Boutiques.com might be the worst thing to happen to your wallet since sample sale websites. The brainchild of the ultimate brainchild—Google—Boutiques allows shoppers to browse looks curated by their personal fashion icons, whether they be celebrities, bloggers, designers, or other site members. You can also sort the goods by trend, style genre, or retailer. What separates this from a site such as Polyvore, which assembles various pieces from a selection of various retailers, is that Boutiques allows you to create and curate your own personal boutique. Narcissistic? Perhaps. Completely addictive? Absolutely. When you first sign up, the site brings you through a collection of photos paired up against one another — it’s your duty to determine which is more your style. Based upon your choices, Boutiques classifies you as either Classic, Romantic, Casual Chic, Edgy, Street, and Boho.
You don’t like what you get? No problem, the fashion schizo within you can have as many personal style declarations as she desires; let’s face it, they all overlap (how do you separate Classic from Casual Chic? Street from Edgy?). Once you’ve decided upon your personal style, you’re invited to choose your most beloved (and loathed) silhouettes, patterns, and colors. Click a button and you have your own personal boutique, filled to the brim with items tailored to your personal taste. Plus, you can also choose your favorite brands and retailers. My personal picks from the website? I’m Romantic, Classic, and Casual Chic, and I have a soft spot for the styles of Alix, Olivia Palermo, and Kate Spade—a classified ad for your fashion sense.
—Deanna Pai
