5 fantastic fashion apps

There’s an abundance of fashion apps for smartphones and tablets. Most of them are useless. I’m a great fan of fashion – not only at work, also in my private life – and I’ve downloaded quite a few fashion apps. While I deleted most of them after a short time, these five apps have stood the test of time.

#1 «Good on you» for ethical fashion choices

Want to buy more sustainable fashion and need help navigating the jungle of brands? «Good on you» provides more transparency. The app is a kind of CodeCheck for fashion labels. However, instead of providing details on ingredients or nutritional values, the smart shopping advisor gives you an environment rating for over 3,000 fashion labels – including information on how well they do regarding animal and human rights. The brands are rated on a scale from one («avoid») to five («great»). The app also recommends equivalent or better alternatives and gives you great tips for ethical shopping in general.

Here’s the free app for iOS and for Android.

#2 «Save your Wardrobe» for creating a digital wardrobe

This app is all about ethical fashion, too. Besides environmentally friendly materials, how long you keep a piece of clothing is also an important cornerstone of the slow fashion movement. In other words, what happens to all those fashion items you own? Do they join the piles of clothing in your wardrobe and never see the light of day again? «SYW» doesn’t want this to happen, so the app allows you to create a digital version of your wardrobe. It's worth the effort. Taking a picture of each item is a great chance to reconsider if you actually like it or want to give it away, donate or sell it.

Check out the free app for iOS and for Android.

#3 «Combyne» for virtual style creation

Want to take you digital wardrobe one step further? If so, «Combyne» might be for you. This app doesn't only allow you to digitise your wardrobe, it also lets you put items together as you wish and create outfits – just for fun or to plan your event outfit in advance. You can save your looks in private folders or share them with your friends and the Combyne community. This app is great for anyone who knows the movie «Clueless» (1995) and, like me, dreams of Cher Horowitz's wardrobe. Or for all those who’ve fallen in love with swiping while using Tinder. You can combine your outfits as you wish or put them together by swiping (see below). Speaking of combining, have you been looking for a specific item of clothing for a long time? No problem, as Combyne lets you access more fashion items than the ones you own. This way, you can see whether the sweater of your dreams goes with your other clothes before you actually buy it.

Here’s the free app for iOS and for Android.

#4 «LTK» for tracking down fashion items

Let’s be honest: how often have you stumbled across a piece of clothing or an accessory on Instagram and couldn't stop thinking about it? If the influencer doesn't tag the product, you’ll never know where to find it. This has happened to me many times and is really annoying. «LTK» (formerly: Liketoknow.it) is here to help. Once you register, the app wants to know what topics you’re interested in. Then you can scroll through a feed that’s tailored to your needs and find inspiration – just as on Instagram. Like an item? Click on the picture and find out where you can buy it. No research required. Happy shopping!

Check out the free app for iOS and for Android.

#5 «Vogue Runway» for the finest catwalk looks

Don't dream of fashion items, but of visiting Fashion Week one day? If so, «Vogue Runway» could be a small consolation for you. After all, getting tickets to Fashion Week is impossible if you don’t work in the fashion industry or know the right people. This app, provided by the renowned fashion magazine, allows you to experience the event from the front row – via (live) stream. It doesn’t only show you the most beautiful runway pictures, but also all the looks of the renowned designers. You’ll be up to date with the latest collections without needing an invitation to the event. My recommendation – I find this even more exciting than the shows themselves – is checking out the Street Styles from the cities in which the shows take place. They’re recorded in a separate section within the app.

Find the free app for iOS and for Android.

Which one’s your favourite fashion app? Let me know in the comments.