For those enamored of the New York Times’ fashion coverage comes NYTimes The Collection, a style-centered app for iPad that’s definitely worth a look for those sartorially inclined.
Although The Collection’s landscape-only orientation bothers me, I’m quite fond of the app’s overall design and interface. Content is displayed as a thumbnail image collage (tapping a photo will pop up a headline, byline and teaser) with the issue’s current date front and center. Users can opt to view all content types together, or filter down to just news, trends, on the street or runway photo galleries.
After tapping a photo and its corresponding text button, users will see The Collection story. I found the text to be large enough, but size options — or support for pinch-to-zoom would be an added benefit. I love that you don’t need to go back to the home screen when you’re finished reading. Instead, you can swipe left or right to go directly to surrounding stories, or tap the screen once to pop up a scrolling menu bar. Products and related content are hyperlinked and open inline so you can reader further on a topic or make a purchase from a retailer’s website. The Collection is mostly comprised of photos and text, but a few videos are intermixed, too.
The Collection’s Runway section features an alphabetical designer list (as well as a sort option for most recent shows) so you can find exactly which runway piece you’ve been coveting and share it via email, Facebook, Twitter or simply copy the link for later use. This section is one that’s screaming for portrait support — runway shots are typically oriented this way, so you’d be able to view them even larger if portrait was an option.
The Collection is currently free, but come the New Year the app will only offer unlimited access to New York Times subscribers. Check out the app now — perhaps you’ll want to add a subscription to your holiday wish list.
