Have you ever used the Stylebook app?
I know I’ve mentioned it before, but it’s the coolest wardrobe organization app. I’ve been using it for a couple of years — even before I started Unfancy.
In a nutshell, you snap photos of your clothes and then use their handy tool to create outfit layouts with them. There’s a bit of a learning curve to it, but once you get the hang of it, it’s awesome.
Surprisingly, more than anything, I’ve found that it helps me stay content. Whenever I feel an urge to go shopping, I go straight to my phone and try to make a couple of new outfits with clothes I already own. Usually, it quiets that shopping urge instantly — and it reminds me that I have enough. In fact, it was what helped me initially see just how much I could do with less.
My best tip? Instead of taking pictures of my clothes myself, I prefer to grab screenshots from retailer’s websites. The photos are brighter, clearer, and they usually already have white backgrounds.
Do you use Stylebook? How do you like it? Got any tips to share?
xo
Coat: Mango (also similar on sale)
Top: Nordstrom Rack
Pants: Aritzia (similar or similar)
Shoes: Dolce Vita (similar)
Bag: Nordstrom
I’m guessing this is a sponsored thing…but I just wanted to put out there that there’s a free app called Pureple that is better reviewed than Stylebook and $4 cheaper!
I was literally just wondering if there was a free alternative to Stylebook! Thanks for the tip!
The best difference is that you can add items directly from websites – no need to save all the photos!
Hi Maria! Thanks for giving us a free alternative! I actually don’t do sponsored content on Unfancy, so this isn’t a sponsored post — just a personal recommendation. :) xo Caroline
The best difference is that you can add items directly from websites – no need to save all the photos.
What terrific ways to use your style app! I’ve been looking for a style app for Android. Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks! =D
Any example of an app similar to this for android?
I would also like to know if there is an android alternative. I have seen a few, but nothing looked very user friendly.
I use Personal Closet Lite for Android (it’s free, but you can upgrade). It doesn’t look as nice as Stylebook, but it has all the same features (some become available once you pay for the upgrade). It works really well for me.
I use My Dressing! :)
I haven’t used the Stylebook app! I love the idea of keeping a catalogue of my clothes for inspiration, though. I usually lay out my clothes on the bed — kind of like the old fashioned version, I guess? :)
Always, Anita
I love your blog! I’ve had the Stylebook app for a while- but never really used it. I tried taking pics of my clothes and they just never turned out right. I will try looking for the online retail pics. Thank you for that great tip!
ive been using Stylebook for over a year and love love love it!! It’s great for packing too!
In addition, I love that you can send items to another iOS device via wifi. I have the app on both my iPad and phone.
Yeah, Caroline’s right. It’s an amazing app. Worth the $5. I mean, it’s $5. If the app is amazing, surely you can swing $5 if you’re really going to use the hell out of it.
I haven’t used Stylebook, but my husband and I developed a free closet/style app a couple years ago. It is only available for iPhone at this time, because it is just the two of us working on it, but hope to find the time to create an Android version. You can check it out here: http://www.kloz.it/
Kloz.it is a bit different than Stylebook in that it is more of an outfit diary. You take daily outfit photos and tag your clothing. Overtime, all your clothing items are in the app. You can plan outfits, as well, and there is even a somewhat random outfit generator that is fun to play with. It doesn’t have the white background feature like Stylebook, although I think there are users who capture photos from the websites to use for their clothing pictures, as well. We are always looking for feedback, so please email us at klozitapp@gmail.com with any thoughts you have.
Suzanne
How awesome! Thanks for sharing, Suzanne. :) xo Caroline
I love this app! I got it to use as I got started on my own capsule wardrobe a couple of weeks ago and am having a blast with it. My best discovery was (since retailer product photos trump all) some retailers actually keep product photos on their site long after items have sold out–like over a year! J. Crew in particular is great about that. I would say definitely search old invoices from online orders for product numbers or even search by style names for in-store purchases and do a quick google search–you’d be surprised what you can find the photos for.
Your tips on this app and a minimal wardrobe are golden! Thanks for the inspiration :)
I started using Stylebook when I started implementing the capsule wardrobe approach, and I’ve found it very helpful (totally worth $4), as well as super fun.
