Abstract:
A method and system for searching databases of fashion and style using query catching metadata, API&#39;s, SKU numbers, GPS tracking and data feeds to filter by search terms, text keywords, numeric values, visual recognition, and geographic location filtered by the user. The method and system simplifies and improves the user experience by allowing full customization of the above queries to return results based upon term relationships, editorial assertions, visual recognition, SKU matching and barcoding. The method and system uses an underlying search engine that enhances search results by populating inventory through SKU numbers, numeric values as well as aggregates relative style content and displays links on the results page of retailers, designer brands, style content providers, geographic locations to enhance automatic indexing.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a non-provisional application of Provisional Application No. 62/272,309 filed on Dec. 29, 2015 and hereby claims priority benefit thereto, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the field of clothing fashion and style including such fashion and styles found in retail facilities (both on-line and street side or in-store), designer brands and style content. More particularly, it relates to the processes and systems used to effect search, browse, and buy functions of a clothing fashion-only search engine, while solving many front end and back end problems for both users and stakeholders within an omni-channel process, by combining a number of different software platforms, for a multifunctional system and method. 
         [0003]    Accordingly, the invention employs combined software that works together to effect search, browse, and buy functions to a user, while also enabling both customized meta-data and specific algorithms to be collected by industry partners, that include where sales originate, and follows through to point of sale. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    An objective of the present invention is to solve the clothing fashion industry&#39;s problems by rethinking the entire big-picture shopping infrastructure, and then restructuring the search process by using a “see it—buy it” mentality on the front end, and a SKU based (product ID) number search crawl on the backend. The front end links a consumer through one of at least seven different possible shopping channels. These channels include, for example, buying through on-line, in-store, digital, mobile, social, visual and editorial content using forms of artificial intelligence such as visual, text and numeric recognition and other software platforms. 
         [0005]    By creating a back-end based upon a service identification code for a product, known as a stock keeping unit (“SKU”) numbers rather than existing application programming interfaces (“APIs”) based system, search processes will be initiated and enabled through singular product identification numbers rather than the retailers that carry them. This allows for a more reliable search on the consumer shopping or front-end, and a more substantial back-end data collection for industry stakeholders. By integrating both front and back end processes, the invention embodied in, and therefore sometimes referred to herein by, its commercial website hosting name of “Your Style Unzipped”, eliminates the existing problems of current search engine models through customization, sourcing, directory, search terms, and the integration of style content, and provides a standardized, unbiased platform for stakeholders regardless of size, experience, or paid search. 
         [0006]    Unlike prior art systems and methods, the present invention is a customized search engine dedicated to both the customer experience and stakeholder process. The invention is intended to merge global retailers (both on-line and in-store or street-side), designer brands and all fashion content into one destination website serving women&#39;s, men&#39;s, children&#39;s, bridal, and maternity categories. An integrated mobile application brings additional shopping/retail enhancements to mobile and smart devices using both existing and developing technologies. 
         [0007]    The fully customizable search system allows users to search, browse, buy and save their favorite retailers, brands, style voices, and locations into their virtual “closet” using a Universal Closet concept from one destination website, and becomes a uniquely personal “smart” shopping tool that remembers everything from clothing preferences, prices, and colors to historical purchases, and designer &amp; retail preferences. 
         [0008]    The present invention is configured to allow users to access a “See it—Buy it” shoppable search engine on any device and through at least seven different channels including on-line, in-store, digital, mobile, social, visual and editorial. These options extend far beyond prior art methods of search, which are relegated to aggregating merely on-line content and are based on a “paid for placement” of keywords and bidding process of terms and phrases. By contrast, the system of the present invention is directory based, alphabetical for retailers, brands, and style content, and geographic for in-store retailers. Thus, there will be no need for industry stakeholders to pay for the use of terms or keywords on retailer or designer websites. 
         [0009]    The innovations of the present invention include combining technologies that offer consumers the ability to shop from content on all channels: on-line, in-store, mobile, digital, social, visual, editorial, on the front end, while collecting data on the back end regarding consumer buying trends, fashion style, retail and designer content, supply chain, geographic retail directories, data analytics/collection/algorithms, search engine marketing (“SEM”) and search engine optimization (“SEO”). Further, users are enabled to filter, save, and collect information on inventory, pricing, availability, etc., while stakeholders can collect and analyze data. Directories include GPS/Mapping capabilities. The back end is built on known software platforms including WordPress CMS (PHP/MySQL on Linux AWS virtual server), SKUIQ and SalesForce, with a custom theme and proprietary plug-ins. Intelligent image-based analytics are implemented to understand user generated content from social media. 
