Personal stylists have long been a luxury service affordable only to the rich and famous. However, with advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), virtual stylists are now accessible to everyone with an internet connection. AI stylists utilize computer vision, machine learning algorithms, and vast datasets of images to provide personalized fashion and style advice.
How Do AI Stylists Work?
AI stylists function through a combination of computer vision technology and machine learning algorithms. Here is a general overview of how most AI stylist services operate:
Image Recognition
The first step is image recognition. When a user uploads their photos or shares access to their social media profiles, the AI stylist’s computer vision technology analyzes the images to detect visual fashion data. Items like clothing type, pattern, color, fit, and brand get identified.
The computer vision can also determine body type, skin tone, and facial features. This allows the AI to give advice tailored to the user’s unique physical attributes.
Preference Analysis
In addition to scanning images, many AI stylists ask users to fill out a style preference questionnaire. This helps the algorithm understand the user’s tastes, lifestyle, fashion goals, and shopping habits.
Some AI stylists connect to e-commerce sites or have users link wardrobe items they already own. This shows the AI what’s currently in the user’s closet so it doesn’t make repetitive recommendations.
Recommendation Engine
Finally, the AI stylist algorithm generates personalized recommendations and complete outfits catered to the user’s body type, style preferences, and clothing context. This may include:
- Specific clothing, shoes, or accessory items to purchase
- Complete head-to-toe outfits for different occasions
- Tips for how to style items the user already owns
- Advice for flattering colors, styles, and fits
- Curated inspiration boards with shoppable links
- Interactive 3D renderings of recommended outfits
The algorithm gets smarter over time by incorporating user feedback data. As the user rates recommendations or adds items to their digital closet, the AI continually refines and improves its suggestions.
The Benefits of AI Stylists
AI stylists aim to provide the expertise of a personal stylist to anyone with a connected device. There are many potential benefits to utilizing this new technology:
Convenience
You can access an AI stylist anytime, anywhere via website or mobile app – no appointments needed. It’s there on demand to give you instant outfit recommendations as you’re getting dressed.
Affordability
For most consumers, hiring a real-life personal stylist is not affordable. AI stylists finally make personalized expert fashion advice accessible at little to no cost.
Efficiency
It would take a human stylist hours to sort through a client’s wardrobe and social media photos to come up with accurate recommendations. AI stylists can process huge volumes of visual data and analyze your tastes in seconds.
Unbiased Feedback
AI has no intrinsic biases or preconceptions about style. The recommendations are purely data-driven based on what flatters your body type and what you have shown you prefer to wear.
Discovery
One of the biggest promises of AI stylists is helping people discover new brands, products, and styles tailored to their taste. The algorithms suggest items you may have never come across on your own.
Environmentally Friendly
AI could reduce wasteful online orders and returns. By showing users exactly what clothes will fit and flatter their body ahead of time, it may prevent unsatisfied purchases. The algorithms also suggest full outfits, not just individual items that end up unused in the closet.
AI Stylist Services Currently Available
Many companies have already launched virtual stylist apps and websites that leverage image recognition and recommendation algorithms. Here are a few notable options:
Stitch Fix
Stitch Fix pioneered the concept of AI-powered fashion boxes through their online personal styling service. You fill out a style profile and then receive regular shipments of clothes picked by algorithm. There is a styling fee per box, but what you don’t want you can return for free.
Dress Me Up
Dress Me Up lets you upload images from your camera, social media, or favorite fashion sites. Their AI stylist scans your photos, detects your fashion tastes, and recommends outfit ideas from hundreds of clothing retailers. You can then shop the exact items digitally curated for your body and style.
Trendii
Trendii asks you a series of style survey questions upon signup. Based on your answers, it generates a 3D avatar model to match your exact body shape. Its algorithm uses the avatar to show you how recommended clothes will realistically fit your figure. As you rate recommendations, Trendii’s AI continues refining its suggestions.
