What it does
Lyst is a comprehensive fashion shopping platform that aggregates millions of products from thousands of brands and department stores into a single, browsable interface. The app's core function is to help users discover new items, track products they love, and receive alerts when those items go on sale or come back in stock. It acts as a universal shopping cart and wishlist for the world of fashion.
Where it shines
Lyst excels at creating a deeply personalized and efficient shopping experience. The standout feature is its upfront and thorough size-saving flow (01:22), which allows users to filter the entire product catalog by their specific sizes across eight categories. This immediately eliminates the frustration of finding unavailable items. Another powerful tool is the 'Shop your Screenshots' feature (07:30), which turns a user's photo gallery into a discovery engine by finding visually similar products. These features combine to make the app feel like a personal shopper, tailored to the user's taste and size from the first session.
UX highlights
- Size-First Filtering: The app prompts users to input their sizes early (01:22), and a persistent banner (02:17) confirms that filters are applied, building confidence.
- Conversational Onboarding: During brand selection, the header text changes with encouraging phrases like "Great!" (00:58), making the setup process feel more interactive.
- Organized Wishlists: Users can create multiple named lists (e.g., 'Sneakers', 'Bags' at 05:17), which is a significant improvement over a single, disorganized wishlist.
- Clear Stock and Sale Alerts: The product detail page makes it easy to set a back-in-stock alert for a specific size (03:51), a high-value utility for shoppers.
- Seamless Redirection: When a user decides to buy, the app clearly communicates that it is taking them to a partner store (05:00), managing expectations for the transition.
- Multi-faceted Discovery: Lyst offers multiple ways to find products, including traditional search, curated feeds, brand pages, and innovative image search.
Monetization & growth
The app does not appear to have a direct subscription model or in-app purchases. Its business model is based on affiliate partnerships. When a user taps 'Buy now' on an item (06:23), they are redirected to the retailer's website to complete the purchase, and Lyst likely earns a commission on that sale. Growth is driven by powerful personalization features that create a sticky user experience. Sale alerts and back-in-stock notifications are key growth loops that re-engage users and drive them back into the app with high purchase intent.
Who it’s for
Lyst is for the digitally-savvy, brand-conscious shopper who follows a wide range of designers and stores. It's ideal for users who are tired of juggling multiple browser tabs and wishlists across different e-commerce sites. The app serves both active shoppers looking for a specific item and passive browsers seeking inspiration, making it a versatile tool for anyone interested in fashion.
Notes & opportunities
The eight-step size selection process, while powerful, is quite lengthy and mandatory-feeling. Offering an easier way to skip certain categories or complete it later could reduce initial friction. The transition from the app to a mobile web browser for purchase (06:25) is a potential drop-off point. While likely a business constraint, exploring in-app checkout integrations could streamline the final step of the user journey.