Getting dressed for a special occasion can be a major pain: Does my shirt go with these bottoms? Can I match a checkered pattern with stripes? Should I wear black shoes or brown shoes?

Soon, we won't have to worry about fashion faux pasanymore.

Amazon today was awarded a patent today that uses a system of cameras, projectors, and mirrors to layer digital images onto a reflection of your body in a mirror. In essence, you can try new clothes on just by standing in front of the display unit.

The Amazon smart mirror can also show you images of different landscapes — like a beach or a musuem gallery — so you can see what your outfit would look like in a specific setting. The idea is that you can know exactly how you'll look during the beach wedding your planning for, or how you'll look in front of your coworkers at the company holiday party.

The patent describes the technology as such:

"The display device can generate a pattern of illumination and non-illumination on the screen so that the illuminated portions of the screen substantially transmit through the mirror ... In combination, the portions of the screen transmitted through the mirror and the illuminated objects reflected by the mirror can provide a blended reality view to a user viewing the mirror."

The smart mirror is essentially a larger, more life-size version of what Amazon offers (or rather plans to offer, since it hasn't yet shipped) with the Echo Look. In this case, users will no longer need to snap photos of their outfits. Instead, the smart mirror will be able to superimpose clothing on them in real time as well as changes in scenery. It would be a tremendous breakthrough for the individual fashion — if it ever becomes a reality.

Several companies right now are already racing toward an augmented reality mirrors that can help you get ready for a big night.

For example, Panasonic is developing a mirror to help people try on cosmetics and various makeup looks. Other companies like Oak Labs are developing smart mirrors for fitting rooms that can make recommendations while people shop.

Surely, there will be endless ways to try on an outfit in the future. We just hope one of these new ways can finally stop me from looking so frumpy in all my friends' wedding photos.

（作者：汽车音响）