Day 22 – See It, Snap It, Shop It: AI For Retail Therapy – 30 Day AI Challenge 2024

Welcome to the 2024 Edition of the #30DayAIChallenge. This year, we’ll be focusing on making Generative AI more accessible for all. So follow along and give each challenge a try yourself, plus share your own thoughts and experiments with a community of like-minded learners and tinkerers!*

Week 4’s theme is “Back To The Future: Living With AI“, which takes on an AI infused lifestyle…or everyday AI use cases that can make our lives a little easier or better.

Unleashing the Power of Multi-Modal AI: Fashion at Your Fingertips

Imagine a world where your personal stylist is not a person but an AI, capable of offering fashion advice at the snap of a photo. With the advent of multi-modal AI chatbots like ChatGPT 4, Google Gemini Advanced, and other innovative AI tools, this is not just possible; it’s becoming an everyday convenience. These AI wonders can analyze images, understand text, and even sense the context, turning them into your on-the-go fashion advisors.

Beginner’s Guide to AI Fashion Assistance

1. Getting Started: Begin by familiarizing yourself with AI chatbots that support image input, like Google Gemini Advanced (still getting their act together with images and how to tackle picture of people, though you can also try Google Lens) or the latest versions of ChatGPT (the paid v4 works amazingly well). These platforms have evolved to understand and interpret visual data alongside text.
2. Snap and Ask: Found an intriguing piece of clothing? Take a picture and ask your AI chatbot for style tips. For instance, “How can I wear this floral skirt for a summer outing?” The AI can provide outfit suggestions, accessory pairings, and even care tips.
3. Weather-wise Wardrobe: Before stepping out, snap a picture of your outfit and ask, “Is this suitable for today’s weather?” Your AI assistant can check real-time weather data and suggest adjustments, like adding a scarf or switching to lighter fabrics.

Advanced Fashion Forays with AI

1. Event-based Recommendations: Upload a photo of your outfit and ask for advice based on specific occasions. “Can this be worn to a formal dinner?” The AI can analyze current fashion trends and etiquette to suggest tweaks or affirm your choice.
2. Sustainability Scoring: Advanced users might explore AI tools that assess the sustainability of their clothing choices. By analyzing the materials and brands in your outfit photos, AI can guide you towards more eco-friendly fashion decisions.
3. Personalized Shopping: Take a picture of a garment you own and love. Ask your AI, “Find me similar items.” Using visual search technologies, the AI can scour the internet for matching or complementary items, considering your preferences for brand, price, and ethical production.

Practical Example 1: What To Buy And How To Care For It

Here’s a quick personal example, where I was looking to buy a specific style of jacket last year, but wasn’t sure what to go for…Down or Synthetic? So I took a picture of the type of Jacket and asked ChatGPT to help me identify great options and brands. Once I had purchased the Jacket I also simply gave it a picture from the website and asked it about pros & cons, plus how to care for the jacket…it did that remarkably well.

Practical Example 2: Fashion Tips – What To Wear

In this example, which we also covered in a previous challenge, I asked ChatGPT about potential style combinations for a piece of women’s clothing…and it did a great job of offering up a bunch of recommendations.

Practical Example 3: Spotted Something You Like – Find Out Where To Buy It!

In this example, I simply took a picture of a dress and used Google Lens (within the Google Photos app) to find the same or similar dresses, plus where to buy them. Pretty handy if you happen to come across someone wearing something you love and don’t have the opportunity to ask them!

A Few Practical Challenges For YOU To Try Out (If You Dare!)

1. The Week of AI Wardrobe Decisions: For one week, base all your outfit choices on AI recommendations. Each morning, take a picture of two outfit options and ask your AI which one is more suitable for the day’s weather and activities. Note any new style insights or combinations it suggests that you wouldn’t have thought of yourself.
2. The Sustainability Challenge: Use an AI tool to analyze your outfit or potential clothing purchases based on sustainability. Aim to make more eco-friendly choices by seeking advice on materials, brands, and practices that are kinder to the environment. Try to improve the sustainability score of your wardrobe choices over a month.
3. Occasion Outfit Planning with AI: Have a special occasion coming up? Whether it’s a job interview, a wedding, or a casual get-together, use AI to plan your outfit. Take pictures of potential outfits and ask for advice on how to tailor your look for the event. Incorporate at least one suggestion from the AI that you wouldn’t have considered otherwise.
4. Fashion Forward with AI: Push the boundaries by asking your AI to suggest an outfit based on a theme or inspiration piece. This could be a work of art, a historical era, or a movie character. Use your wardrobe to recreate the suggested outfit as closely as possible and wear it for a day. This challenge encourages creativity and a new appreciation for the versatility of your existing wardrobe.
5. The Shopping Assistant Challenge: Next time you’re shopping (online or in-store), use an AI tool to make better purchasing decisions. Take pictures of items you’re considering and ask the AI for style tips, similar item recommendations, or to check if you already own something similar. Aim to make purchases that are versatile, sustainable, and truly add value to your wardrobe.
6. DIY Fashion with AI: Choose a piece of clothing you haven’t worn in a while and ask your AI how you can repurpose or style it to make it feel new again. Follow the AI’s suggestions to alter the item yourself or pair it in ways you hadn’t thought of. This challenge promotes sustainable fashion practices and creativity.

The Creative Frontier: AI as Your Style Muse

With AI’s multi-modal capabilities, the possibilities extend beyond practical advice to creative inspiration. Imagine asking your AI to generate a unique outfit concept based on a painting you love, or to suggest wardrobe additions that align with your favorite fantasy character. AI can blend elements from various inputs, offering ideas that are as imaginative as they are wearable.

Concluding Thoughts

The convergence of advancing AI tech and fashion opens a new realm where style advice is instant, personalized, and endlessly creative. As AI continues to evolve, it will become an integral part of how we express ourselves through clothing, transforming not just our wardrobes but our relationship with fashion.

If you give any of these tools or challenges a try, leave a comment and share your experience! If you’re using other platforms to post, please tag your Facebook, Twitter / X or LinkedIn post with #30DayAIChallenge so others can find it too.

Till tomorrow…

*Please note: Participation in the 30 Day AI Challenge is at your own discretion and responsibility. Always ensure that no sensitive personal information, confidential, or proprietary company data is shared. Adhere to all applicable local laws and company policies. Enjoy exploring AI responsibly!