Fashion App Review for Cladwell & One Caution for Subscription

Hi guys!

This week, I am testing out a new fashion app that set out to revolutionize how we do Capsule Wardrobes!! I saw this app mentioned on Audrey's website 'Putting Me Together' and wondered what it was like. ( Link ) I had abandoned most of my previous fashion apps because I switched phones between Apple and Android and really missed the 'Randomize' function in Closet+ which only works for iPhones. I have an iPad but there is no service available for it!






So...
I started out with their 3-day trial. To cut to the chase, I really see a potential in their app being able to help me from 'Compulsive Shopping' and 'Retail Therapy'... :) because Cladwell shows me so many outfit options from what I have. I spent 7 hours today logging 144 items and it is showing me something 102k outfits! Imagine! 102,000 different outfits SITTING IN MY HOME CLOSET!!

Anywho...
My real motivation for writing though is to save you potential frustration. And to give you a fair warning before you go ahead and log all your clothing pieces and before you subscribe. I spent the last hour and a half to two hours, only to realize that Cladwell's current service settings are not fully converted between desktop users and iPad users. My desktop is Android-based, not Apple. And Cladwell's app runs on iOS/iTunes. And the way their services are set up is not clearly shown on their website. I really wish they had a page that gave us a diagram of their services functions and features...

To relate what I know thus far...
I initially subscribed to my everyday email and they said that the free trial is for 3 days. I used the app for one day and decided to quit it before getting charged on my credit card. I had signed up for their service on my desktop, then downloaded their app from Playstore on iPad. So far, so good.

Well. I read a blog post that had some neat tips on how to use Cladwell to optimize your wardrobe and decided to subscribe again. But I wanted to use my work email for this... but because I went straight to my iPad this time, I ended up creating a new account from iTunes. If you are an iTunes user, be warned!!! If you don't want to pay for your Cladwell service, quit within the first 48 hours of subscribing. Apparently, iTunes policy is really specific and Cladwell can't do anything about it.

Also...
I noticed that when I signed up from my desktop, the monthly subscription was $7.99, or 6 months for $5.99 per month, or yearly plan for $3.34 per month.

BUT...

when I subscribed from my iPad... 

I got the 3 free trial days yes... but... this time, they were showing a 'weekly' subscription!! Whoa-!! At first, I wondered if I was being offered this because I was a returning subscriber or something... But after a lot of digging around... I found that Cladwell's services are running on completely different platforms. 

The weekly subscription was not available from my desktop account, ONLY on my iPad (iOS) account... And it goes for $2.99 each week. I think as a newcomer, the weekly service is a nice mid-step offered. When you try something for the first time, you don't know how much the service is going to be worth to you... So... going from the 3 days (2 days technically) free trial to a weekly, then monthly or annually made a lot of sense. And it really gives great flexibility to the users! 

Here is what I currently understand of the two different platforms based services by Cladwell, in a chart form:

As you can see, from the desktop side, the weekly subscription was not possible.

And from Apple's iOS or iTunes side, the monthly subscription paid for 6 months was not possible. 

I don't have an iPhone so I don't know how this factors in for the subscriptions via iPhone. But, so far, regarding the website's structure, Logging in part also had an interesting flow. 

I could register from my Desktop, then login to my app on the iPad. However, the reverse was not possible due to iTunes restrictions I think. 

To back up what I have gathered above, here are two screen captures from the Support section I read tonight that clarified Cladwell's services and features. (Link) As you will see, Cladwell DID refund the money and was supportive of the client. But I think the info I detailed above could have been explained more transparently on their main website. Maybe include a full page on how they are operating... so users can make the BEST CHOICE regarding their services.

* * *

To end on a positive note...

I still feel great hopes for Cladwell working for me!

I did the math... and my annual subscription which I got just before writing this blog post... comes down to a USD 1 per month. 

Annual Subscription $39.99 divided by 12 months is $3.3325 which I think they rounded up to $3.34 on their main page. 

$3.3325 divided by 4 weeks is $0.833125 for each week. In my home currency (Korean won), that equates to about 955 won which for the local mind is a US 1 dollar. I think paying a dollar each week for Cladwell might be totally worth it... 

I love the excitement of seeing new ways of mixing and combining my clothes displayed on the Cladwell app. I did try out a similar service called Lookastic.com but their outfit suggestions didn't inspire me as much. I prefer the clean layout and style aesthetic of Cladwell. (Sorry Lookastic!)

And here are two screen captures for Cladwell's beautifully streamlined outfits for me!! The first one is a list of my 144 items. My clothes here are 'good enough approximations' to what I really have!

Secondly, here are the incredible 102,000 outfits Cladwell is showing me!! Just from what I own!! I can totally shop from my own closet now~!! There are so many outfit combinations I haven't tried yet and that really really excites me!! 

OK. So...

For those of you style-savvy yet shrewd money managers reading this! Give it a go~!! Especially shouting out to those of you who are doing Project 333 or taking Jill Chivers' 'My Year Without Clothes Shopping' program... I heartily recommend you to explore this new app! Cladwell website: http://www.cladwell.com

xoxox

Love & Gratitude from Seoul, Korea,

Jessica Flatshoenista