Even though I don’t consider myself a “fashionista,” it’s hard not to get swept up in the frenzy of fashion-forward designers descending on Montreal and New York City for Fashion Week. But will beautiful people in beautiful clothes give a denim-clad mobile-device aficionado like me aspirations to be the Next Top Model? Sadly, no. Regardless, here are five BlackBerry ® smartphone apps that might just bring us all one step closer to the runway:

Trendstop Fashion TrendTracker by Amoja Limited: Trendstop Fashion TrendTracker is a veritable fashion toolbox that provides insight into trends, shares the latest news, and suggests ideas on what to wear. Tons of pics from fashion shows around the globe may also inspire a new or updated look, and the app also allows social sharing on Facebook® and Twitter® so you can solicit ideas from your friends.

Vogue News by Condé Nast Publications Ltd.: It’s a little-known fact that when fashion models are babies, “Vogue” is actually one of the first words they learn to say. A list of fashion apps without including Vogue News would be like wearing socks and sandals. Vogue News shares the latest news, trends, and people straight from the pages of Vogue.

Glamour Celebrity News by Condé Nast Publications Ltd.: Rounding out the one-two punch of magazines gone digital, Glamour Celebrity News gives you a peek into the fashion lives of celebrities such as actors and directors. There are plenty of images and tips to help anyone look like a star.

Fashion TV by 770 Prod: Providing the ultimate insider’s guide, the Fashion TV BlackBerry app provides news on fashion shows, designer events, and Haute Couture parties from Paris to Montauk. If you’re the kind of person who wants to be the first on their block to embrace the latest fashion trend, you need to have this app in your collection.

Fashion News Service by 360Fashion: Last but certainly not least on the list of fashion apps is the simply-named Fashion News Service. This little gem from 360Fashion shares opinions and sneak peeks from tastemakers and trendsetters inside the fashion industry. As an added bonus, Fashion News Service can be connected to BlackBerry ® Messenger (BBM ™) on BlackBerry ® 7 OS devices.

In the world of fashion, trends come and go so it’s important to have the right apps to stay connected and “in the know.” What’s even cooler is that all of these apps are free, so there’s really nothing stopping you from becoming a fashionista – except if you really do wear sandals with socks.

Have any of these apps helped you sharpen your fashion sense? Are there any apps you’d add to this list? Let us know in the comments!

The good news is that there are a ton of apps to help you accomplish tasks in each of those categories. We put our heads together and rounded up our “staff picks” for the top 10 BlackBerry® smartphone apps that you can use at networking events. This list is by no means exhaustive, so head over to the gold mine that is the BlackBerry App World™ storefront and start exploring! Mention any of your favorites not on the list in the comments below.

On to the list!

Read more at the Inside BlackBerry for Business Blog »

With summer just peeking around the corner, what better way to prepare than to download some of our favorite BlackBerry® apps for summer? The BlackBerry App World™ storefront has got you covered for the long-awaited season. Grab your shorts, sunglasses and of course your BlackBerry® smartphone or BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet, and check out these apps:

Wikitude 7.0: This week, Wikitude issued a major update to their popular and super useful augmented reality app. I’ve been using the new version and the new Panorama UI brings the experience to a new level. It simplifies everything into three main views: Favorites, Featured and Categories. It’s definitely a fun way to discover new people, places and things around you using your BlackBerry smartphone. So when you’re out and about exploring this summer, be sure to use the Wikitude World Browser to see your surroundings in an entirely new way. Download Wikitude now.

BlackBerry® Travel: Planning to get away for a little rest and relaxation this summer? BlackBerry Travel is a must-try app. It stores all of your essential trip information in one handy spot, plus it automatically scans your inbox for travel itineraries so you don’t have to search for things like confirmation numbers, flights, and addresses. It also provides flight status updates, weather information, local search functions and easy booking tools. Take the stress out of travelling – use BlackBerry Travel to keep you organized and informed. Download BlackBerry® Travel here.

Cooklet: Summer wouldn’t be summer without fresh food! The smell of the BBQ, picnics in the park, seasonal flavors… Even if you’re a newbie in the kitchen, Cooklet has all you need to get cooking this summer. It includes community-reviewed recipes, timers, tips and meal suggestions. If you’re as excited as I am about summer cooking, check out Cooklet for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.

June is right around the corner, so there’s no time to waste – download the BlackBerry apps above from BlackBerry App World today and get ready to have a great summer!

Is there a BlackBerry app for BlackBerry smartphones or BlackBerry PlayBook tablet that you’ll be using a lot this summer? Let us know in the comments.

It’s that time of year, #TeamBlackBerry students — you’re cramming to make the grade, and hopefully you’ve got all the right credits to ace your finals and graduate (with honors!). But what about life after school? Have you thought about what you’re going to do in the “real world”?

Sorry if I gave you a bit of a scare there (or sounded too much like your dad). While you ponder your future, check out my top 5 apps for grads to help you along:

1. Evernote: Life is busy and your brain is stuffed to the brim with knowledge. Evernote is simple to use and helps you keep track of all your notes, files, pics, and audio notes as they happen. Click on over to Evernote for BlackBerry® smartphone and Evernote for BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet, so you can give your memory a rest. Also works great as a study aid for that final exam!

