Choosing between a pair of perfectly executed outfits can be like the line following a tricky exam question—Select the best answer. The longer you futz over A versus B, or Kate Spade versus Anthropologie, the more they begin to look identical. Just as you can’t draw one big oval encompassing the two answers, both isn’t an option. Outside input becomes a necessity for your sanity. A mother-daughter duo in Richmond, Virginia, are launching an app which will serve as your new fashion consultant; turning close stylistic calls into no brainers!
Jennifer Smith and her daughter Stephanie (pictured left and right, respectively) released Outfit Me Tonight onto the App Store in December of 2013. The collaboration began with a shared sense of style. “Stephanie and I have always enjoyed a simple yet ‘put together’ look…we would always get each other’s opinions on the right outfit choices. It might be something like this, ‘should I wear the necklace or the scarf?,’” Jennifer recalled. “When Stephanie headed off to college we no longer had the luxury to do that.” With mother and daughter separated across the state, Jennifer and Stephanie began swapping fashion advice over iPhone photos. After months of the ‘this versus that’ exchange, inspiration struck. “I began thinking, ‘there must be an easier way to get help on deciding between outfits,’” Stephanie recollected, “That is when the idea for Outfit Me Tonight unfolded.”
Outfit Me Tonight features an accessible layout in which users can upload a pair of “selfies” or online photos. The two pictures should accentuate the hats, heels, or whole outfits they wish to compare. In an allotted amount of time set by the user, a winner is elected based on the percentage of votes for a particular option. If your profile is public, any account holder can place a vote on your post. However, if you choose to privatize your profile, only the users whom you send emails to can elect a winner. All public account activity can be viewed on the app’s newsfeed of recent photos, whose time limit is still active or recently elapsed.
Just like a bona fide fashion jury, your vote is all that counts on Outfit Me Tonight. By including a comments section, Jennifer and Stephanie hoped to establish a welcoming atmosphere in which simplicity reigns and only progressive feedback is possible. “There is enough negativity in the world to last a lifetime around females and how they look. We didn’t want to add to that.” Jennifer explained. “We are all about not comparing one person to another, but rather, what looks best on you.” Despite the app’s glamorously colorful layout the concept remains elegantly black and white. However, don’t be fooled by the app’s pink accents—Outfit Me Tonight is open to men as well as women.
With Outfit Me Tonight expanding its empire of plaid vs. polka dots, Jennifer and Stephanie’s days of outfitting each other over iMessage are history. In the future, the two hope to continue catering to the app’s users. “We definitely want to improve the site as we get more users and get their feedback,” Jennifer explained. Stephanie also proposed potential prizes for frequent voters within the Outfit Me Tonight community. With the app scheduled to be featured in People’s “Stylewatch,” Stephanie and her mother plan to branch into retail. “Our future goal is to link the app to retail buyers,” Stephanie said. The app would be able to aid retailers in purchasing decisions. Outfit Me Tonight is free on the app store now, and it’s up to you to select the best answer.