         [0010]    The front end (sometime referred to herein as the “shopping process”) is also based on well-known commercially available platforms, including HTML5/CSS3 and mobile responsive (Bootstrap) with custom JavaScript/jQuery, including Ajax and various jQuery plugins (jScroll). Google Analytics and SalesForce is used to provide web analytics to track and report on website traffic. 
         [0011]    Mobile applications incorporate body scanning and barcoding technologies, in addition to incorporating the above described front-end and back-end processes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention is directed to a system and method for searching databases related to style and fashion. The method and system may be used, for example, by shoppers for searching databases of retail facilities, on-line shopping services, editorial material, publications, and industry newsletters, etc., all related to fashion and style. 
         [0013]    The invention, more specifically, is related to a method and system for searching databases of fashion and style using query catching metadata, API&#39;s, SKU numbers, GPS tracking and data feeds to filter by search terms, text keywords, numeric values, visual recognition, and geographic location filtered by the user. The method and system of the invention simplifies and improves the user experience by allowing full customization of the above queries to return results based upon term relationships, editorial assertions, visual recognition, SKU matching and barcoding. The method and system uses an underlying search engine that enhances search results by populating inventory through SKU numbers, numeric values as well as aggregates relative style content and displays links on the results page of retailers, designer brands, style content providers, geographic locations to enhance automatic indexing. 
         [0014]    By way of example, the on-line search channel begins by a user logging onto the website hosting the present invention (www.yourstyleunzipped.com) (the “hosting website”) from either a desktop or a mobile application. From there users have several choices depending upon what they are searching. 
         [0015]    First, they can read “featured links” on the Home Page of the hosting website and click through to any content provided using external links that offer a direct point-of-sale for that/those items. Featured links can include any of the following: Pop-up stores, Catalog, Shop The Runway, Video Shopping, and more innovative technologies as they become available. 
         [0016]    Second, they can search by a “clothing” category or specific clothing item using keywords. The SKU based system will associate the keyword with options already loaded on the back-end of the site through direct data feeds from designer brands and retailers as well. Once options pop up from the SKU&#39;s, a list of retail options who stock that number will also appear, whether they are street side boutiques, stores or on-line dot coms. Users can click on one, or all of the options to compare sizes, pricing and availability and then click to purchase, save to their universal closet, save for sale pricing, restocking or save to style “likes”. Users can also move directly to an external link of the chosen retailer and follow their site through to the point of sale. 
         [0017]    Third, they can search by “retailer” in the featured or alphabetical listing section. Featured retailers have a more prominent positioning on the site and can include many point of sale options like designer collaborations, special sales, seasonal events, or promotions for the user to access. The retail section is divided into two areas, on-line and street-side. On-line works by routing users who click on the feature to the direct dot com of the retailer. The street-side section however, links through the back-end directly to the “locations” option which is connected with GPS Location and Mapping Technology. This enables users to search by country, state, city, or zip code and then filter what they&#39;re searching for. For example: Search: #77056; Clothing Filter: skirt; Color: black; and Size: 4. 
         [0018]    Once the options in that zip code come up, users can click directly to that retailer&#39;s website (sometime herein referred to as a “dot com”), get a better text and visual description of the item, make arrangements to hold the item to buy in-store using communication technology with the store, or purchase for direct delivery through various services, such as Deliv, Localz or other similar services. Users will follow the retailer&#39;s specific guidelines and services available through that particular retailer. 
         [0019]    Fourth, users can search by “designer” and see featured brands as well as scroll down an alphabetical listing of all designers included on the site. Featured retailers have a more prominent positioning on the site and can include their entire collections with attached points of sale, or retail links where sales can be made. Collections can be in the form of catalogs, Shop The Runway, video or photo presentations, and Pop-Up stores. They may include retail collaborations, special sales, events, or promotions for the user to access. The alphabetical listing will have a link to the brands preferred dot com. 
         [0020]    Fifth, users can search by “location” as mentioned above which is connected with GPS Location and Mapping Technology. This enables users to search by country, state, city, or zip code and then filter what they&#39;re searching for. For example: Search: #77056; Clothing Filter: skirt; Color: black; and Size: 4. 
