Polyvore is on its way to becoming the modern day trend forecasting service.  With the addition of Polyvore Style Analytics at the end of 2010, the world’s largest online fashion community of style tastemakers certainly has the technology to make it happen.

{ sample Polyvore set }

Since introducing its Style Analytics program, Polyvore has improved as a whole.  As an active user, I noticed right away that the front page became an aesthetically sound platform for discovering things like new trends, amazing brands and popular users.  Always looking for style inspiration, I like the way Polyvore now displays its most popular sets in the left sidebar, with trends and other specifics on the right.

As a web design snob, I was thrilled when Polyvore later added a gallery to the top of its home page. It’s both fashionable and functional; offering the site a sleek and modern look while also flipping through features a fashionista shouldn’t miss (like new celebrity or designer collaboration contests, similar to this Rebecca Minkoff one.).

Categories featured on Polyvore’s homepage include: Top Products; Top Collections; Brands We Love; From The Polyvore Blog; Great Places To Shop;  Style Advice, Zeitgeist; Hot Trends and Celebrity Style.

So much style and so little time! There is so much fashion information to be found as soon as you land on the Polyvore homepage that you can literally get lost in fashion inspiration for hours. Whether you’re looking for a new brand to covet, some ideas on how to update your wardrobe or other fashionistas to connect with, Polyvore is the place to be.

Some trend forecasters work solo, but what really makes this a superior trend forecasting platform is its sense of community. Once you get active and start following people and commenting on their sets, you’ll find that you’ll receive the same — sometimes tenfold. I also find the @Polyvore Twitter account to be quite social and the Polyvore Facebook page to be informative and fun.  And if I get too busy, there is my Polyvore Style Report in my inbox reminding me what’s hot in fashion.  Due to its technology, size, community engagement and loyalty, I’ll venture to say Polyvore is now a force to be reckoned with in the trend forecasting niche.

As I read sites like Polyvore, Style.com and The Sche Report, I wonder if free online resources will give established services like Stylesight and WGSN a run for their money. These sites may need to utilize Polyvore’s technology in the future, as it would be far too expensive to build it and then gain the user base that Polyvore has.

Polyvore has set the standard for modern trend forecasting. Today’s trend forecaster is fashionable, shoppable, helpful, social, digital — and free.