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| findSimilar software is revolutionizing the way that we shop for fashion items, photo courtesy of Cortexica |
Madonna
said it best when she sang, “You know that we are living in a material world,
and I am a material girl.” Never has this phrase been more true than today, but
now the material world has joined forces with the technological realm. It
doesn’t look as though this power couple is about to break up any time soon
either.
Polyvore
and Pinterest are both websites that allow us to find inspiration from sources
all over the web to compile and compartmentalize our favorite trends, looks,
and wish lists. Each user is able to customize the visuals to their own
specified tastes, which is perhaps why these websites, and those similar, have
become so popular.
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| An example of a set on Polyvore entitled "how to wear whites during the cooler months," photo courtesy of Polyvore |
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| An example of a Pinterest board, photo courtesy of Pinterest |
With
London Fashion Week last month, the swell of bloggers seen live Tweeting and
simultaneously writing posts from the front row has now become the norm. Online
live streaming of the catwalk shows was all the rage, allowing anyone to get in
on the action with just the click of a button.
Ralph
Lauren’s runway show at New York Fashion Week was a 4-D spectacle,
incorporating a wall of water shooting into the sky alongside holographic
effects. This allowed models to strut their stuff with a backdrop of New York
City attractions, such as the Brooklyn Bridge and the High Line.
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| The 4-D Ralph Lauren runway show at New York Fashion Week, photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Times |
Technology
is a salient force in our lives and it really is about joining the bandwagon or
being left behind. This brings me to talk about the emergence of new software
that is helping to shape the way we view fashion as we know it. Created by
computer science engineers at Imperial College London, findSimilar software allows
you to take a photo of any fashion item, and then as the name suggests, find
similar items.
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| Caught in the act! |
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| My friend Florian very kindly let me "steal his style." Not just for women, findSimilar software caters to men as well! |
Fashion
technology company, Cortexica, is getting ready to launch its findSimilar
software within the mobile apps of some of the United Kingdom’s largest retailers.
The software has already been sold to apps such as Style Thief, which is free
to download from the App Store here.
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| After snapping this jumpsuit from The Kooples, the results provided me with various other jumpsuit options and even showed me where to shop for them! |
We have
all had those moments where we spot someone in a crowd who is impeccably
dressed. We admire their style, but usually are too timid to ask where they
bought their hat, coat, cardigan, jacket, dress etc. As a woman, I also
appreciate the art of a well-dressed man. Who wouldn’t fall for a sharply tailored
suit? I’ll be the first to admit that I have inconspicuously snapped photos of
various people’s shoes in the hopes of discovering a pair similar for myself. I
usually scour various stores to no avail, but that’s where findSimilar software
comes into its own.
I tested
the software out for myself to show you just how simple (and incredibly convenient!)
it is to use. Whether you want to find an exact match, an equivalent with a
designer price tag, or a cheaper alternative, findSimilar does all of the work
for you. Women (and men!) the world over will be singing the praises of the Imperial
College London team!
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| My outfit of the day; I'm currently loving the neon trend! Recreating my look just became easier than ever before. |
Street
style is becoming an increasingly popular trend and an increasingly popular
interest. Humans of New York, and the lesser-known Humans of London, both work
on the principle of taking photos of people
in general, not just their style. We are also shown a snippet of their
personalities with the included interview exchange between photographer and
subject. Everyday people can become celebrities in their own right. They
welcome their fifteen minutes of fame and they have every right to! Everybody subconsciously
wants to be noticed. London Fashion Week is a prime example of this. It comes
with the territory that photographers will have their fingers hovering above
their camera shutter, lying in wait to pounce on their next fashion prey.
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| A feel-good portrait captured by Brandon Stanton of Humans of New York, photo courtesy of Humans of New York |
I am
constantly inspired by street style and by the photos I see in magazines. As a fashion
blogger myself, it wouldn’t even be possible for me to post my outfits of the
day without a camera, let alone a computer. My fashion blog and this blog are
both forums where I can reach out to others in an online environment and
connect in ways that would have been impossible before. Bloggers Love is a
community that sets up events in London so that bloggers can meet face to face.
They are launching the Bloggers Love Hub in November, which will be a space
where bloggers can network, blog, and share advice and tips about blogging.
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The Anya Hindmarch Spring/Summer 2015 collection was my favorite during London Fashion Week, photo courtesy of Anya Hindmarch
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| Now it's possible to shop the look and I found a French Connection replica for a very reasonable price! |
The
common denominator that makes all of the things in this blog post possible?
Technology. Who knows, perhaps one day you’ll end up as someone’s style
inspiration. Take it as a compliment, because most likely they’re just trying
to emulate your style. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery
and findSimilar have just made the imitating part a whole lot easier.
Get
snapping and be inspired!
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| I used a photograph from my style blog, A Stitch in Time, and was then matched with more luscious maroon outerwear |
Check out
Cortexica’s website here to learn
more about findSimilar technology. View my style blog, A Stitch in Time, here.
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