         [0021]    As above, once the options in that zip code come up, users can click directly to that retailer&#39;s dot com, make arrangements to hold the item to buy in-store using communication technology with the store, or purchase for direct delivery through various services, such as Deliv, Localz or other similar services. Users will follow the retailers specific guidelines for purchase and services available through that particular retailer. 
         [0022]    If a user wants to search by “country, city or state”, retailers in those areas will come up alphabetically with links to their specific dot com (web site) or featured link. For example: Search: Paris, France; Filter: Couture (it can be a grouping of clothes like denim, lingerie), or specific item by keywords, Street Name: Champs Elysees or postal code. Size, and Color preferences. Example: Search Paris, France, Champs Elysees for a “Short Black Dress, Size 4. 
         [0023]    Again, once those options come up, featured partners will include hours of operations, brands carried, and other store information. Users can save them to their closet, send them to their handheld device, map a shopping trip by mode of transportation (train, bus, walking directions), contact them directly to hold the item, or make a purchase and have it delivered directly. 
         [0024]    And, users can browse and shop the “Style Guide” and “The Blog” by influencer, style, occasion, or season using direct links to that specific content, that includes points of sale. This part of the site is linked through all available social media, as well as retail links found in editorial or email content through visual recognition of posts. 
         [0025]    Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention, a method for searching databases related to clothing style and fashion is executed via computer hardware and software. The databases are populated by searchable data related to clothing items, clothing retailers, clothing designers, clothing publications and blogs, clothing style guides. The databases are populated with searchable information and data, including text, photos, editorial content videos and style identification data related to clothing items, clothing retailers, clothing designers, clothing publications and blogs, clothing style guides, by the use of software platforms customized and configured for locating information stored in the databases via SKU based meta-data. These databases are accessible for searching through a clothing style and fashion web based search engine of the invention. The software platforms are supported on or are accessible through a website server of the web based search engine. The method of the invention includes acquiring access to the web based clothing style and fashion search engine through a graphical user interface for receiving, analyzing and responding to queries through one of a plurality of shopping channels including at least an on-line shopping channel, an in-store shopping channel, a mobile shopping channel, a social media shopping channel and an editorial content searching channel; and acquiring access to the web based search engine via a secure sign-up and log-in data entry process thereby viewing on a computer screen a home page of said clothing style and fashion web based search engine. The invention also includes selecting at the home page a high level search option function from among at least clothing items, clothing designers, clothing retailers, geographic location, style guide publications or blog sites, said high level search option function being carried out via software platforms customized and configured for SKU based metadata searching said databases. The results from selecting a high level search option related to specific characteristics of said selected high level options are then received and include secondary web pages illustrating at least clothing item choices, retailer providers, designers and mid-level query options related to said results. Then results from selecting a mid-level query option search on said secondary web page related to specific characteristics of said selected mid-level options are received and include tertiary web pages illustrating at least a specific clothing item choice, and/or a retailer provider, and/or a designer. A next step is then selecting a purchase or save option from the tertiary web pages thereby initiating functions performed via software platforms supported on or accessible through the website server and customized and configured to initiate a purchase and/or save function of said at least clothing item choices, retailer providers and/or designers. 
         [0026]    Further, another aspect of the invention is a system for searching databases related to clothing style and fashion, via computer hardware and software, has databases populated with searchable information and data, including text, photos, editorial content videos and style identification data related to clothing items, clothing retailers, clothing designers, clothing publications, blogs, and clothing style guides. A server includes a plurality of software platforms supported by the server or accessible through the server. The software platforms are customized and configured for locating information stored in the databases via SKU based meta-data. The server is connected with and operates a clothing style and fashion web based search engine for searching the databases by said software platforms. A graphical user interface (GUI) is provided for acquiring access to the web based search engine for receiving, analyzing and responding to queries through one of a plurality of shopping channels, including at least an on-line shopping channel, an in-store shopping channel, a mobile shopping channel, a social media shopping channel and an editorial content searching channel. Access to the web based search engine is via a secure sign-up and log-in data entry process to thereby view on a computer screen of a home page of the clothing search engine. A high level search option function available at the home page for selecting from among at least clothing items, clothing designers, clothing retailers, geographic location, style guide publications or blog sites is carried out via software platforms connected with said search engine supported on or through said server and customized and configured for SKU based metadata searching of the databases. Results from selecting a high level search option related to specific characteristic of said selected high level options are receivable at the GUI including secondary web pages illustrating at least clothing item choices, retailer providers, designers and mid-level query options related to said results. Additional software platforms connected with the search engine are customized and configured to build content, including photos, editorial, descriptions, and videos, to populate databases, and to collect data regarding shopping functions by the search engine. Further software platforms are customized and configured to permit scrolling functionality for clothing, brands, retailers, and style content on said search engine. Yet further software platforms are connected with the search engine and are configured to support a back-end SKU based data system. Additional software platforms are configured to facilitate communication between and among the various software platforms for implementing the functionality of the SKU based shopping process; and further software platforms are configured to maintain global retail location data to recognize locations and directions of a given address, for a given retail location. 
