Today’s version of window shopping lets the fashion obsessed indulge 24 hours a day. But with a plethora of Web sites and blogs dedicated to fashion, sometimes it’s hard to sort out the wonderful from the what-a-waste-of-time.
To narrow down the field, we asked some fashion insiders for their favorite sites and uncovered some others to check out for shopping deals, trends, fashion advice and plain old fun — especially sites and blogs that review celebrity outfits.
“Style.com is essential for women of any age,” says Gregg Andrews, a Nordstrom fashion director. (Style.com is the online home of Vogue and W magazines.) You can look at designer collections hours after they have been shown on the runway and get backstage information too, he says.
Style.com also tops the list for Betsy Thompson, a spokeswoman for Talbots (talbots.com).
“I particularly love the runway reviews,” she says.
E-tailer Net-a-porter.com is also a fun site, she says, but for die-hards, she recommends World Global Style Network ( www.wgsn.com) for its “gossip and concise news updates” and Women’s Wear Daily ( www.wwd.com) for the “most tremendous insight” into the fashion industry.
Discount Dance Supply (www.discountdance .com) is a secret weapon — well, not anymore — for Betsy Wiesendanger, deputy editor of ShopSmart, a Consumer Reports publication. Wiesendanger, who describes herself as a “latecomer” to ballet, loves the site for dance apparel that does double-duty outside the studio.
For example, she found a one-shoulder leotard worthy of attending a movie premiere in New York City.
“It’s dirt cheap and really well-made,” she says.
Here’s a look at some more fashion sites and blogs to explore.
Trends
* Glam.com: A slick site with a bonanza of fashion-related topics, blogs and shopping, plus links to fashion magazines.
* Nzgirl (nzgirl.co.nz/style/fashionexclusive): This New Zealand-based online magazine attracts twentysomethings, but has content that appeals to any age, from the mundane (mouthwash) to the exclusive, transforming runway inspirations into real world outfits.
* SheFinds.com: This site shops the Web for you, finding trends and deals. One fun feature for summer — the best T-shirts, from the softest to styles for a long torso or less-than-firm belly. Sign up for the weekly newsletter.
* DailyCandy.com: The Chicago edition of this popular site offers daily e-mails and weekly updates on local fashion finds and deals. Whimsical art and writing blend with timely tips.
* The Fashionator (thefashionator.ivillage .com/beauty): The fashion editors for iVillage .com “fight fashion crime one trend at a time,” according to the Web site. A recent perpetrator: Louis Vuitton’s latest and less-than-beautiful bag, which has a $42,000 price tag. There are also some conversation starters, such as a discussion of the winners of “The Undie Awards,” which honors America’s favorite underwear.
* Blogdorf Goodman (blogdorfgoodman .blogspot.com): In addition to being one of the best-named blogs (no ties to high-end retailer Bergdorf Goodman), this site muses about fashion and beauty products. Right now blogdorfgoodman is in search of Chanel’s Mercure Nail Polish — liquid silver, but it’s not available in the U.S. yet.
* SecondCityStyle.com: A Chicago-style weekly update on fashion and trends. Read the fun blog on the local scene and reviews of outfits.
* YouTube.com: Do a search for your favorite designers and models. Watch interview clips with designers such as Vivienne Westwood. Understatement of the year: “There’s no reason to be like everyone else. That’s boring,” Westwood says.
* FashionFocusChicago.com: The City of Chicago’s local fashion Web site, listing shopping and fashion events, designers and boutiques. Gear up for the return of Chicago’s Fashion Week Oct. 9-14.
Advice
* Fashion IQ (fashioniq.com/wordpress): This “shoe & fashion blog” has a great feature: “luscious lookalikes,” which finds low-price versions of runway pieces, such as Guess sandals that resemble Dolce and Gabbana’s wedge sandal.
* StyleHive.com: Great one-stop place for blog roundups. Bookmark your favorite fashion looks and products and get ideas from the “hot” recommendations by other members. A red and white sandal with a retro print wedge by designer Eley Kishimoto is a popular item right now.
* Luckymag.com: The online version of Lucky magazine has a fun feature. See what stylists do with an average woman on the street who needs advice on how to rework an outfit. Will she need new boots, skirt or jewelry — or all of the above?
* InStyle.com: Editors track down affordable outfits inspired by favorite celeb looks with the magazine’s “Where can I find” feature.
* FabSugar.com: Like InStyle.com, this blog finds equivalents of great celeb styles and has a feature that spotlights designers.
* BudgetFashionista.com: Have a fashion dilemma? Get help from fellow fashionistas in the site’s forum area. Two recent topics for discussion: the problems with baby doll dresses and where to find a fashionable, inexpensive watch.
* FashionTribes.com: Not sure what your style is? Find out if you’re a Downtown Doll or an Afro Love, among others, and what to wear that suits your lifestyle. Click on the blog for more finds and trends.
Guilty pleasures
* GoFugYourself.com: A hilarious look at what works and what really doesn’t by two bloggers. Even the “About Us” link is worth a laugh. These ladies are fierce.
* TMZ.com: Click on “fashion police” to see who’s breaking the laws according to The Smoking Gun’s site. Britney Spears’ love of white summer dresses tops a recent list.
Inside scoop
* MySpace.com: Designer Marc Jacobs has his own MySpace page. He likes “South Park” and is an Aries. Who knew?
* Le-Fashionista.com: If you’re looking for edgy fashions, get an insider’s look at the world of independent fashion designers. Features include profiles of indie designers and blogs.
* BravoTV.com (bravotv.com/blog/shows): Learn the latest about the “Project Runway” contestants, including blogs by Laura Bennett, Nick Verreos and even an (old) one of guru Tim Gunn.
Shopping
* BlueFly.com: One of the most-mentioned online retailers by fashion experts. Get deeply discounted designer brands, from A.B.S. to Yves St. Laurent.
* eBayExpress.com: Everything on eBay Express is offered at a fixed price by top eBay sellers. Get what you want now: no bidding, no waiting.
* ShopBop.com: This online retailer offers different ways of shopping: by brands, categories (skirts, etc.), trends and “looks.” Shopping by trends or looks is a great shortcut for finding just what you’re looking for, whether it’s sequins or skinny pants.
– – –
Tread carefully when buying online
Before you click and buy that special something, do all you can to verify that it’s a reputable online business, says Betsy Wiesendanger, deputy editor of ShopSmart.
“Trust your instincts when you look at a site. If there are obvious misspellings or disabled back button, it’s ‘low rent,'” she says.
A few other tips for ordering online, from Wiesendanger:
* Check the return policy. Companies may charge a fee for returns. If you plan to order online and pick up an item at a store, check out their return policies too. (Online policies may differ from brick and mortar stores.)
* If you’re unsure about ordering, call the business and see what kind of customer service you receive.
* Consider using the latest weapon for preventing identity theft: credit cards with one-time scrambled numbers. Citibank, Discover and Wachovia offer the service, Wiesendanger says. If the number gets stolen, it can’t be reused.
* For luxury goods on auction sites, ask sellers for additional pictures of the item. Reputable businesses will offer other photos, not just a copied image from a catalog. If photos aren’t available, the business may be hawking a fake product or not even have it.
— A.B.
