从网络上获取穿衣打扮的小窍门

我们每个人都多少经历过“穿衣焦虑症”，这个词语用来形容人们不知应该怎样为特定的场合着装搭配的窘境。通常，我们会向自己信任的人询问有关穿衣搭配的建议。但如今，科学技术也可以帮助我们解决这一难题。比如，各类移动应用程序及网站可以为我们提供坦诚的时尚小贴士。但从网络上获取的时尚小窍门是不是少了那么一股人情味呢？

When's it's time for a wardrobe makeover, who's the best person to give you some advice? You'll probably turn to your friend for some feedback and fashion tips – let's face it: they know you best and can offer an honest opinion about which colours clash – and which outfit makes you look a million dollars.

However for someone like me, who's not a follower of fashion and has a more practical dress sense, I don't need help - it's just jeans or… jeans! But for people who care about their appearance, they can now get some trustworthy advice with the aid of technology.

Of course, using social media is a good way to discuss fashion dilemmas with your friends, but this sometimes brings in too much conflicting advice - and opinions that are sometimes brutal! That's why one woman has developed an app to help women crowdsource advice from stylists and sister fashionistas in a safe, troll-free environment.

Sophia Matveeva's Style Counsel app allows users wanting advice on an outfit to post a photo and receive "yes" or "no" answers from other users, or more detailed advice from vetted fashion stylists and bloggers very quickly. According to Matthew Wall, BBC Technology of Business editor, this is a growing business, with several new apps such as AskAnna, Mallzee and StyleDotMe all offering young women tips on suitable and fashionable clothes to wear.

There's also a website called EyeFitU which finds clothes to fit your figure. Its chief executive, Isabelle Ohnemus, says there are no international standards in clothes sizes but she explains "We can set up your size profile in a few seconds with 80% accuracy just knowing your gender, height, weight and age". This information is used to search different retailers and find clothes that suit your actual shape. And the internet giant, Amazon, has also developed a camera that links to a 'style check' function that compares photos and gives its algorithmically-derived opinion of which outfit is better, based on fit, colour, style and current fashion trends.

But does technology make fashion advice a bit impersonal? Sophia Matveeva admits that women in particular are social creatures and that "AI will never stop us talking to each other… girls will always want the approval of the cool girl at school." But as for me: an app with someone I don't know could be the place to start with some discreet fashion tips!