         [0027]    Another aspect of the invention is a search engine related to a shopping process via computer hardware and software, for searching functions of stored data of clothing style, clothing fashion, clothing retail facilities and their locations, clothing designers, publications and editorial information of clothing style and fashion. The search engine has a website having a graphical user interface (GUI) for receiving queries and other input from a user related to said shopping process and for displaying and viewing of results of said queries and other related information; a server connected with said website; a plurality of software platforms supported on or accessible through said server, said plurality of software platforms being customized and configured to operate said website, and to effect said searching functions; at least one data base connected with said server, said at least one database storing said data of clothing style, clothing fashion, clothing retail facilities and their locations, clothing designers, publications and editorial information of clothing style and fashion, a back-end analytic software platform supported on or accessible through said server, said analytic software platform customized and configured to collect, analyze and aggregate data and other market information generated as a result of said shopping process, and a back-end database connected with said back-end analytic software platform configured to store said data and other market information. 
         [0028]    The search engine also has software platforms customized and configured: for SKU based metadata searching of said databases; to permit scrolling functionality for clothing, brands, retailers, and style content on said website; to support back-end SKU based data system; to facilitate communication between and among said various software platforms for implementing the functionality of the SKU based shopping process; and to maintain global retail location data to recognize locations and directions of a given address, for a given retail location. 
         [0029]    Yet another aspect of the invention is a method of operating a search engine for a shopping process via computer hardware and software, of searching functions of stored data of clothing style, clothing fashion, clothing retail facilities and their locations, clothing designers, publications and editorial information of clothing style and fashion, comprising: providing a website having a graphical user interface (GUI) for receiving queries and other input from a user related to said shopping process and for displaying and viewing of results of said queries and other related information. The method provides a server connected with said website; using a plurality of software platforms supported on or accessible through said server for effecting said searching functions, said plurality of software platforms being customized and configured to operate said website, and to effect said searching functions; at least one data base connected with said server, said at least one database storing said data of clothing style, clothing fashion, clothing retail facilities and their locations, clothing designers, publications and editorial information of clothing style and fashion, a back-end analytic software platform supported on or accessible through said server, said analytic software platform customized and configured to collect, analyze and aggregate data and other market information generated as a result of said shopping process, and a back-end database connected with said back-end analytic software platform configured to store said data and other market information. 
         [0030]    Other features, advantages and embodiments will become apparent from the following detailed description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, and from the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    Embodiments of the invention will be described herein below to provide a full understanding of the invention by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0032]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating various possible channels of shopping for clothing style and fashion; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration depicting a user accessing the on-line channel; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is a screen shot of a home page of the website “Your Style Unzipped”; 
           [0035]      FIG. 4( a )  is a screen shot of a web page result when choosing a clothing search option from the search bar; 
           [0036]      FIG. 4( b )  is a screen shot of a web page illustrating a drop down menu when selecting a clothing category search option; 
           [0037]      FIG. 4( c )  is a screen shot illustrating a web page result after selecting the ‘shoe’ option in the drop down menu of  FIG. 4( b ) ; 
           [0038]      FIGS. 4( d ) and 4( e )  are a screen shots illustrating a web page result after selecting the “designer” search option from the search bar; 
           [0039]      FIG. 4( f )  is a screen shot illustrating a web page result after selecting the “retailer” search option from the search bar; 
           [0040]      FIG. 4( g )  is a screen shot illustrating a web page result after selecting a particular retailer; 
           [0041]      FIG. 5  is a chart illustrating the various search options for the different options on the home page search bar; 
           [0042]      FIG. 6( a )  is a flow chart illustrating various search steps for each of the shopping channels on-line, in-store, digital, and mobile as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 6( b )  is a flow chart illustrating the various search steps for each of the shopping channels social channel, visual channel and editorial channel, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 7( a )  is a screen shot illustrating a web page result after selecting the “location” search option from the search bar; 
