Aura++

Style that feels like you!

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Inspiration

Many people (including me) struggle with body dysmorphia. Yes, it’s the evil within us, but society plays a role too—with its traditional, often restrictive fashion norms. Why do plus-sized clothes always feel uninspired? Why are so many options for leaner girls cropped? Why is fashion so biased?

What it does

Aura++ suggests outfits 'without' judging your body. Aura++ doesn’t care if others think you 'look bad' in an outfit - if you feel good in it, that’s all that matters. Let's all be happy for each other!

How I built it

I used Angular for frontend, Flask for backend, MongoDB for database and Gemini API for AI responses. I found a massive dataset of clothing online and wrote a script to upload it all to MongoDB for quick access. Gemini API analyzes the user’s prompt and suggests outfit ideas. My backend then matches those descriptions with items in the database, populating the response with curated outfits alongside Google Image Search results.

Challenges I ran into

Midway through development, I encountered a stubborn CORS error that completely blocked my frontend from accessing the backend. I had to debug the issue and implement a fix - without slowing down overall progress. I spent 3 hours (sadly) testing different configurations, researching solutions, and carefully tweaking my backend setup. Once I solved it, I documented the fix to prevent future slowdowns. Truly a learning moment!

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

Uploading my dataset to MongoDB took a whopping 9 hours, which meant I couldn’t afford to sit around waiting. I needed to keep working on other parts of the project while the script ran. I switched to refining my UI while the backend was busy. By the time the dataset was ready, my frontend was polished and I had a fully functional app - without losing momentum!

What I learned

I didn't realize how fast 24 hours can go. I learned to debug under pressure and keep going despite setbacks. Initially, I joined this hackathon unsure if I’d finish, but I proved to myself that I can build a full-fledged AI-powered app on my own! I surprised myself there.

What's next for Aura++

Aura++ is already good, but it can be even better. The next step is improving its accuracy, refining recommendations, and expanding its inclusivity—so even more people can find outfits that make them feel empowered. The dataset, although vast, is limited to certain fashion trends. Aura++ aims to find up-to-date datasets for better outfits suggestions!

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