If you’re reading this, you’re probably a lot like me: a lover of beauty and fashion who still likes having a little guidance when making styling decisions. While I save up money to work with a real stylist someday, I’ve been using ChatGPT as my personal stylist, and it’s been unexpectedly useful and incredibly fun! Here’s how I use it to make shopping and dressing easier (and how you can do the same).
Analyze Your Style Preferences
I started by creating a super-curated Pinterest board filled with my favorite outfits that fit my lifestyle and aesthetic. Then, I shared the link to the board and asked for a breakdown of the key patterns and traits in the outfits.
Suggested Chat Prompt: “Can you analyze the outfits on this Pinterest board and suggest three outfit ideas with similar fabrics, silhouettes, and construction? One outfit should be casual, one smart-casual for a lunch outing, and one semi-formal for a church service.”
ChatGPT responded with some keywords to describe my style and gave me three outfit ideas as I requested. Here’s the casual outfit it suggested:
- Top: Fitted striped t-shirt (inspired by the yellow-striped top on the board).
- Bottom: High-waisted, slightly relaxed straight-leg jeans in a light wash.
- Layer: Lightweight blush-toned shacket.
- Shoes: White sneakers.
- Accessories: Simple crossbody bag, casual ponytail.
It also gave me outfit ideas for lunch with friends and church, all based on the vibe of my board—soft, breezy, and versatile. By analyzing my Pinterest board, ChatGPT helped me see clear patterns in what I love and gave me specific ideas for how to style myself in a way that feels cohesive and true to my taste.
Create Shopping Guidelines for You
Suggested Chat Prompt: “Can you help me identify three key traits my wardrobe should focus on and three traits to avoid?”
Shopping becomes much easier when you have guiding principles for your wardrobe. Building on the previous question, I asked ChatGPT to give me a few words to focus on when choosing clothes and a list of what to steer clear of. It suggested I look for pieces that are soft, effortless, and breezy and avoid pieces that have overly trendy patterns or are too shiny or revealing.
While I could have come up with these guiding principles on my own, it’s nice to have an objective perspective to help me purchase only pieces I will actually wear. As one example, I was thinking about buying Mae Threads’ Cordelia Button Up Blouse and I wanted to make sure it would fit with the rest of my wardrobe for easy mixing and matching. I asked ChatGPT what it thought, and it pointed out that its softness, practicality, and elegance would be a great fit for my wardrobe, and then it gave me a few styling ideas with items it already learned I liked!
Here is your secret code for 10% off the Cordelia Top: GPT10
Put Together Outfits Based on Your Style
Suggested Chat Prompt: “Can you give me ideas to elevate this outfit? I’m wearing a striped top, jeans, and sneakers.”
After establishing what I like and don’t like, I started asking ChatGPT to help me tweak outfits that felt “off” so that they would fit my preferences better.
For example, I told it I was wearing Mae Threads’ Taylor Everything Top and asked how it would recommend styling it. I wanted to lean into the top’s cozy vibes but still look put together. It gave me some great ideas for bottoms, outerwear, shoes, and accessories. Here’s a snippet of what it suggested:
“Bottoms: Pair the top with high-waisted, wide-leg trousers in a soft neutral color, like a pale gray or muted lavender, which would complement the cool summer palette. The looser fit of the trousers balances the fitted top and adds a vintage vibe."
Using ChatGPT as my personal stylist has been much more fun and helpful than I thought it would be. It’s not a replacement for personal creativity, but rather a tool to help you hone in on your ideal style, make better purchasing decisions, and be confident enough to experiment.
If you’re curious, try this process for yourself! Upload a Pinterest board, ask ChatGPT for styling advice, and discover new ways to refine your look. And when you’re ready to shop, check out Mae Threads for stylish, versatile pieces to bring your style vision to life.
Here’s a list of chat prompts you can use to “train” ChatGPT to be your personal stylist. Each section includes a few variations to inspire different approaches:
Step 1: Define Your Style Personality
1. “I want to define my personal style. I like [insert details like casual, feminine, edgy, or minimalist], but I struggle with [e.g., finding flattering silhouettes, pairing colors]. Can you suggest a style direction for me?”
2. “What are some style words or themes that might describe someone who likes [insert preferences, e.g., boho prints, clean lines, or neutral tones]?”
3. “I like [specific celebrities, designers, or influencers]. Can you describe their style and how I might incorporate similar elements into my wardrobe?”
Step 2: Clarify Your Lifestyle Needs
1. “Here’s what my daily life looks like: [e.g., working from home, running errands, playing with kids]. What are some wardrobe essentials that fit this lifestyle?”
2. “I need clothes that transition from [activity] to [activity]. Can you suggest versatile pieces that would work for both?”
3. “What wardrobe staples would work for someone who [describe unique needs, e.g., stands a lot, wants to feel comfortable but stylish, etc.]?”
Step 3: Leverage Inspiration and Trends
1. “I love [specific trends, like monochromatic looks or puff sleeves], but I’m not sure how to incorporate them into my wardrobe. Can you give me ideas?”
2. “I like these Pinterest boards [or Instagram accounts] for style inspiration. What do they have in common, and how can I apply those elements to my style?”
3. “Can you help me adapt [trend or fashion era, e.g., ‘90s grunge’ or ‘coastal grandmother’] into something wearable for my lifestyle?”
Step 4: Fine-Tune the Details
1. “I like this outfit idea: [insert description]. What accessories or small changes would make it feel more ‘me’?”
2. “I struggle to accessorize. Can you suggest easy ways to add jewelry, scarves, or hats to my outfits?”
3. “I’m trying to decide between [two specific pieces]. Which one is more versatile or better suited to my style?”
Step 5: Shop Smarter, Not Harder
1. “I need to fill gaps in my wardrobe, like [insert examples: comfy pants, versatile tops, or layering pieces]. Can you suggest a shopping list with pieces that fit my style preferences?”
2. “Can you help me create a capsule wardrobe for [specific season or lifestyle, e.g., fall workwear, weekend casual]?”
3. “What should I prioritize if I want to build a wardrobe that feels cohesive but not repetitive?”
Bonus: General Prompts for Ongoing Style Refinement
1. “Can you suggest outfit ideas using [specific piece I already own, like a denim jacket or midi skirt]?”
2. “What are some color palettes that would work well with my skin tone and preferences for [neutral/bright] tones?”
3. “I feel like my wardrobe is a mix of styles that don’t work together. How can I make it feel more cohesive?”