Curify
Curify aims to be your daily digital stylist. It lets you sync your closet items and calendar to give outfit ideas tailored to your schedule. The interactive app features your 3D avatar model and makes recommendations from partner fashion brands. Users can chat with human stylists on the platform as well if desired.
The Future of AI Stylists
We are still just at the beginning of exploring how AI can revolutionize style recommendations and fashion e-commerce. As the technology advances, here are some predicted developments:
Even More Personalization
With more user data over time, the outfit suggestions from AI stylists will become hyper customized not just to body types but also colors that complement skin tones, flattering silhouettes, lifestyle needs, brand preferences, budget constraints, and most loved fits.
AR/VR Capabilities
Augmented and virtual reality allow for next-level virtual try-on abilities. Soon AI stylist apps may feature integrated AR that shows 3D renderings of recommended items on your actual body or in your real-life space. VR could also transport you to interactive dressing rooms.
Voice Activation
Smart speakers and voice assistants are becoming integrated into more aspects of our lives, including potentialshopping habits. Asking aloud for your AI stylist to recommend an outfit may soon be a common pre-dressing routine. Voice commands allow for effortless access.
Expanded Inventory
More niche, independent, and up-and-coming fashion brands could get better distribution through AI stylists. Algorithms help surface brands aligned to someone’s taste but which they might not organically come across. More global inventory makes recommendations increasingly relevant.
Predictive Analytics
Fashion is notoriously fickle with trends constantly evolving. Data-driven AI algorithms can better predict upcoming styles likely to resonate with particular customer segments. This allows the recommendations to stay ahead of trend cycles and provide more forward-looking fashion advice.
The options today already feel magical in their ability to scan images and instantly turn them into tailored outfit ideas. As the technology integrates more inputs and smart functionality, that stylist in your pocket will become an indispensable daily personal shopper.
FAQs About AI Stylists
Q: Do I have to subscribe or commit to regularly scheduled boxes/shipments?
A: Unlike some pioneer services like StitchFix, most AI stylist services have shifted to purely on-demand models with a la carte options. You order only what you want without mandated recurring orders or charges.
Q: What about fit? Does the AI know my size and show clothing in the right size for me?
A: Most AI stylists now either gather key measurements from you like height, weight, and typical clothing sizes or use 3D avatar models generated by your photos to determine accurate sizing for their recommendations. Some have interactive preference settings that let you specify “runs small” or “runs large” as well if desired.
Q: Does it require that I upload all of my personal photos for analysis in order to work?
A: Some of the earlier generation fashion AI tools relied on access to entire camera rolls or social media history for image analysis to accurately determine style. Most current services instead allow focused uploading of representative fashion photos, linking favorite online inspiration, and targeted survey questions to understand tastes. You control how much or how little personal data gets shared.
Q: Won’t it just suggest crazy expensive designer items out of my budget?
A: Pricing sensitivity is usually one of the main preference criteria the AI stylists gather (both min and max desired price points). Budget ranges drive all personalized results so recommendations align to what you can and want to actually spend realistically.
Q: Is it only suggesting clothes to buy more of or will it also recommend ways to style items I already own differently?
A: The most advanced AI stylists provide both curated shopping recommendations of new items to purchase AND creative tips for reinventing pieces already in your closet. Understanding your full current wardrobe allows the algorithms to give more holistic style advice, not just push purchases.
Q: Will I have to manually enter details on every single item of clothing I already own for this to be helpful?
A: Thankfully, no! Most of the virtual stylist apps now allow you to link the technology to your online clothing retailers for easy one-click importing of items you’ve previously purchased. Some apps also have UPC barcode scanning capabilities within your camera so you can instantly upload info on items in your physical closet as well. The AI is smart enough to interpret even partial data.
Q: Does it work for different style aesthetics from bohemian to business professional?
A: The most sophisticated AI stylists get training data across the full spectrum of styles and retail brands. When you share your taste inspirations, aspired aesthetics, lifestyle needs, and frequency of dressing contexts like work, weekends, holidays, etc. the better algorithms can serve up recommendations aligned to your entire range of potential fashion goals and outfit needs.