           [0045]      FIG. 7( b )  is a screen shot illustrating a web page result after selecting a State and City search option from the web page of  FIG. 7( a ) ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 7( c )  is a screen shot illustrating what GPS location features a user sees when a retailer is chosen from a shopping destination; 
           [0047]      FIG. 8  is a screen shot illustrating an Instagram web page result after selecting the “social” search option from the search bar; 
           [0048]      FIG. 9  is a screen shot illustrating a Facebook web page result after selecting the “social” search option from the search bar; 
           [0049]      FIG. 10  is a screen shot illustrating a web page result after selecting an illustration option from the Instagram page of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0050]      FIG. 11  is an illustration of a saved body scan overlaid on an image of a user; 
           [0051]      FIG. 12( a )  is an illustration of scanning a barcode; 
           [0052]      FIG. 12( b )  is a screen shot of an item of clothing which has been identified by scanning its barcode; 
           [0053]      FIG. 12( c )  is a screen shot of a typical retailer web site; 
           [0054]      FIG. 13  is a screen shot illustrating a web page result after selecting a garment via a barcode scan overlaid onto a user body scan as illustrated in  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0055]      FIG. 14  is a schematic representation of the various software platforms used to effect the searching functions of the present invention; and 
           [0056]      FIG. 15  is a chart illustrating the back-end of analytic and data related functions available to stakeholders. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0057]    Referring now in more detail to the annexed drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates various possible channels  13  of shopping for clothing style and fashion items. These include an on-line channel  20 , an in-store channel  30 , a digital channel  40 , a mobile channel  50 , a social channel  60 , a visual channel  70 , and an editorial channel  80 . A consumer (user) may use any of the enumerated channels for the function of shopping for styles and fashion. Ultimately, each channel will connect a user with a searching function  90  and finally to a function  100  that will allow browsing and/or the purchase of a selected item through a direct link to a site or location that is capable of fulfillment of the order. 
         [0058]    Turning first to the on-line channel  20 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a user  10  may access the system and processes of the invention hosted by the website “Your Style Unzipped”, for example, using a desktop computer  11 , through the internet  12 . At the home page, through a graphical user interface (“GUI”), the user will be able to view options for signing on to the services of the hosting website at  22  or if already signed up, then logging onto the website, using traditional methods, at  23 . Various search options, such as by clothing items, designer, particular retailer or location, by style guide, blogger, closet styles or by mobile interface will be available at a directional board or search bar  24 .  FIG. 3  is a screen shot of such a home page. The home page is editorial based featuring style, retailers, designers and city locations content. 
         [0059]    Without logging in a user may still browse the styles and tips which may be exhibited on the home page, and then click onto the content they wish to view more carefully. So, for example if the user wishes to browse the clothing search function, clicking on the clothing choice  25  of the search bar  24  on home page  21  would take that user to pages such as on a screen  26 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4( a ) . Hovering over the clothing choice  25  exhibits a window  128  (see  FIG. 5 ) which will display a number of options including category, price, color, retailer, designer, size and sale. By choosing, for example the category choice  124  and clicking on it, a drop down window  126  will appear, as illustrated at the screen  27  displaying further search options. These search options include such areas as bags, shoes, coats and jackets, denim, etc. Clicking on one of the choices on the drop down screen  126 , such as for example the choice “shoes”  127 , will result in display of a screen shot, such as illustrated in  FIG. 4( c ) . The user can then view the shoes displayed. 
         [0060]    The other options on the search bar include designer  125 ; retailer  225 ; location  325 ; style guide  425 ; blog  625 ; closet  725 ; and mobile interface  825 . 
         [0061]    The array of drop down choices for the options on the search bar  24  is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The search areas found in the drop down “clothing” search option  25  are listed at  128 , as indicated above. The drop down choices for the “designer” option  125  are listed at  129 . The drop down choices for the option of the area retailer option  225  are listed at  130 . The drop down choices for the location option  325  are listed at  131 . The drop down choices for the style guide option  425  are listed at  132 . The drop down choices for the blog option are listed at  133 . The drop down choices for the closet option  725  are listed at  134 . And the drop down choices for the mobile interface option  825  are listed at  135 . 
         [0062]    Ultimately, a user may choose to purchase an item found as a result of this searching activity. The user will then follow the appropriate prompts to bring her to the buy function  100  for executing the purchase. 
