By Juliet Umeh

It sounds funny, but it’s true – some of the flappy and scruffy dress combinations young boys and girls born between the middle and late 2000s wear these days are strictly AI -induced.

It sounds like a fairytale, right? But, that’s the reality of today.

From old to young, almost everybody seems to be surrendering to Artificial Intelligence.

Start a conversation with these Gen-Zs, the feeling is that AI is shaping their fashion choices.

And, Google, who developed the AI tools, also agrees with them.

For Google, it’s about making smart choices and cutting down on fashion budgets.

Well, maybe they have a point. The AI tools, like Google Lens and Circle to Search, for instance, mirror the inner minds, characteristics, tastes and mentalities of these youths before giving them options. If anything, what the technology does is summarise your whole being and tell you what to wear, to represent your personality.

Google says more members of Generation Z are using its AI tools to identify fashion items, explore different fashion trends and make smarter wardrobe choices without spending heavily on luxury brands.

The tech company said personal style should see you breaking the banks if you can’t afford to. “Personal style has never depended on a big budget. It depends on research, resourcefulness and knowing what you actually like. Google Search happens to be useful for all three.

“Many young Nigerians are building their wardrobes through thrift shopping, discovering local designers and recreating fashion looks that reflect their personalities rather than buying expensive designer outfits.

“One of the tools supporting this trend is Google Lens, which allows users to upload screenshots or photos of clothing items to identify them or find visually similar alternatives.

It said: “Your camera roll is already a mood board. Lens will identify the item or show you visually similar pieces, from the designer original down to lookalikes at friendlier prices.”

The company also highlighted Circle to Search, available on Android devices, saying the feature allows users to search for fashion items directly from videos, social media posts or websites without leaving the application they are using.

According to Google, “Circle to Search answers ‘what do you know about this?’ before anybody in your group chat has even seen the message. You also never leave the app you are in. Circle the sneakers, check the results and go back to your video.”

Google said its AI tools also help users understand fashion aesthetics and discover styles that best reflect their personalities.

The company explained: “Once you know the name, everything gets easier. You can search it, follow the people shaping it, and build your look on purpose instead of by accident.”

It added that users can also preview new hairstyles and fashion ideas before making permanent decisions through its AI-powered image generation capabilities.

According to Google, “A ten-second preview can save you from three months of growing out a decision you made at 11 p.m.”

The company further said AI Overviews make it easier for users to get answers to fashion-related questions, including clothing care, styling tips, traditional fabrics and fashion terminology.

Google, however, stressed that technology should complement personal creativity rather than replace it.

It encouraged young people to make better use of the clothes they already own before buying new ones.

The company said: “Most of us are not short of clothes. We are short of combinations, and pieces cannot combine if they never meet.”

Google also advised fashion enthusiasts to build lasting relationships with skilled local tailors, noting that proper fitting often makes more difference than buying expensive clothes.

It stated: “The best dressed people you know rarely own the most clothes. Their clothes simply fit. A small adjustment can make a thrifted find look like it came off a rack in Paris.”

The company maintained that while AI can simplify fashion discovery and inspire creativity, confidence remains the most important element of personal style.

In its words: “The clothes in Paris were couture, but the confidence cost nothing. Personal style is simply the daily decision to be yourself in public. Google can help you with everything else. That decision is yours to make.”