A tip for finding online retailers’ pictures: I’ve found that even if the article I’m looking for is no longer on the retailer’s site, I’ve had pretty good luck finding things on Pinterest when I play around with different search terms to describe what I’m looking for. You can right click and save images that people have pinned even if the link to the retailer’s web site doesn’t take you to the item anymore. (And for basic things, like a simple black pencil skirt, I’ll sometimes “cheat” and just use something that looks really similar.)
Also, for this very reason, I’m making Pinterest boards for each of my capsule wardrobes and whenever I buy something new I grab the link and image right away and store it there. That way even if something happens to my phone and/or my computer crashes, the Internet is still hanging on to those things for me. :)
Oh, that’s such a good idea! I’m going to have to start trying that, too. :) I may even see if I can replace some of the crummy pictures I took!
Thank you thank you thank you for that explanation! I bought the app but couldn’t take a decent photo that would work in the app to save my life, and, I couldn’t figure out how to get the photo from a retail site. Brilliant.
I have been hoping stylebook creates an Android app! I am even on their email list for any news of an android app. Does anyone have any recommendations? I have yet to find one as nice as stylebook!
Have you tried Personal Closet Lite for Android? It’s free and has a lot of features, but the upgrade doesn’t cost much. I use it for my Capsule Wardrobe and to keep track of what outfits I’ve worn when (I’m an elementary art teacher, and my students really notice when I where the same outfit or shirt frequently on the same day.)
Thanks, April, I’ll give it a try!
That is quite adorable about the kids noticing your outfits. I will check it out! Thanks for the tip!!
I just started using style book based on a mention from one of your earlier posts. I too like grabbing pics from websites. While I’ve not been able to go full capsule…. This app helps me realize that I do wear my favorites over and over again. I find the app so helpful when packing…. Helps me organize clothes so I have options with different combinations and pack less stuff!!! I think as I use the app more, it will help me let go of some of those items in my closet that I am attached to, but I really don’t wear. On the other hand, it also has helped me rediscover items that got lost in my closet that are now my new favorites!!!
Caroline,
I was thrilled to find your blog and started my own capsule in January for the first time. I was so inspired by your outfits, I wound up purchasing many of your capsule items–so thank you for the links! I discovered I actually did not have enough of the right clothes/shoes. I appreciate that you find beautiful items at really nice price points. I am a little worried I may have just swapped an addiction for shopping to an addiction for tracking down items from your capsule, but, I am hopeful many of the pieces I purchased this winter will serve for a few seasons to come.
So, I bought this coat from mango. . . I love it, but there is a lot of extra material when I cinch it up. Any styling tips on how to deal with this?
Best, Petunia
I love this app! I had downloaded it a while but only recently started using it. It’s helped me get organized for my spring capsule wardrobe.
Many of my items are from thrift stores, so , the chances of me finding the image on the retailers side are slim. What I found useful was to use google images. I search for the brand, style or by description. Google pulls from Pinterest, retailers, and even eBay, I almost always find my items.
Thanks for another great post!
Hi ladies,
It was actually me who asked Caroline to share more about her experience with Stylebook. So no sponsored things. And thank you Caroline for doing that.
I do use stylebook starting last May and find it so very helpful in so many ways. I use and enjoy all advantages it gives that ppl mentioned in comments. I used to have actually enormous item count in my wardrobe and I still do have too much. For a last 2-3 years I was trying to work on major cleanup, plus on my style, plus on my shopping habits. Stylebook helps a lot with technical side of it. I just wondering even about details, maybe tips to improve its usage even more. What I know for sure, with Stylebook nothing is going to get forgotten in under bed storage and that I can play with items without making mess in bedroom and in my lunch hours while enjoying the park closed to my office or in coffeeshop. I use packing functionality as well. I use inspiration not only for actual incpirations but also as pictures of myself to be incerted into look so I would remember how I look in that outfit. With Calendar feature I realised how boring it is that I always wear the very same look schema. I realized so many other things. Like the fact that it is too many different colors in my wardrobe. It’s just impossible for it not to become completely outdated all at once and it’s overwhelming to keep track of it even with stylebook. I also like to see cost per wear.
I am wondering if you have your tips, or may be you’d share how you organize your folders and what information you store there.
I beleive that the smaller and “capsulier” your wardrobe is, the less useful app would be. And I really hope that my app will help me to get there.