         [0063]    Instead of the user clicking the “category” option  124  of the window  128  (which brings up for view the drop down menu  126 ) a user may decide to search through the “designer” option  123  of the window  128 . This will bring up for view by the user a web page shown at screen shot  122  (see  FIG. 4( d ) ) illustrating a designer page with its features. When the user scrolls down this page, she will find a directory listing  120  of designers, as illustrated on  FIG. 4( e ) . The user would then identify and choose a particular designer for further options. 
         [0064]    The foregoing description of the on-line channel of search/shopping is exemplary of the searching functions available for the other channels as well.  FIGS. 6( a ) and 6( b )  illustrate broadly the flow of searching for each of the various channels. Similar type screen shots will become viewable when a user elects different options from the first window. For example, screen shot  119  ( FIG. 4( f ) ) will be viewed when a “retailer” option  121  is selected, illustrating featured retailers  118 . Scrolling down the page, the user will then find a display of a directory of retailers. Clicking on one such retailer will bring up a page such as illustrated at the screen shot  116  in  FIG. 4( g ) . 
         [0065]    Returning to the on-line channel  20 ,  FIG. 6( a )  illustrates that a user can execute basic and advanced searches at the SKU based search meta-data function  91  to search for specific items. Once found, the user can also then click on the location search function  325  on the search bar  24 . Such execution will trigger the search using GPS based software configured or reconfigured to locate a physical location. Alternatively, the user may go directly to the search bar  24  on the home page  21  to initiate a search for the various functions on the search bar  24 , such as location, clothing, brand style, etc. 
         [0066]    So, for example, a user may click on the “clothing” option  25  to search for such items as “skinny jeans.” Alternatively, the user my choose the retailer option  225  and seek a specific retailer, such as Nordstrom; or click on the designer option  125  to find a particular designer or designer/brand, such as Michael Kors. Another choice would be to select the style guide option  425  to find a style content (Harpersbazaar.com). A location option  325  can also be selected from the search bar  24 . This option is executed using GPS. 
         [0067]    Once having obtained the results of the selected search option, the user can, at the Browse and/or Buy Function  100 , browse and or buy at the site through a direct purchase hyperlink. 
         [0068]    If a user is currently in a retail store and wants to search for an item, the user must be logged into the mobile application. Once there, she has choices. 
         [0069]    She can scan a barcode of an item in the store using her phone or mobile device (through Apple or integrated partnership software configured to search databases using barcode data) and search for that item using the SKUIQ platform. Scanning a barcode within a store is illustrated in.  FIG. 12( a ) . Once that SKU has been brought up for visualization (see for example  FIG. 12( b ) ), all available colors, sizes, availability and pricing will come up as well. Users can check “availability” for that item with other retailers either online, or by zip code, with the aid of GPS based software, nearest to their current position. They can make a purchase, “hold” an item, or other options available through the retailer. Effecting a purchase may be executed when a user is viewing a store site, such as is illustrated in  FIG. 12( c ) . 
         [0070]    She can also use the “virtual fitting room”  51  capability of her Mobile App. This allows users to pre-scan their body image (using Hot scanning, 3D or other technologies, along with Apple or other integrated software platforms) and save the image to her phone for use when shopping. This is illustrated at  FIG. 11 . A previously saved body image  52  of a user  51  can be viewed on a mobile device  53 . The body image technology had been previously created using known body scanning and imaging technology (such as the above mentioned Hot scanning, 3D technology) and has been stored on the user&#39;s mobile device for future use. The technology allows the body scan to be used as an overlay onto an image from a barcode scanned by the user with the mobile device while in a retail facility. 
         [0071]    Once the body image is pulled up, users can scan a barcode of an item found in the store or in a search (using the barcoding technology), as is illustrated in  FIG. 12( a ) . The image of that garment will be displayed on the body scan photo, such as is demonstrated in  FIG. 13 , which illustrates what a user might see with the garment on top of their body scan. 
         [0072]    Users can then delete that image, save the image, or scan additional SKU&#39;s. 
         [0073]    If the user wants to search where to purchase a specific item, he can pull the alphabetical listing by country, state, city, zip code as specified earlier. By linking directly to the Locations search feature which is connected with GPS based Location and Mapping Technology, users can search an item by keyword, numeric, text or visual value. 
