Are you ever worried your friends aren’t being honest with you about your taste in fashion? Well now you can turn to a computer in order to have your suspicions confirmed, or not, as the case may be. Don’t be downcast if it turns out your outfits are not de rigeur, however — the software can also help you plan a Cher from Clueless-style makeover.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed an algorithm that uses a combination of computer vision and machine learning to help you identify exactly where you are going wrong, by comparing you against a range of “fashionability factors”. The fashionability factors that images are compared against obviously do include the garments the subject is wearing, but also a range of other criteria, such as how appealing the scene behind the person is, how the image was taken, how visually appealing the person is, her/his age.
By: Katie Collins,
