It's hard to beat the experience of admiring racks and racks of clothes in your favorite store before finally selecting a piece you can't leave without. Despite the proliferation of ecommerce apps, when it comes to apparel and accessories, shopping from your phone can fall short.

But that doesn't mean there's any less fun to be had on your phone for fashion enthusiasts. Expressing yourself through fashion is an art, and one inherently suited for both socially integrated apps as well as fashion games that let you play stylist.

Whether your phone is primarily a tool for Instagramming your latest look, or you're in need of fashion CliffsNotes before next season (like me), the following apps will take your style up a notch — and show you a good time in the process.

1. Whisp

Messaging apps are in vogue after WhatsApp's monumental $19 billion acquisition. Whisp is a messaging app focused solely on fashion, currently available on iPad and web, with the iPhone launch slated for this summer.

The app's beautiful interface is reminiscent of print design; but unlike flipping through a magazine, you can drag and drop products you like into the messaging box to get your friends' opinions. Whisp also integrates with Facebook, so your friends can message with you on Whisp without downloading the app themselves.

2. ASAP54

If you've ever struggled to Google those shoes you saw out and about by color, style, texture and so on — you'll appreciate why ASAP54 created a reverse photo search for fashion, launched on iOS in February.

If you find taking photos of strangers' clothes in public to be awkward, remember that you can use a photo you found online, too.

The concept is catching on. Style Eyes has a similar app for brands in Europe, and Slyce is creating a technology that could be used by retailers on their own websites.

3. Pose

Pose is a weather app infused with the real reason we check the weather — to decide what to wear. By checking your location, Pose determines your local weather forecast and provides photos and collections to inspire your outfit for the day. You can further narrow down the selections by telling Pose you're going to the office, heading to the gym or wearing skinny jeans, to name a few options.

Pose is available on Android and iOS.

4-6. Poshmark, Bib + Tuck, Tradesy

The worst scenario when bringing home a great fashion find is realizing that the fit is not quite right, or the piece doesn't belong with the rest of your wardrobe. Either it sits in the lonely end of your closet, or you can sell it on one of these apps.

Poshmark's website and mobile app is resale specifically for fashion, and you can add several pictures with each item, along with noting the size, color, brand and more. Other users can comment on or repost your items, which can help you make a sale. Many users have fun with styling their own items, so the social stream is as much inspiration as ecommerce. Poshmark takes a 20% commission on sales over $15, and is available on iOS and Android.

Like Poshmark, you can buy and sell fashion on Bib + Tuck, but the platform only accepts select brands. Thus, the items for sale on the site are guaranteed to be of higher quality, or at least from premium brands. Bib + Tuck uses its own virtual currency, which you can purchase; but when you sell items, you can only exchange your Bib Bucks for more items on the site. Bib + Tuck is available on iOS.

Tradesy encourages the buying and selling of premium items by guaranteeing authenticity — a far cry from the early days of rip-offs on eBay. Website Lollipuff also guarantees authenticity for certain fashion brands. Tradesy takes only 9% of the sale price and provides a shipping bag. Right now, Tradesy is available for iPhone.

7. Covet

For fashion lovers who have more time than money to spend on styling, Covet might be the perfect fit. When you first sign up, the app asks you to vote between a few sets of styles, à la "hot-or-not." This process will earn you tickets, while you earn cash by entering contests — and you'll use the in-app cash to "buy" dresses, shoes, handbags and more. Once you've built your closet, you can begin styling looks for various contests in the app, such as Secret Rendezvous in Belize or Opening Night of a Broadway Show.

Covet is available on both iOS and Android.

8-9. Stylebook, Closet+

If you've ever been at a store lusting after a gorgeous dress, but unsure if you have shoes that will match, you've probably wished for a virtual closet. Stylebook for iOS is $3.99 and allows you to add images of the clothes you own, as well as lay out an outfit in a collage, make a packing list and create calendars of what you plan to wear. It can help you shop more efficiently, in case you forget what you already have, and help you make sure a favorite accessory doesn't collect dust, forgotten in your closet.

Similarly, Closet+ allows you to upload photos of the apparel you own, and is a free app for iOS. Mix Me is a similar app on Android.

10. The Hunt

The Hunt calls itself the "cure for outfit envy," and is perhaps a community-driven version of the reverse photo search of ASAP54. But while ASAP54 promises to find items that are similar in color or texture to the original, users on The Hunt are often looking for an exact match.

The app is available on iOS, and enables users to post images of a product they want, while other users help find it on sale. You can also follow an item if someone else posts something that piques your fancy. The structure of the app, which is totally built around user interactions, creates a supportive and friendly community. As any fashionista can attest, the only thing more fun than buying fashion is talking about it.

What fashion apps do you rely on? Tell us in the comments.