         [0074]    Once the options in that zip code come up, users can click directly to that retailer&#39;s web site, make arrangements to hold the item to buy in-store using communication technology with the store, or purchase for direct delivery through various known delivery services, such as Localz. Users will follow the retailer&#39;s specific guidelines and services available through that particular retailer. Once having obtained the results of the selected search option, the user can, at the Browse and/or Buy Function  100 , browse and or buy at the site through a direct purchase hyperlink 
         [0075]    Users can save any items to their universal “Closet” for future purchase, style assistance, on-sale, in-stock. 
         [0076]    Through the digital channel  40 , a user may, as with the on-line or in-store channels  20 ,  30 , respectively, execute basic and advanced searches at the SKU based search meta-data function  91  to search for specific items in the same manner as described above. Once found, the user can also then click on the location search function  325  on the search bar  24 . Such execution will trigger the search using GPS based software configured or reconfigured to locate a physical location where the item found in the search may be obtained by direct in-store purchase or by executing a purchase link. Alternatively, the user may go directly to the search bar  24  on the home page  21  to initiate a search for the various functions on the search bar  24 , such as location, clothing, brand style, etc. 
         [0077]      FIGS. 7( a ) and 7( b )  illustrate web pages on screen shots  31  and  32 , respectively, when a user executes a search under “location”  325  of the search bar  24 . On web page  31 , the user will be able to focus a search to a State, City, Zip code or particular retailer on search bar  33 . If, for example, a user enters the name of Houston in the State of Texas into the fields on bar  33 , the result would look like the web page  32 . Here, the user may further refine the search on bar  34 .  FIG. 7( c )  illustrates what GPS location features the user sees when a retailer is chosen from a shopping destination 
         [0078]    Using the mobile channel  50 , a user also has the option to initially to execute basic and advanced searches at the SKU based search meta-data function  91  to search for specific items in the same manner as described above. Alternatively, the user may go directly to the search bar  24  on the home page  21  to initiate a search for the various functions on the search bar  24 , such as location, clothing, brand style, etc. Once found, the user can also then click on the location search function  325  on the search bar  24 . Such execution will trigger the search using GPS based software configured or reconfigured to locate a physical location, as is illustrated in  FIGS. 7( a ) and 7( b ) . The found item may then be obtained/purchased by direct in-store purchase or by executing a purchase link. 
         [0079]    In addition, via the mobile channel, a user may go directly to the location option on the search bar  24  or may access the “virtual fitting room”  51  capability. This allows users to pre-scan their body image (using configured software known as Hot scanning technology and Apple or other similar available software) and save such scan to her phone for use when shopping. Once the body image is pulled up, users can scan the barcode on an item of clothing or on the tag of an item of clothing (using the barcoding software) and the image of that garment will be displayed on the body scan image. Users can then delete that image, save the image, or scan additional SKU&#39;s. 
         [0080]    As with the other channels, the user may access the SKU based search meta-data function  91  to conduct searches of publications, barcodes, etc., using filers such as key words, clothing style or item to locate a specific choice. 
         [0081]    Referring now to  FIG. 6( b )  users may have access to the systems and methods of the invention through the social channel. When perusing social media sites through the hosting website (“www.yourstyleunzipped.com”), such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, etc., a user will have the opportunity to observe ads or links that will allow the searching activity provided by this invention. By clicking on such a link, the user will have all of the availability of the on-line or mobile channels as described above, so that the user may now conduct searches and eventually purchase found items. For example,  FIGS. 8 and 9  are screen shots of a pages  61  and  62  respectively from Instagram and Facebook, respectively, both well-known social media sites. From either page a user may initiate searches using the current inventions. For example, a user may click on image  63  in  FIG. 8 , which will bring up a screen shot of page  64 , see  FIG. 10 . From page  64 , the user may then view names and links to brands and/or retailers. The visual and editorial channels will operate in the same or very similar manner. 
         [0082]      FIG. 14  illustrates, in schematic representation, the various software platforms employed in the present invention. A user  10 , through one of the channels  13  discussed above, such as for example the on-line channel  20 , is provided access, such as through the user&#39;s desk-top computer  11 , to a graphical user interface (“GUI”)  14  to the various software platforms employed by the hosting website to effect the searching functions provided by the present invention. Some of the employed platforms are actually housed on a server  15  maintained and operated by the hosting website. These include known, commercially available, software platforms (or customized software platforms) of HTML5/CSS3  16 ; JavaScript  17  and JQuery/J/Scroll  18 . 
