I Love Polyvore!
By Sarah, age 19, Massachusetts
Polyvore, Polyvore, Polyvore - it's my new obsession! Polyvore is a website where girls around the world can sign up and join for free to create what is called a "set". In this set you can use all sorts of items such as pictures and clothing from anywhere on the web to create your own unique outfit or art piece. You can choose from the vast variety of items others have loaded onto Polyvore to make their sets, or learn how to upload pieces you have saved from another website onto Polyvore. There is an easy to use drag and drop editor that allows you to put together each image you have chosen to use in your set. In the editor you can make each image a customized size, as well as overlap or underlap with the other pieces in the set. Music and text can also be added.
On your profile you can organize your sets into a "collection" and groups. Your profile also has a "showcase" where you add your favorite creations to flaunt them for people who view your page. When you complete each of your sets you title it and categorize it into fashion or art, and then publish the set, adding it to Polyvore to be viewed by others. Other members can save your set as a favorite, and you will be notified of the member and which set they favorited. When you browse other members' sets you can even save an image you like from theirs, saving it into your "items" section. With it you can later create a whole new set with the editor. There is no limit to the items you can use. The same item can be used in multiple sets.
A great way to get your set noticed is to join some of the groups created by other members. There are many different groups, each usually having a specific theme such as "old fashioned" or "high on heels", but there are also groups that have an "anything goes" policy. There is a group for anyone and everyone on Polyvore. Most of these groups have contests run by the founder of the group. Depending on the group theme, there will be a set of rules or detailed items you will need to include in your set in order to enter and be eligible to win first, second, or third place. The contest theme might be to use only two specific colors or a center piece such as a dress or celebrity. Then from there you can use whatever decorations or accessories you choose to make the set more appealing.
With the member-run group contests there is usually no prize, except the title of winning and joy of being noticed. Polyvore itself holds contests on the main page that are sponsored and have a grand prize, and any member can enter. A recent Polyvore contest was the Nike Sportswear contest. Nike chose several sweatshirts from their new line that needed to be used in the set to qualify in the contest, along with one other item from their website. The grand prize from Nike was five hundred dollars for the winner to use on NikeSportsWear.com
As a new Polyvore user I have nothing that I would complain about. It has everything a creative person and fashion lover could dream of. Polyvore is addictive and fun! It's a good community to join to meet up with others who enjoy art and fashion. There is always something new to create and discover. Polyvore is brilliant and unique, which is why it is my new obsession!!
