Mirela Gluck

Budding fashion designers can now bring their style creations to life — with the possibility of selling said creations — thanks to a new phone application by UnitedStyles. The innovative Facebook Connect-enabled app lets the owner play fashion designer by sketching completely unique designs on their electronic device. The designs can then be previewed and showcased in 3D form.

If that’s not enticing enough already, get this: UnitedStyles, based in Shanghai, also allows app users to buy customized creations for roughly $50 per top and $80 to $100 for a dress. The company also hopes to reach out to the male market in the near future.

Learn more about the UnitedStyles app on TechCrunch.

By Mirela Gluck

Some of the most common New Years resolutions, according to USA.gov, are to cut back on the alcohol (say buh-buy to martinis), eat healthier (goodbye chocolate, hello apples) and to get in better shape. Another common resolution, especially in the fashion world, is to improve your style sense and give your wardrobe a makeover.

All those goals are worthy aspirations, no doubt, but they’re also pretty overwhelming. That’s why it’s no surprise to hear about friends or coworkers — who set lofty New Year’s goals — fall flat before January has even expired.

Perhaps if more individuals employed the business analogy of goals and objectives when it comes to New Year’s resolutions, they’d be far more successful in their endeavors. Basically, we should break down our goals into smaller, more obtainable goals. By making resolutions look more like quantifiable objectives instead of lofty, hard to reach goals, we cut the overwhelming factor by a ton and improve the likelihood of success.

For example, if your goal is to slim down, break it down by setting smaller goals: hit the gym three times a week, cook more low calorie meals at home, pack a healthy lunch instead of eating out, etc.

If your goal is to improve your style and wardrobe, we’re here to help ensure a fashion victory through 2012. This is the first installation of a series, which will cover the following steps to refining your fashion sense and enhancing your armoire. The steps include:

1. Know yourself: Understanding what works for your body, style, lifestyle and budget

2. Employ books and periodicals

3. Organize your closet

4. Devise a shopping strategy and make shopping more enjoyable

5. Hit the stores

By Mirela Gluck

The glamorous and intrepid will love taking advantage of the fur outerwear trend. Whether faux or real, fur-embellished or a full fledged fur garment, anyone wearing a bit of fur this season will earn plenty of positive attention from passers by. Fur confirms a woman’s self-assuredness and also serves as a testament to her loyalty to the mantra, “fashion first.”

For an especially bold look, try a sweeping fur cape over well fitted jeans and flattering top, or try a red fox vest or coat with a statement necklace and perfectly tamed tresses. If you’d like to nod to the fur trend without wearing anything too flashy, opt for a fur-trimmed glove or bag. Other low-key options include a sophisticated fur capelet or subtle fur scarf.

For the complete story, check out “Outerwear Trend: Drama Class” on WWD.

By Mirela Gluck

Smartphones seem to be getting smarter by the day. Since Apple released the first generation iPhone with its innovative app functionality in 2007, smartphone technology has progressed to the point that there seems to be an app for everything these days. Shopping is no exception, with tons of applications that claim to help you get the best bang for your buck.

However many apps are developed by companies seeking to push their own products and this can be misleading for many people. For example the Macy’s iShop app isn’t going to tell you that the store across the street is selling the same clothing line for half the price, that goes without saying. So what you need is an app that tells you about sales and bargains in your area, unaffiliated with any one store.

Guess what? There’s an app for that! Introducing SaleLocator, a local retail sales search engine and iPhone app aimed at bargain shoppers that want regular updates on what’s on sale in stores nearby. SaleLocator recently introduced personalized email Sales Alerts, where shoppers can select a daily, weekly or monthly sales alert frequency, including the day or date they’d like to receive the email, and can set their base location and other preferences to track all local in-store sales.

The SaleLocator app is a hassle-free service that allows you to take advantage of sales and, as they say themselves, there are “no hoops to jump through,” which is always nice. Distributed via email following an initial sign-up, the local sales summary delivers targeted, advertised and unadvertised promotions to your inbox. All the better then that SaleLocator has increased its number of daily sales by 40 percent!

“On-the-go consumers can now benefit from the convenience of receiving a consolidated list of relevant, geo-targeted sales in addition to conducting their own searches,” said Michael Falkson, co-founder and CEO, SaleLocator. “Whether using your desktop, tablet or smartphone, sale-savvy shoppers can maximize their shopping experience with the new personalized alerts that provide even more local promotions.”

The SaleLocator service comes with a wide range of features, including Holiday & Event Sale alerts that enable you to check out nearby seasonal sales, for example Graduation, Father’s Day, summer sales and other hot events. There are also over 20 retail categories that give you the power to explore local sales in categories such as Clothing & Apparel, Furniture, Health & Beauty and more at the touch of a button.

On top of all the above, this app will even get you to the sale safe and sound by supplying you with relevant maps and driving directions; a very useful feature if you are shopping in an unfamiliar location. You also have the ability to save your searches and sales to remind you of nearby deals when the time is right.

So now you no longer have to search in vain for upcoming sales – and you needn’t be fooled again by any other app. We hope SaleLocator will help you get the best bargains at your favorite stores this summer!