I don’t use an app but I’ve been using Polyvore to plan a capsule wardrobe. I just make a “collection” and put together pieces either picked from user “clipped” items or pieces I’ve “clipped” from retail sites. Then when you save a collection you can use it to create a “set” or basically an outfit. It’s a super useful tool!
Awesome! I just downloaded it. Now wondering, is there a way to section your clothing by capsule? Or do you just re-load it all with each capsule?
Hi. You’ve maybe figured this out already, but you can totally organize by capsules. In Closet, hit Edit, and then +Folder. You can then also make sub folders. Like, I have Winter Capsule and then Tops, Bottoms, Shoes, etc.
Awesome! Thanks so much!
I second the app called Pureple. Mostly because there is an option to have the app “suggest” an outfit for you – you select what categories you want it to choose from and it will randomly piece an outfit together for you. Most of the outfits it puts together are pretty amazing as long as you have good basics. It makes getting dressed fun because you never know what combo it’ll put together for you! (BTW I love your blog!!!)
Love this look!! Simple and amazing at the same time <3
https://aspoonfulofnature.wordpress.com/
Caroline, is this what you use to make your capsule collages, or is that just photoshop? I was hoping there might be an easy way to create them.
I’ll have to check this out! I can see how it would help you be content with what you already have. :) (something I could always use a little more of!)
I so wish Stylebook had an Android version! I have emailed them and they say they really aren’t working on one. I have it on my iPad so I still use it but I wish there was an app that could do both.
A question about grabbing pictures from retail sites..the ones I find always have people in them…how do you find images of just the clothing or do you just leave the person in the clothes as I’ve seen on some collages?
I usually just crop as much of the person out as possible…get in as close to the actual article of clothing as I can. But yeah, some arms/necks/hips are kinda inevitable. But personally I still think that’s better than my own poor-quality snapshots. :)
I usually hang my clothes on a hanger and take a picture against a door or wall.
Alternatively, I find a really similar item online and use that if I can.
I knew you’d know about Stylebook Caroline. I’ve been using it for the last few years to really help me hone my style and reduce my unworn items too. I’ve been working towards a capsule eardrobe and have used Packing lists to make my capsules. This way I can see and change in a glance how many items I have.
I’ve also been creating my capsule looks in season based looks categories too.
I want to get better with tagging my outfits and items for different occasions so I can quickly find fresh inspiration using Search. So glad you love this app too!!
I’ve found the developers really receptive to suggestions as well – actually I’ll go and make another one right now, cheers!
I love the idea of using “Packing Lists” for the different capsules. Thanks for that!
My favorite thing to do when I’m feeling uninspired by my wardrobe is to go on Stylebook into the “style stats” to see which items have the highest cost per wear. Then I plan an outfit using the highest cost/wear item so that I can get the cost/wear to go down. Waste not, want not.
I’ve had Stylebook for awhile, but never really used it. I think it’s one of those apps I removed from my device for an OS upgrade and never put back on. Everyones comments have gotten me inspired though. I think it’s time to put it back on my iPad and have some fun!
I like the idea of being able to go back and play with outfit combos when I’m feeling the need to shop or need more ideas and the “style stats”, those sound extremely helpful for wardrobe planning. Thanks for reminding me about this app!
I LOVE StyleBook!! I’ve been using it for years! It helps me remix my wardrobe. I also use it while shopping to see if I have items to mix with new pieces or to double check if I already have something like it. I tried other similar apps and nothing compares. It’s worth the money!
I have loved using this app. Thanks for the recommendation. I have used it now for one full capsule and I really felt like it helped me get out of boredom moments when I’d look at the stats and see what I hadn’t worn very often. (The stats are also very telling of certain pieces that I just need to get rid of.) Since I’m so in love with the stats, I’m trying to decide what to do as I go into my second capsule. I feel like having stats on more than one capsule’s items will get too unorganized. I’m thinking of just taking screenshots of my winter capsule (the closet, the looks, the calendar, and the stats) and then deleting it out and starting fresh for spring. Just curious how you have kept this organized after several capsules. It starts feeling overwhelming to me, which defeats the main benefit of capsules. I’m probably overthinking this. :) Just working out my system.
That’s exactky what I did–saved screenshots of my calendar pages and stats before switching to the next month. But I’d be curious too about how Caroline does it!
I love the app, I bought it recently and I’m like a child in a candy shop :) I found some items that I never worn