Google Photos is building the Clueless closet we all wanted

Google Photos just announced something that finally makes good on a decades-old movie fantasy. Starting this summer, the app will use AI to scan your photos, identify individual pieces of clothing, and build you a digital closet. You’ll be able to filter by tops, bottoms, jewelry, and more, then mix and match to create outfits.

The inspiration is obvious — Cher’s virtual wardrobe in Clueless, where she scrolled through outfits on a screen before deciding what to wear. Back in 1995, that scene was a punchline about privilege. In 2026, it’s just another feature Google thinks AI can deliver to anyone with a smartphone.

You can save outfit ideas to moodboards organized by occasion — travel, date night, work, whatever. There’s also a virtual try-on component, though Google hasn’t said how well that works. I’m skeptical about how accurate that’ll be on a phone screen, but I’ve been wrong before.

The feature isn’t live yet. Android users get it later this summer under the “Collections” tab, with iOS following after. It’s going up against a bunch of existing apps — Acloset, Combyne, Pureple, Whering, Alta — most of which have been grinding away at this concept for years. Google’s advantage is obvious: if you already use Google Photos, your wardrobe is half-built already.

Google didn’t explain how the AI actually works, beyond saying it recognizes clothing and accessories from your library. I’m guessing it works best with well-lit, full-body photos. If your camera roll is mostly blurry mirror selfies and dim restaurant shots, you might want to spend an afternoon laying your clothes out on a clean floor and snapping proper pictures. Kind of like how Cher had her closet arranged — just without the mansion.

The real test will be how well the AI handles edge cases: folded clothes, items shot from weird angles, accessories tangled together in a drawer. And whether the virtual try-on actually looks like you, or just a generic mannequin. I’ll believe it when I see it.

Still, this is one of those rare features that feels genuinely useful rather than gimmicky. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve stared at a full closet and felt like I had nothing to wear. If Google Photos can actually help me visualize combinations without pulling everything out and trying it on, that’s a win. Even if it does mean my phone now knows I own four nearly identical black t-shirts.