Credit: Lucas Gouveia / Android Police

Style goes beyond throwing on clothes. I usually don’t overthink appearances, and my daily go-to option is baggy clothes.

However, I recently read Sofia de Paula’s Femme Fatale guide on my e-book reader. It revealed some shocking truths about the power of intentionally presenting yourself.

How you dress is a form of communication. If I wanted to command a room, I needed to dress to exude the confidence and presence I feel inside.

I read about David Kibbe’s body groups and how I have a dramatic type. It’s defined by long and angular traits. It suddenly made sense why soft looks weren’t working for me.

It’s great timing that I stumbled onto Google’s experimental Mixboard tool. Here’s how I’ve used it to reorganize my wardrobe and refresh my style.

Turn loose ideas into a focused visual map

They deserve better than collecting dust in your camera roll

Credit: Google

Mixboard is an experimental Google Labs tool. It lets you build vivid idea boards in a fluid and AI-assisted way. Picture it as a moodboard space where you’ll generate unique images or upload them from your gallery to evolve your ideas.

My first interaction with the web app exposed me to fast and precise prompts that filled my board with silhouettes, textures, and poses that matched bold, dramatic body types.

I didn’t specify gender or race, so the board became a fusion of everything. It showed different ethnicities and global styling references.

I think the results are impressive. Still, I rephrased the prompt and narrowed it down to specify clothes for African women.

One feature I adore is how you can pick a specific image and reimagine it without refreshing the whole board.

If you want to change clothing to a preferred color or add a detail, click it and prompt the tool to do anything you want.

Take a step further and click the option to generate more like this. It’ll insert similar recommendations. But it doesn’t work when the image contains a human figure.

On the bright side, you can duplicate an image with the click of a button. I do that when I want to see color variations. It helps me visualize if pieces match before ordering them online and trying them on.

Add captions to your tastes

It’ll help you remember tiny details

Credit: Google

Text is a common feature in creative tools. Mixboard is another place where it’s useful and practical. It adds more information to my collection.

Usually, I drag images around to separate the pieces I already own from the ones I’m trying to hunt down. Then I add texts to act as sticky notes.

One side of my board indicates the outfit cluster I already own, and the other shows my wish list. I may insert a note beside an item with the exact store or brand, so I don’t forget.

If local tailors are involved, I’ll note my measurements and the best people for the job. That way, it’s easy to recall the clothes I want to thrift shop versus pieces I want custom-made.

I wish it had built-in buttons for adding arrows and other markers. They would’ve helped to literally point out details or connect the dots between two concepts. I tried to work around it with prompts, and it worked.

Instruct it to add arrow vectors, equal to signs, and other shapes you’ll need. Also, highlight text to see formatting options like bold and italics. Otherwise, there’s no other way to see them.

Collaborate with people who think like you

Credit: Google

Mixboard supports sharing and works similarly to Google Workspace. Simply enable link access, and anyone who has your unique URL can view your board.

Designers can look at your notes and mood pieces, while your friends can weigh in with suggestions. Basically, anyone helping you style or plan can understand your direction at a glance.

In my case, it’s more applicable in moments when I’m planning outfits for an event with multiple people.

I love the absence of a social layer. It doesn’t encourage likes and other engagement features. So there’s no need to perform your taste online.

It’s among the healthiest platforms in my book, next to Pinterest.

That said, Mixboard isn’t limited to outfit planning. I’m currently using it to assemble home decor themes for my apartment. You can also use it for gathering inspiration for dinnerware or personal hobbies.

Mix and match your favorite tools

I wouldn’t say Mixboard has changed my life completely. Still, it revealed patterns in my taste that I didn’t notice until everything sat in one view. Its effectiveness is why I’m still exploring other experiments in the Labs space.

Similarly, I stumbled into Nano Banana. It’s probably the common thread in these new Google experiments.

It’s nice being able to test ideas visually before spending money or committing to a project physically. It’s hard not to be curious about what else is coming.