep up the good work Fashmates!

Pros

• Smart Phone Friendly (anyone can download Fashmates via Apple Store or Google Play Store)
• User Friendly (the app is easy to use, especially if you had Polyvore, and easy to navigate)
• Gives you the option of creating fashion mood boards and style polls for users to participate in.
• Issues out a referral code for users to earn points/money for all Fashmates recommendations and new user sign-ons.
• Has a virtual social function, similar to Polyvore, that allows you to follow any user of your choice and interact throughout the app (while building communities and interest based groups).
• Shoppable looks that allows virtual styling and selling easier to accomplish.

Cons

• The app still has improvements to make including a better clipper (the ability to capture images of items from a third-party website, importing the image to the virtual profile on Fashmates) option, editing option, and perfecting the clearness of images of items used to create virtual looks.

Smart Closet –

I was introduced to Smart Closet from a fellow virtual stylist, Bryce. Having a similar platform as mine, I took his advice a little more to heart because let’s be clear, I was slightly depressed from losing Polyvore. The functionality of Smart Closet was much more difficult than Fashmates, leaving me more feeling discouraged because I wasn’t sure if I was going to continue on with my inspirational fashion platform. With about 3-5 days to gather my thoughts and try the app out, I figured out the functionality and was able to create fashion mood boards without getting frustrated and overwhelmed. However, like Fashmates, Smart Closet wasn’t expecting Polyvore to say goodbye so soon. I had the pleasure of speaking with a representative from Smart Closet earlier this Spring, and she informed me that Smart Closet was never meant to take on the functionality of what Polyvore used to be. Their app was made to help the user needing organization within their closet on a schedule. It sounds corny, doesn’t it? It isn’t! If you’re someone with a busy schedule or planning a wardrobe around a trip or special occasion, you’d want that option of centering it around a specific schedule created from a smart phone. Everyone who’s anyone is near their smart phone at any given time of the day. Why not plan your looks accordingly? Exactly! The app has added different features that create a somewhat social environment and mood board creating option like Polyvore. Unlike Fashmates and ShopLook, Smart Closet wasn’t made to be in the same stilettos as Polyvore and wanted to remain true to their original goal: fashion closet organization. The app is perfect for creating fashion mood boards but if you want a functionality similar to what Polyvore once presented, this app may come off more difficult to use and doesn’t offer some of the amenities of other fashion apps. If this were a class, I’d have to give Smart Closet an A for effort but a NC (not competing) for overall comparison to other fashion apps. It would be unfair to rule out Smart Closet because it’s nothing like Polyvore but still has some great qualities for those are who die hard stylists and fashion enthusiasts who aren’t impressed with a social function or the ability to sell items or services through an app.

ShopLook –

Late fashion bloomer ShopLook immediately responded to the need for a Polyvore alternative. Just like Fashmates, ShopLook was eager to build a new following and app trust with users who were devastated (along with me) for no longer having Polyvore, but gave users the ability to have their published style sets from Polyvore imported to their user database. One of the biggest complaints from previous users of Polyvore was the lost of their published sets, whether it were fashion mood boards, articles within the app, or interior designs with the mock living areas and home decor. The inviting energy of ShopLook was contagious as the app reached out to people left and right concerning the new developments of their programing and attempting to be something even more refreshing for former Polyvore users. Even with such an incredible approach, ShopLook seemed to be moving at a “glacial pace” (remember when Miranda told Andy that in “The Devil Wears Prada?”) compared to other fashion apps. When other apps were rolling out their iOS and Android options, ShopLook was strictly available online without an app option. When I searching for an alternative to Polyvore, I found ShopLook to be extremely welcoming and open to listening to feedback, but the app had an outdated “in house styling (images of clothing options to create fashion mood boards)” and I needed something in app form for my phone versus only being able to use the program via Safari with my phone or Google Chrome with my CPU. Since then, ShopLook has created an app for the Apple Store ( I’m unsure if an Android option is available…but from the looks of things, it is) and the in house styling has improved. Not to mention, you can shop all the looks created on ShopLook, and each month an user can win $300 towards a new wardrobe. How cool is that? If this was a class, ShopLook would get a C+. Here’s why:

Pros

• ShopLook is welcoming to users who felt lost without Polyvore.
• ShopLook imported a great deal of Polyvore fashion mood boards to view, but you aren’t able to virtually explore any mood board (find the fashion brands, shop, etc) for your own personal use.
• You’re able to get involved: ShopLook allows users to find out what’s Popular on the app, see what other users are doing, find looks based on events and special occasions, and shop the looks featured.
• Earn points and win prizes.
• Learn to adapt after Polyvore and find a new creative space.

Cons

• The social function is awesome, but the creating part needs more improving. A fashion app is to cater to a creating environment geared towards fashion forward individuals; users should be greeted with a similar function of what was, especially since the programing encourages users to use their app since the dismissal of Polyvore, in which it lacks the “feel” of Polyvore and functionality.

Overall, my views of virtual styling might be much different than another fashion enthusiasts. The purpose of this article was to spotlight three (3) different fashion apps that I feel are industry leaders. Each app is unique and powerful in its own way; each app needs improvement in something. In my honest opinion, figure out what would best fit your personality, purpose, and comfort level because it’s all aboutfinding what best works for you. Go into 2019 knowing that it’s your year to show the world how you virtual style and what makes you the Bees Nees!

Signing Off Fabulously,

D. Ni’Cole