12 Fashion iPhone Apps to Know

In the interests of bringing you the news that matters, here's 12 of the best iPhone apps for fashionistas (out of a pretty average field, I must say!).

Chanel

Download: Free

The brand epitomising traditional elegance tries catering to customers via contemporary technology.

Features: Store locator, browse latest looks, Chanel news.

Verdict: A massive whatever. Doesn't offer much and delivers it poorly.

Rating: **

Diane Von Furstenberg

Download: Free

Maker of grown-up, somewhat exy dresses in eye-popping colour combos takes foray into digital age.

Features: Browse latest collections, Twitter updates, store finder, advertising videos.

Verdict: Meh. There's no store in Australia and there's not much content. I grow weary of this.

Rating: **

eBay

Download: Free

If I need to describe this site to you, how the hell do you own an iPhone? The auction site of the 21st century.

Features: Snappy little barcode scanner (I became obsessed and scanned most products in the house, just for the fun of it), search by auction or "Buy It Now" listing.

Verdict: Truly useful for bargain-hunting.

Rating: ****

Etsy Addict

Download: $1.19
Online craft and vintage clothes marketplace, Etsy, gets its own app. Looking for handmade wedding invitations, an original painting for your wall or an enviable pair of earrings? It's all here.

Features: Browse featured listings and by category or search and label your favourites.

Verdict: Adore the web site, adore the app. My sparkly red, cherry-adorned shoes from Etsy never fail to attract compliments.

Rating: *****

Forever New

Download: Free

Inexpensive Aussie clothing brand makes good. Picture pastels and creams in French-inspired, modern styles.

Features: List of stores and updates on new store openings, browse collections and share on Facebook and Twitter.

Verdict: Lack of content renders search function a tad meaningless. Gorgeous frocks though.

Rating: **

Gucci

Download: Free

Italian designer of luxury clothing and leather goods. I wouldn't be knocking back this stuff if someone were offering.

Features: Store locator, iTunes playlist of Gucci creative director's fave songs (rather cool), advertising videos, Gucci music channel streaming sounds continuously, little black book (takes an eon to load, limited to major cities worldwide).

Verdict: Points for putting genuine thought into creating unique features. Do quite fancy the music channel.

Rating: ***

Myer

Download: Free

Everyman (/woman) department store attempts to get the jump on competitors with an abysmal app.

Features: Store locator with opening hours and directions, gift finder, catalogues, wishlist, online shopping.

Verdict: Bug-ridden and irregularly updated, but shows potential. If they keep groping in the dark, they might get it right eventually.

Rating: **

Net-a-Porter

Download: Free

The go-to destination for luxury-branded clothing and accessories on the Net.

Features: Online shopping and wishlist, magazine.

Verdict: Realistically, the clothes are out of my price range, but good for a browse for wardrobe inspiration. The range is not huge and the app is rather simplistic.

Rating: **

Sartorialist

Download: Free

Every fashion maven worth her salt pledges allegiance to The Sartorialist, a blog comprising snaps of fashionable folk on the streets of New York, Paris, Milan etc with commentary. I gotta admit, it doesn't really do it for me (shock, horror).

Features: Photos from the blog and ability to share them on Facebook.

Verdict: Becomes boring after .04 seconds.

Rating: *

ShopStyle

Download: Free

Online shop for women's, men's and kids' clothing and accessories, along with home and living products.

Features: Browse by brand or store or search for a desired item.

Verdict: Heaven for die-hard shoppers. Every shoe and handbag imaginable can be found here. There are 7,940 clutch purses alone!

Rating: *****

Topshop

Download: Free

Kate Moss designed for them. 'Nuff said. Affordable, stylish, six months ahead of our stores Down Under like Sportsgirl, Portmans and Witchery.

Features: Blog, "how to" guides to wearing various trends, online shopping, entertaining videos, (rubbish) store locator.

Verdict: Neat-o. Earns an "A" pretty much all round other than loading slower than a snail on Valium.

Rating: ****

Victoria's Secret

Download: Free

The underwear on women's wishlists and in men's jerk-off collections the world over (crass, but accurate). 

Features: Online shopping and featurettes of runway shows, model interviews and customised music videos.

Verdict: As long as it's not Miranda Kerr, who, contrary to popular opinion, comes across to me as completely insincere and arrogant, I'm fascinated by the pretty, modelly types of Victoria's Secret. Can't get enough of the behind-the-scenes footage. I'm skeptical about ordering underwear without trying it on though.

Rating: ***

Much love and lust-haves
xx
Becks