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Cloudy with a chance of style: Feather Report app tells you what to wear

Two Denver-focused looks from Feather Report. Photos: Melisa Russo

By Lesley Kennedy

OK, so, it’s going to be snowy and cold. Or windy and warm. Or rainy and humid. Thanks, Al Roker. But, can someone please tell us what we really want to know: What should we wear?

The Feather Report iPhone app.

Thanks to Melisa Russo, the brains behind Feather Report, we don’t have to make such difficult choices on our own. Before we’ve even had our first non-fat latte of the day, she makes the tough decisions for us.

Last year, Russo launched the iPhone app, inspired by her blog of the same name, to deliver style inspiration to your phone each day, based on the weather forecast.  (Get it? Fashion + Weather = Feather Report.)

Adding to the app’s cool factor is that it allows you to search for outfits customized to your body type, weather condition and lifestyle. So, for example, if you’re a Curvy Cathy going on a Date Night and Baby, It’s Cold Outside, Feather Report serves up five outfit suggestions to meet your needs. From there, you can shop the looks from your phone or save them to your faves. Plus, you can check the weather in any zip code across the country, so you’ll know how to pack for any upcoming trips.

We caught up with Russo to find out a little more about this must-have app:

What inspired you to start your blog?

Living in New York City where the weather is constantly changing, I found it difficult to get dressed in the morning. I thought, wouldn’t it be easier if the weatherman would just tell you what to wear? So, I started creating outfits for NYC girls, based on the daily forecast. The challenge was putting together looks that would transition from the office to a variety of after-work occasions. From there, I started weaving in forecasts and outfit suggestions for cities across the country.

We love that it incorporates body type — was that important for you to address?

Definitely. I wanted to put together outfits that women with all kinds of figures could look great in. Each outfit is tagged according to body type, so you can search for clothing that works for you both on the blog and in the iPhone app.

What are your favorite cities to dress for?

Living in New York my whole life, I’m accustomed to extreme climates. And NYC is always fun to dress for because of its anything goes atmosphere. I also love the laid-back-and-layered vibe of L.A., and the sportiness of Steamboat.

How has the reaction been?

The reaction so far has been really positive. Some people turn to Feather Report for style inspiration — what do I have in my closet that can be used to recreate this look? And other people use it as a shopping guide. So I work really hard at including a variety of looks and price points. The feedback I get most often is that people love having the guesswork taken out of getting dressed in the morning. It’s a time-saver.

Was it difficult turning your blog into an app?

By the time I looked into creating the app, I had a really clear idea of what I wanted it to do, so from there it was just a matter of working out all the technical stuff. The app is inspired by the blog, but with a lot more functionality. You can search for outfits customized to your body type, weather condition and occasion, store your favorite outfits and check the weather in any zip code across the country, so you can plan for your upcoming travels.

Be sure to check in with Feather Report this week for Colorado-themed fashion/weather reports.

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