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What I really need is my mother as an iPhone app: when I was younger, she would tell me that "that shirt doesn't 'go with"' those pants". Apparently, there is a system of rules for this.

Unfortunately, when everybody else went off and learned this arcane system I was apparently playing Battletech. Now I know that large pulse lasers followed by SRMs (order very much dependent) is generally strong play, and everybody else knows that striped blue and white doesn't go with ... I have no clue what it doesn't go with, but it doesn't go with something. A lot of somethings, apparently.

It shouldn't be that hard to snap a photo of an item in my closet, play "20 questions" to classify it, and put it in a DB. Then every day, when I wake up, the app generates an outfit (I don't know, maybe a genetic algorithm would work for this, it is probably straightforward constraint satisfaction) and tells me "March 25th: Patrick, get these three things out. Can't find one? Click 'Backup Plan'."



I wash my shirts and pants, hang them on the left side of the closet (shirts on top; pants below). Then I wear whatever pair is on the right side.

Since there are a relatively prime number of shirts vs pants, every possible combination eventually occurs.

But this works for me. I don't actually Want to look cool; I'm perversely proud of NOT participating in all that superficial stuff.

So now the target market narrows.


I don't think you were ever the target market, so it's not really narrowing at all.

Also, taking pride in how you present yourself is no more shallow than taking pride in refusing to present yourself well. You're still proud of your appearance. It's just hipsterism in reverse. If anything, being proud of inaction is more superficial, because you're literally congratulating yourself for doing nothing — it's merely an identity with no action to back it up, but you still feel superior about it.


Right; except its cheaper; its faster; I spend my time on non-superficial things. I don't go shopping for hours for non-matching outfits. The Real Zen of Nerd is, when a matching outfit comes up, to wear it anyway.

And when I spend my free time on supporting a youth group, that's actually as shallow as spending it shopping for a cool outfit? Really?


Lack of attention to superficiality can cost you in the long run. You might not get that promotion, you might not get that term sheet, etc. It probably won't be the reason, but it could be one of the straws to break the proverbial camels back.

I'm not suggesting you focus on it, but ignore it completely and utterly at your own peril.


I own my own business, and have all the contracts I can handle. As my minister once said, we can have all the morals we can afford. And I can afford to be contrary.


But do you have a girlfriend/boyfriend? ;)


I'm married for 20 years. And yes, I haven't changed. She somehow saw past all that, in fact was a bit thrilled to be dating a real nerd. Funny how things can work out.


Like I said, 'can' cost you. Good job on avoid/overcoming that!


Upvoted for amusing me, but I have to question this:

>I don't actually want to look cool

Why? What possible utility could you be gaining by looking worse? Perverse pride sounds more like a ex post rationalization than a real reason.


You got it wrong; I don't spend time on it, so there's no utility calculation at all. Its a null set. Pride is also free.

I spend my time supporting a youth group; mentoring a high school game design club; gardening. What possible utility do you gain by ignoring these things?


So what you really mean is that looking good isn't worth the perceived cost to you. Your first comment gave me the impression that you prefer not to look cool, other things being equal, which was the source of my confusion.


Well, I do prefer not to look cool, especially since its free.


Saved time, energy and money by not worrying about it?


I've been wanting (to build) this for a while. I have lots of different clothes, but usually stick to the same set of outfits.

Whenever I try something new, I have trouble knowing if it "goes well together" without some sort of outside confirmation. I've learned some basic tenets of what things "go with" other things, but I still don't branch out of that because of this problem.

Populating your library would take some effort, but it would be worth it.

Now couple this with another app/function that inventories your kitchen and lets you know what you can make for dinner and you've got a full blown bachelorator app.


I would buy this also, sounds amazing.


I think I saw something like this on a T-Mobile commercial with Dwayne Wade. He was showing off an app that shows him his wardrobe. I've also heard about well known celebrities photographing everything in their closet so they never wear the same thing twice.

Seems obsessive but I think there's a use for everyday folks. Although opening the closet door and looking at your clothes is pretty much the same thing.




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