Need Help Getting Dressed Again? Try These Interactive Shopping Apps

The first step in the Behold process is to submit your style preferences, and I was wholly impressed with its thorough intro questionnaire. From there, the platform feels like a mix between shopping and creating fashion mood boards (if that's your thing). It resembles traditional online shopping in that you can browse products just as you would on any retail site, but with the added bonus of narrowing your search to BIPOC-owned or sustainably sourced brands. We love to see it!

In terms of the styling features, Behold really gets into the nitty-gritty of your wardrobe. Almost immediately, you'll start receiving pairing suggestions based on items that are already in your closet, à la Clueless, or you can create full outfits from scratch. It also offers a "Weekly Edit" of outfit options based on what the app's technology knows about you (#science). I can fully attest that the more you engage with the software, the more useful the recommendations are — after "liking" and "unliking" a ton of items, the results were way more up my alley.

My personal favorite use case is Behold's bevy of emerging brands. Even the most knowledgable fashionista is bound to find something new. (I've now fallen in love with NYC-based shoe brand Grey Matters thanks to Behold's introduction of its chic egg mules.)

As someone who spends hours watching fashion hauls on YouTube and TikTok (there's just something so soothing about them!), I'll be the first to admit that it's all too easy to lose track of time on ShopShops, which re-creates the experience of shopping in-store via live-stream video. But that's not necessarily a bad thing — you can easily purchase items directly from the app (OK, maybe it's not so great for my wallet). For me, the easiest way to dive into this shopping app was to head to its search tab, where you can toggle between live streams, past streams, and even RSVP for upcoming live streams.

Shopping via live stream is an interesting experience. In a way, engaging with the energetic hosts merges the convenience of online shopping with the human connection of in-store shopping, especially considering that the hosts are pretty darn good about answering viewers' comments and questions during the broadcasts. With over 750 brands available to shop, ShopShops's hosts showcase pieces from independent boutiques and contemporary brands such as Bottega Veneta and Maje. And for those of us who prefer to shop in private, there's a handy "shop" tab that allows you to scan listed pieces from various hosts without attending stream sessions.

This soon-to-be-launched app is a total game changer for online thrifting. It adopts a Tinder-like interface where you can browse users' closets and swipe right if you like something and left if you don't. (You can probably see how this can be VERY addictive.) Once you've matched, simply message the user and start swapping clothes.

Since I'm never not revamping my wardrobe, I've currently got a piles of clothes that I haven't gotten around to reselling or donating, so the premise of exchanging clothes is particularly intriguing to me. After such a whirlwind year, it makes me happy to see a community of fashion obsessives just sharing their genuine love of clothes.

So far, I've matched with a handful of users, and I've found that sifting through other peoples' closets is a great way to stimulate your own creativity, too. Not only do I have my eye on a rainbow-colored cardigan, but I have dreams of cutting said cardigan into a crop top. Ah, the joy of getting dressed again!