The iPhone Mom

I’m the first to admit that my sense of fashion is somewhat challenged. I’m sure that I need some serious help with my sloppy jeans and T-shirts. I keep wishing/dreading that one day Stacy and Clinton from TLC’s "What Not to Wear" will show up with hideous footage of me and the funds and coaching for a brand new wardrobe. So far it hasn’t happened.

Given my lack of fashion sense I wasn’t quite sure what I’d think of the Ralph Lauren Collection app. The clothes might not be anything I can see myself wearing (at least until Stacy and Clinton come whip me into shape) but this is a slick app. I got a kick out of exploring the collections in this app and all of the different looks.

The app opens up with a screen where you choose to explore either the Fall 2009 or Spring 2009 Ralph Lauren collections. If you scroll down you can also view the Ricky Bag collection, visit the video library or find a store.  I started by going to the Fall section. From here you’ll see a screen that lets you view the highlight video from the fall runway show. If you choose "Looks" you’ll see models wearing the clothes from the collection. Keep scrolling down because the models go on and on. There are a bunch of them. Touch the one you like and you’ll see the outfit up close. Touch the bottom of the screen and more buttons appear. The play button  will show the photos like a slide show. The arrows advance you forward or backward to the next look. There’s an email button (similar to what shows up with your iPhone camera roll). Touch that and you can email the image or find a store. Touch the "i" button to get the details on what exactly the model is wearing. Back on the main Fall screen you can touch the "Heroines" button to watch another video. The "Backstage" button shows you behind the scenes video from the runway show. At the bottom of the screen there’s a button that takes you a store locator. Touch the state you’re looking for and the app pulls up the store address  and phone number. From here you can call the store directly or see a map and directions.

Throughout the app, if you want to go back to the previous section you’ll need to scroll to the top of the screen and then touch along the top edge. A "back" button will appear. Touch that button and you’ll go back a screen. The Spring 2009 collection has the same information as the fall, along with advertising shots and accessories from the collection. I love looking at accessories so I enjoyed scrolling through those photos.

Back on the main Ralph Lauren screen you can touch the Ricky Bag button. From here you can view the collection of gorgeous bags or read about the story behind them. My mom purses are pretty utilitarian – all function, no fashion – but that didn’t stop me from drooling over these photos.

So although fashion isn’t exactly my cup of tea, I still appreciated this app. It’s well put together and does a great job highlighting the Ralph Lauren collection. If you follow the fashion world this would be a great app to have. Or if you’re a mom like me who dreams of the day when her clothes won’t be covered in unidentifiable stains, check out the app for some daydreaming. But be sure to bring a cloth to wipe the drool off your iPhone screen.

Seller: Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation

Price when Reviewed: Free

Click here to see the app at the iTunes store

If you are a shoe girl- Lucky is an app for you. I am not a shoe girl but I could still appreciate the cute and sassy shoes and the nifty service this app provides. You open it up and it shows you the March 2009 Shoe Guide. You can browse shoes by trend, brand or color. (See the buttons at the bottom) If you browse by Trend you get a picture of the style of shoe. Tap the photo you like and you’ll see even more shoes in that style. Find you one like and tap it for more information, including the price. From here you can choose "Find it Online" or "Find it Near You".  Finding it near you brings up the stores in your area that carry the  shoe. Each store has "In Stock?" next to it. If you touch that you can enter your name and email so they can let you know if the shoe is in stock. If you choose to search online Lucky pulls up the online merchants that carry the shoe. Choose the one you like and you can then order the shoe. From your phone. Scary.

Shopping by brand pulls up all the brands listed. From here you can choose a brand, then a shoe and see the same information I mentioned above. Shop by color and you pick the color you like. Lucky will pull up all the shoes it’s categorized in that color. Choose your shoe and once again you can pull up the information and find nearby availability or shop online.

If I was one of those girls who got frequent shoe cravings this could be a very dangerous app. Lucky for our checking account I tend to stick with one pair and then wear them until even my children are embarrassed.

Seller: Nearby Now, Inc.

Price when Reviewed: Free

Click here to see the app at the iTunes store