I LIKE MY STYLE vs. FASHIONFREAX

We already read about it: more than 2 months ago “ilikemystyle.net“, a so-called social web platform was launched by author Adriano Sack and art director Judith Banham.
Unfortunately, after visiting with full of expectation i come to the sad conclusion that a brilliant idea is no guarantor for a fantastic product. The project is presented as “a social to network that connects people who love fashion. A community open to everybody “. The fashionably web-user is friendly invited to upload photos with own style-creations, to commentate photos from other community-members, to evaluate and forward the pictures and to “connect”.
Meant as advancement of the Streetstyle Blogs - great idea but poorly converted. While “connecting” is only possible by commentating and not by interlacing, the community-members can´t communicate on a direct level. Perhaps, this is volitional and part of the concept. But that the moderately elaborated navigation does not steer and simplify makes the whole thing rather annoying and exhausting.

Perhaps (from my point of view) the lacking rush of users has a lot to do with a lukewarm level of so-called stylespiration. The highlights are rare and stand beside vacation pictures with air mattress or v-Neck Sweater night shots. Who wants to get inspired by that? The philosophy behind ilikemystyle.net, that selection automatically emerges in a community where everyone can cheer and criticize everyone as desired doesn´t come out.

Like De:bug author Jan Joswig already wrote (unfortunately only in German) - the possibility that everybody comments everybody doesn´t lead to a new form of critique but rather to offenseless backslapping-.

My tough criticism at the technical concept doesn´t change the fact that i like the idea, the philosophy and the design. I doubt if ilikemystyle.net will manifest itself as active, professional community but there´s no doubt that a s slowly growing group of people will use it for jaunty leisure fun and for petting their narcism. Nothing wrong with that.
Apart from the name, fashionfreax.net leaves already in the test phase a very professional impression. Fashionfreax.net, the second European Community, which went just online, is operated by visual.labs GmbH out of the hessian Wächtersbach.
Probably, there´s not too much fashion inspiration over there, but apparently one know´s about professional web conception and conversion. The self-called “freax” that love to inspire with a platform for everyone that is interested in fashion and style, new ideas and innovative labels convince not with the name, but with a professional setup and a wide variety of interactive and informative tools.
With various search functions the user cannot only find photos and styles, but also fashion schools, studios, showrooms and shops. The blogger girls “Les Mads” link their blog to the news-section of fashionfreax.net and guarantee fresh and hot info´s about the fashion front and the “events” section contains info´s about European fashion fairs . The profiles of registered users give information about age, fashionable and media preferences, favored outfits and uploaded pictures.
While zapping through the stylephotos that are already online, there´s a remarkable amount of professional young-designers photos (which reminds of iqons.com) - mixed with private shots, fashionfreax.net offers an inspiring and interesting style-standart

I am pretty sure, that the two platforms will not be the only European fashion communitys in 2008. For now, I wish ilikemystyle.net and fashionfreax.net a positive increase in their first period of prosperity.

Credits: Fashionfreax, I Like My Style