Los Angeles Times

The Fashion Statement: Google's Fashion Engine

Filed under: Apparel, The Fashion Statement

Who among us hasn't typed in "nude stiletto" in a search engine box and gotten back enough Lucite heels to make a stripper swoon? Well, things are looking up. Yesterday, Google launched Boutiques.com, and it greatly improves the search process when you're shopping for fashion items online.

Google posted the back story on its blog: "A year and half ago, our team (which at the time was part of Like.com) started to wonder if we could create a better experience for people to shop online. We jokingly called ourselves the computer nerds and fashion nerds (and a few of us were both). So, we set out to create a new way to browse, discover and shop for soft goods online."

The site uses visual search technology developed by Like.com (which Google acquired in August) using images to drive the search rather than text typed into a search box. You can teach the site your style by either taking a quiz or sifting through images while hitting "More My Style" tabs. When you're finished creating your own "boutique," it then helps filter out items you dislike and adds more of what you'd like. It's kind of a Pandora for fashionistas.

Tags: Boutiques.com, BryanBoy, Carey Mulligan, ginnifer goodwin, Google, lauren conrad, Los Angeles Times, online shopping, Susie Bubble

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SPiN at The Mondrian: The Ping Pong Trend Heads West

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

All of a sudden table tennis is hotter than hot. Backed by Susan Sarandon and a team of owners, the SPiN ping pong club in New York City has become so successful that it has spawned a reality television show. Now the concept is expanding, finding a new home at the Mondrian in Los Angeles in the hotel's ADCB lounge this summer.

SPiN New York was created by owners Franck Raharinosy, Andrew Gordon and Jonathan Bricklin along with Sarandon and has an interior dreamed up by renowned designer Todd Oldham. SPiN has taken the New York social scene by storm with a mix of sport, design, and entertainment, since its launch in 2009. "SPiN New York has brought a fun, new element to the city's nightlife that has refreshed the scene and gained a very loyal following, and we are excited to transport that unique experience to the LA market with this exclusive partnership," said Kim Walker, Senior Vice President and Creative Director, Morgans Hotel Group.

SPiN Hollywood at Mondrian will mark one of SPiN's first expansions outside of New York. Hotel guests and visitors can enjoy tournaments, celebrity events ,cocktails and food over a casual game of table tennis. The concept first debuted at Mondrian for one night only during Oscar Week 2010 luring in Jamie Foxx and other notables. Next up is SPiN Milwaukee opening in August 2010.

Tags: HollywoodHills, los angeles times, mondrian, mondrian hotel, MondrianHotel, spin hollywood, spin nyc, Susan Sarandons Daughter