As a self-confessed fashion addict, you would think shopping would be my favourite past time. But it isn’t. I hate it.
I hate changing rooms and the unflattering lighting that comes with it, I hate trying to find my size, I hate queuing, I hate everything about shopping. I panic, get overwhelmed with how much choice there is and how little time I have on my parking ticket and end buying something I don’t really like but is cheap enough that I won’t feel guilty.
Online shopping isn’t much better, trying to buy an outfit from four or five different websites has lead me to opening new windows and squeezing them all on one screen so I can see my entire outfit without changing tabs. Also, there’s even more choice online, so how do I know I’m not missing out on my dream dress because I forgot to check that website? This is the sort of stuff that keeps me up at night.
Until now. Finally somebody has created an app that answers all my prayers, that does what I’ve always wanted and needed when I go shopping. And it’s all thanks to ‘it’ girl, and my style icon, Alexa Chung.
If you, like me, follow Alexa on every social media account she has, from Twitter to Snapchat, then you know that she has been working on a secret project for the past few months. And that secret project was an app called Villoid.
Villoid is essentially a mood board making tool, on your phone. Think Pinterest meets Instacollage, it allows you to put different items of clothing on a ‘board’ to create a collage of clothes or accessories that you then share with your followers.
From creating a potential outfit, to making a collage of your favourite sunglasses or handbags. You can even upload photos from your photo collection, so if you did want to take pictures of every single item in your wardrobe, you can. There’s also a purchase button on the app, so you can buy the outfit you have just created. Both genius and dangerous.
Like Instagram, you can like and comment on other people’s boards, as well as follow users and brands who are also on Villoid, ranging from Mui Mui to H&M, allowing you to create outfits for every occasion, from party dresses to gym clothes and swimwear. You could literally plan an entire week of outfits from your bed on Sunday night.
I have yet to work out just how many items you can find on the app, I haven’t reached the bottom, but you can narrow your search by brand, item, and price as well as seeing ‘what’s hot’ and items from boards you have liked. And the app is easy to use, it took me less than ten minutes to download the app and create my first board.
If you want to show off to your friends how fashionable you really can be without the constraints of a tight budget, you can also upload your boards to Facebook and Instagram. The possibilities with this app are absolutely endless, with Alexa Chung having an account herself hopefully it won’t be long before our other favourite fashion icons join, allowing us to dress exactly like them without trawling through their Tumblr tag.
The only problem with the app, as far as I can see, is that it does not contain men’s clothing, but I’m sure as it gains popularity this will feature in an update. It’s free, simple, and the perfect solution to your fashion woes. But – be warned – it’s addictive. It’s available on the app store now.
