Google enters the fashion game with boutiques.com

Is waiting for the google man to deliver in our future?/Image: istockphotoOver the last week the blogosphere/twitterverse has been a  buzz with rumors that Google was set to launch an e-commerce mega-site called Boutiques.com.  At the time the story leaked details about Boutiques.com, other than the url was previously owned by recent Google acquisition like.com, were sketchy with experts debating the likelihood of a shop-in-shop site that would include offerings from major American design houses as well as on-site 'curated' boutiques helmed by stylish celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Katie Holmes,  as opposed to a fashion-aggregator that would  direct consumers to outside shopping venues based on style preferences similar to ShopStyle, or the hyper-popular Polyvore.

As of yesterday the latter appeared more likely as according to  Vogue.com:

"The site, which will work in a similar way to Google's ubiquitous search engine, will allow users to save items, brands and looks they love in their own personalized shop."

Further clarification was given by industry insider and blogger Patty Huntington of FrockWriter   this morning:

"The site, we understand, is moving very rapidly towards the unveil and its offer now embraces boutiques curated either by - or around - 76 celebrities, 27 retailers, 55 designers and 12 bloggers. But the list of designers simply reflects those names who have thus far, apparently, agreed to participate in the venture. A designer directory lists over 200 designer names (including Australians Bassike, Willow, Thurley, sass & bide, Lover and Ksubi). But even that doesn’t embrace the full scope of the Boutiques.com offer, because products from a raft other brands and outlets that are not, it seems, officially involved, are also featured."

While complete details regarding the actual purchase process at boutiques.com is still unknown, until tomorrow when the site is set to launch with a splashy party in New York's Soho neighborhood to which countless bloggers and fashion journalists have been invited, one fact is already clear the over the top buzz created by the possibility of a Google shopping will ensure at least an initial boom in business for the tech goliath, and may spell serious trouble for less than latest tech powered sites already in the market place.

How do you feel about Google fashion? Will you shop the site? Will it impact your shopping on other already established e-tailers such as Shopbop, or more locally focused companies such as Moxsie.com?  Let us know by emailing shop@stylewylde.com and you may be quoted in a follow-up story.

Comments

[Shopgirl]

I still can't tell if it is cool or hype, or maybe both...if they can launch a truly bug-free shopping site they will already be ahead of many of the other hip shopping sites on the web. But, if it's only big names, it's going to be pricey and in this economy...?