         [0083]    HTML5/CSS3  16  hosted on server  15  is the primary software platform to build the aggregate content including photos, editorial, descriptions, videos, etc. and to populate for example some of the databases  201 ,  202  and  203 . JavaScript  17  is also hosted on server  15  for constructing most of the shopping process by collecting data for storage in the databases of the system, such as databases  201 - 203 . 
         [0084]    JQuery/J/Scroll  18 , also hosted on server  15  is a jQuery plug-in that allows users scrolling functionality for clothing, brands, retailers, and style content. 
         [0085]    Additional software platforms hosted on servers by others, and available for use by the present system via a link through the cloud  1000  with server  15 , include SkuIQ  204 , Restful API  205 , SalesForce  206 , GPS Mapping  207 , Visual Recognition  208 , Body Scanning  209 , Barcoding  210 , and Google Analytics  211 . 
         [0086]    SkuIQ  204  is hosted on a third party&#39;s server and customized for use with the present invention to support a back-end sku (product ID) based number system. Restful API  205  is also hosted on a third party&#39;s server and customized to facilitate communication between and among the various software platforms for implementing the functionality of the SKU based shopping process. SalesForce  206  is also hosted on a third party&#39;s server and customized to accumulate a variety of sales and CRM data analytics through a variety of software platforms sometime referred to as artificial intelligence, and provide mobility all through the system. It will be used for collection of metadata from retailers, brands, data feeds, and vertical digital channels. GPS Mapping software  207 , also hosted on a third party server and has been customized to work with the data in one of the databases  201 ,  202 , or  203  which maintains global retail location data to recognize locations and directions of a given address, for a given retail location. 
         [0087]    Visual Recognition software  208  is the software platform, hosted by a third party and linked to server  15 , customized to work with social media, digital, in-store and mobile applications, in tandem with SkuIQ  204  in order to implement the “see it—buy it” point of sale directly from a photo, video, text, or barcode description or value, as discussed above. Visuals (photos, videos, moving images) can be searched based upon the visual properties it holds (on all digital, mobile and social channels) and guided back through a searchable SKU based (numeric) value system. This enables users to see, search and buy a “black blazer” directly from social media sites, such as Instagram by clicking the image and being directed to a “Browse Now or Buy Now” option process. The Browse Now option will allow search comparisons based upon like Product ID&#39;s. 
         [0088]    Body Scanning  209  is a software platform hosted on a third party server but customized on a mobile application to fit our platform that works in tandem with barcoding. Barcoding  210  is a software platform also hosted on a third party server and customized on a mobile application to fit with the system of this invention so that it works in tandem with body scanning, as described above. 
         [0089]    Google Analytics  211  is a known software platform, also hosted on a third party server, and customized to collect and analyze a variety of data from front end sources to back end. 
         [0090]    The so-called “back-end” or that part of the system and processes of the invention which collects, analyzes and aggregates data and other market information, is illustrated in  FIG. 15 , which is a chart illustrating the analytic and data related functions available to stakeholders. The back end  19  is managed and controlled by the various software platforms hosted on server  15  and/or software platforms in contact with server  15  but hosted on third-part servers, through the cloud  1000 , as described above. These software platforms are configured to accumulate, generate, aggregate, analyze and store, in a back-end database  19 ( a ), data and information generated as a result of the shopping processes of the front end. As illustrated, the back-end  19  performs analytic functions  191  by consumer shopping trends, category, designer, retailer, content, trends, and geography  191 , analytic functions  192  by featured pages, item, season, retailer, promotion, collaboration, analytic functions  193  by featured page, store location, user, designer, clicks, promotions, collaborations; analytic functions  194  by temporal measures of frequency, time of day, day of week, weeks/year; and analytic functions  195  by content, writer, source, subject, collaboration, promotions, and season. 
         [0091]    The “back-end” functions also include: SEO/SEM data  196  by writer, source, retailer, designer, subject, collaboration; analytics  197  by quantity, size, designer, price, retailer, sales, promotions; and analytics  198  by Comparables: itemization, in store, on line, digital, visual, usage, promotion, content, location, purchase rate, trends. 
         [0092]    The back-end also generates and stores sales data  199  by number of sign ups, user preferences, alpha retailers, alpha designers, retailers by zip code, and URL links. 
         [0093]    While the invention has been illustrated and described in connection with currently preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and practical application to thereby enable a person skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.