There are wedding invitations - and then there are formal wedding invitations. The kind that immediately makes you think of hats, heritage, and a guest list that you are certain will major as far as the style stakes are concerned.
When my friend casually dropped that her nuptials would be traditional (held at a stately home), my first thought wasn’t love is in the air. It was: what on earth am I going to wear?
Because here’s the thing: dressing for such weddings is practically an Olympic sport. You’re balancing between looking elegant and not veering into "Ascot meets mother-of-the-bride" territory. The right hat or at least a headband is compulsory, but if it clashes with your dress, you’re toast. In other words: high risk, high reward.
Which is exactly why I (a chronically last-minute shopper) decided to outsource the decision to artificial intelligence well in advance.
Google recently invited me to test out its new Gemini Live tool, and while I’ve already been an avid user of AI and technology in my working life (meeting transcriptions, brainstorming, email rewrites on the fly), I’d never let it dictate my wardrobe. Fashion is personal. Emotional. Messy. Could an algorithm possibly understand all that?
Gemini Live is designed to give you real-time answers about the world you’re seeing through your phone camera. You don’t just type in a prompt; instead you hold your Pixel phone up to an object, and let Gemini "see" with you.
Using its vision and language models, the AI overlays suggestions, explanations, and even shopping links right on your screen. It's a bit like a style assistant whispering in your ear - sans judgment, or a day rate.
The Dress That Started It All
I’d already secured a dream dress moment: a silk pink number from Wyse complete with oversized bows. The issue? I had absolutely nothing in my wardrobe to match it. And we all know the wrong shades of pink can go from ethereal to Easter egg hunt very fast.
© @nataliesalmonSo I pointed my phone at the hat and asked Gemini Live for a colour-match headband that felt wedding-appropriate. Within seconds, it pulled up a satin headband from Amazon - in a rose hue so eerily exact I actually laughed.
Skeptical but curious, I hit the order button. When it arrived, I gasped. Perfect match. Not close, not “good enough” - but the kind of seamless colour harmony that stylists get paid the big bucks to achieve.
Putting Gemini to the Test
Naturally, I couldn’t stop at the dress. Shoes were next. I told Gemini I wanted “non-frumpy, inexpensive black heels I can dance in all night.” The AI came back with sleek options from ASOS and Next. Then I pushed it further, asking for a clutch that felt modern but not too try-hard. Gemini, ever unflappable, sourced a minimalist satin bag that looked far more expensive than it was. (I ended up wearing my own one, but I was still impresses.)
Here’s where it gets addictive: you can also ask Gemini if a colour actually suits you (for the record, pink is flattering on my skin tone, thank you very much), or whether a particular cut flatters your body type. It won’t replace the gut instinct we all get in a fitting room mirror, but as a filter for the thousands of online choices, it’s genius.
© @nataliesalmonWhat makes Gemini Live different from just Googling “best pink headbands” is its contextual intelligence. It isn’t guessing in the abstract-it’s looking at your actual hat, dress, or shoes. The AI uses visual recognition to map the colour, shape, and vibe, then overlays recommendations in real time. Because it’s integrated with Google’s broader ecosystem, it can also handle multitasking: slotting in your hair appointment to Google Calendar, texting your plus-one the venue directions, even reminding you when to book your Uber to the reception.
It also has a surprisingly human edge. The new speech models mean Gemini can shift its tone of voice depending on the situation-calm and reassuring when you’re panicking over late shipping, brisk when you’re in a hurry, playful if you need a pep talk.
Did I feel slightly absurd letting AI choose my look for such an important event? Perhaps. But as I sent the outfit photos to my approving friends' group WhatsApp chat, I had to admit: Gemini nailed it. In my pink-on-pink ensemble, feeling perfectly polished but not remotely frumpy it didn’t just save me hours of scrolling through e-tailers. It made the process feel surprisingly joyful. And honestly? I’m never doom-scrolling shopping links the week before a wedding again.
5 Ways to Use Gemini Live as Your Personal Shopper:
- The Perfect Present - Point it at your best friend’s Instagram feed or Pinterest board, and Gemini can decode their taste to suggest birthday gifts that hit the mark every time.
- Trend Spotting in Real Time - Out at brunch and notice everyone’s carrying the same bag? Use Gemini to identify the brand instantly or suggest budget-friendly alternatives.
- Suitcase Editing - Show it your open suitcase before a trip and ask: “Do these pieces work together?” It will help you pack smarter and avoid the dreaded six tops, zero outfits conundrum.
- Secondhand Treasure Hunting - Take it to vintage fairs or charity shops. Snap a photo of a mysterious designer tag, and Gemini will give you the backstory plus styling ideas.
- Wedding Guest Whisperer - Exactly as I did: use it to match hats, dresses, shoes, and accessories for tricky events. No more clashing colours or last-minute panic buys.
