Google Photos is turning your wardrobe into a Clueless-style digital closet

Google Photos just announced something that made me smile more than I expected: an AI-powered digital closet. Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like, and yes, it’s basically the same thing Cher Horowitz used in Clueless to decide what to wear. The feature scans your photos, identifies clothing items, and builds a virtual wardrobe you can browse, filter, and combine into new outfits.

The idea isn’t new. Startups like Acloset, Combyne, and Pureple have been trying to make this happen for years, but they always hit the same wall: you have to manually photograph and catalog every piece. Google’s approach is lazier in the best way. It just pulls from your existing photo library. If you’ve ever snapped a mirror selfie or a flat lay, the AI will grab those tops, bottoms, jewelry, and accessories, and turn them into individual items.

From there, you can filter by category, mix and match, and save combinations to moodboards for specific occasions: travel, date nights, work, whatever. Google is also adding a virtual try-on feature so you can preview how an outfit looks before you actually wear it. That’s the part that could be genuinely useful if it works well, or a gimmick if the rendering is off.

Google didn’t share much about how the AI actually works under the hood, which is typical. They just said it recognizes clothing and accessories in your photos. I’m guessing it’ll work best on well-lit, full-body shots, but if you’re serious about this, you’ll probably want to take dedicated photos of your clothes. That’s the part that feels a bit like homework, but it’s also the only way to get accurate results.

The feature isn’t live yet. It’s coming to Android later this summer, then iOS after that, tucked under a “Collections” tab. It’ll compete with the aforementioned apps, but Google has the advantage of scale and integration. If your photos are already in Google Photos, you’re one update away from a digital closet.

I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, it’s a genuinely fun use of AI that doesn’t feel forced or dystopian. On the other hand, I can’t help but wonder how many people will actually use it beyond the initial novelty. The Clueless fantasy is compelling, but the reality of maintaining a digital wardrobe is tedious. Still, I’m curious to see how it turns out when it ships.