2. SideSwipe: The world is busy place, and as you embark on your next adventure, you’ll definitely want to keep tuned in to worldly events as they happen. SideSwipe is a nice news aggregator for BlackBerry smartphone.

3. Top Gear: Now that you’re all grown up, you might be looking for a new car. The ones featured here may be a bit out of budget, but that’s also another thing you need: motivation! A grad can dream, right? In the meantime, you can practice driving your dream car with Top Gear for BlackBerry smartphone and Top Gear for BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.

4. InstaPhoto: Unless you have a superhuman memory, those magical moments of graduation won’t last a lifetime if you don’t capture them. InstaPhoto is my favorite way to customize your images and share them with your friends, family, and the world via social media. I, for one, happen to think that my pictures look way better with trendy filters on. Snap this one up and snap away!

5. Poynt: After you graduate, you may find yourself in a brand new city for a new career or your next adventure. Poynt is designed to help you find what you need and keep you connected to where it’s at. You can even make in-app purchases on things like movie tickets, make reservations at local restaurants and take advantage of local deals. Wherever you go, you’ll want to make sure Poynt goes with you by using Poynt for BlackBerry smartphone or Poynt for BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.

You may not have locked down what you want to do with your life, but rest assured these apps will help you enjoy the journey a little more. Got a favorite app that you couldn’t have survived school without? Let us know in the comments.

With Mother’s Day right around the corner (this Sunday the 13th — have you sent Mom a card yet?), we wanted to take a step back and recognize all their hard and often under-appreciated work. I’ve been talking to moms around the Research In Motion® (RIM®) offices, and we’ve compiled the top 5 apps from BlackBerry App World™ that we think are perfect for all the moms out there on #TeamBlackBerry.

1. Kobo™: According to some of the moms here on the social team, they love to curl up with a good book. Having Kobo on your BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet or BlackBerry® smartphone is like curling up with thousands of books, so you can read until your heart’s content — and without having to carry around a ton of heavy novels.

2. At The Moment: This is a journaling app that lets you capture moments as they happen, tag people and places, date stamp memories, and save them. If you’re the kind of mom that never misses a moment – from your child’s first step to their graduation day – definitely check this one out.

3. Groupon™: For mothers who are always looking for a great deal, I’ve been told the Groupon app for BlackBerry smartphones is definitely one to have. You can find and purchase local deals right from your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet or BlackBerry smartphone, and you can redeem them right from your device as well, which saves both time and paper.

4. WeatherEye: The Weather Network: When I polled moms around the office (informally, of course), an overwhelming number of them said WeatherEye: The Weather Network is an essential app for them — especially since it features an hour-by-hour glance at the day ahead, so you know what the kids should be wearing to get them through the school day.

5. TETRIS®: Who said moms can’t be gamers too? There’s tons to love about the evergreen TETRIS® game series — and if you do need that extra peace and quiet, just hand it off to the kids and it’ll be sure to keep them busy.

There you have it: our top 5 apps for moms, just in time for Mother’s Day this weekend. All you moms out there — is there an app you use all the time? Let us know in the comments.

Here are some of the top apps purchased on BlackBerry App World over the last three years:

BeBuzz – LED Lights And More: Bellshare GmbH

Ever wanted to know exactly who’s calling – just by looking at that little flashing LED on your BlackBerry® smartphone? BeBuzz is designed to let you customize contact profiles so that you can easily see and hear exactly who’s trying to reach you.

Download BeBuzz – LED Lights And More for BlackBerry smartphones

Shazam Encore: Shazam Entertainment Limited

Looking for a musical adventure? Shazam will take you there. Ah, the magic of holding your BlackBerry smartphone up in the air and finding out who sings that tune…music aficionados, meet your perfect match.

Download Shazam Encore for BlackBerry smartphones

Color ID™: Motek Americas Inc.

Color ID is designed to let you assign custom LED color combinations by contact when you receive a BBM™, text, email or call. With over 100 possible color combinations including “Disco” and “Double Rainbow” and unlimited custom contacts, seeing who’s contacting you has never been more awesome.

Download Color ID for BlackBerry smartphones

BeWeather: Bellshare GmbH

The BeWeather app is designed to keep you on top of whatever Mother Nature throws your way. Road warriors can set up multiple cities for those days when your carry-on luggage has to accommodate everything from short sleeves to parkas.

Download BeWeather for BlackBerry smartphones

What’s that, you say? You want more? We know that the BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet hasn’t been around quite as long as BlackBerry App World itself, but we thought you’d like to know the #1 paid app for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet so far. Any guesses?

Angry Birds: Rovio Entertainment Ltd.

Yes, BlackBerry PlayBook tablet fans have taken kindly to those adorable little birds. #TeamBlackBerry’s been defeating those sneaky egg-stealing villains one sling at a time.

Download Angry Birds for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet

And there you have it! Be sure to tell us some of your favorite BlackBerry platform apps in the comments.