Outfit improvements

backend/app/prompts/recommendation.txt

@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ Time of day:
 AVAILABLE ITEMS:
 {items_text}
 
+{mandatory_items_section}
+
 RULES:
 - Pick exactly ONE top (shirt/blouse/sweater/t-shirt) + ONE bottom (pants/jeans/skirt/shorts) + ONE shoes
 - OR pick ONE dress + ONE shoes

backend/app/services/item_scorer.py

@@ -242,6 +242,16 @@ def _usage_score(item: ClothingItem, median_wear: float) -> float:
         return 0.9
 
 
+def _sort_mandatory_first(
+    scored: list[ScoredItem],
+    mandatory_item_ids: set[UUID] | None,
+) -> list[ScoredItem]:
+    if not mandatory_item_ids:
+        return scored
+
+    return sorted(scored, key=lambda s: s.item.id not in mandatory_item_ids)
+
+
 def _pair_bonus(
     item: ClothingItem,
     top_items: list[ClothingItem],
@@ -269,9 +279,11 @@ def score_items(
     learned_prefs: dict | None,
     good_pairs: dict[UUID, list[UUID]],
     recently_worn_dates: dict[UUID, date],
+    mandatory_item_ids: set[UUID] | None = None,
 ) -> list[ScoredItem]:
     if len(items) < MIN_ITEMS_FOR_SCORING:
-        return [ScoredItem(item=item) for item in items]
+        scored = [ScoredItem(item=item) for item in items]
+        return _sort_mandatory_first(scored, mandatory_item_ids)
 
     avoid_days = 7
     if preferences and preferences.avoid_repeat_days is not None:
@@ -319,4 +331,5 @@ def score_items(
         si.score += si.pair_bonus
 
     scored.sort(key=lambda s: s.score, reverse=True)
+    scored = _sort_mandatory_first(scored, mandatory_item_ids)
     return scored[:TOP_N]

backend/app/services/recommendation_service.py

@@ -250,6 +250,31 @@ def _format_items_for_prompt(
 
         return "\n".join(lines), number_map
 
+    def _format_mandatory_items_section(
+        self,
+        mandatory_item_ids: list[UUID] | None,
+        id_to_number: dict[int, UUID],
+    ) -> str:
+        if not mandatory_item_ids:
+            return ""
+
+        uuid_to_number = {v: k for k, v in id_to_number.items()}
+        mandatory_numbers = []
+        for item_id in mandatory_item_ids:
+            if item_id in uuid_to_number:
+                mandatory_numbers.append(uuid_to_number[item_id])
+
+        if not mandatory_numbers:
+            return ""
+
+        mandatory_numbers_sorted = sorted(mandatory_numbers)
+        mandatory_refs = ", ".join(f"[{n}]" for n in mandatory_numbers_sorted)
+        return (
+            f"MANDATORY ITEMS (MUST include in every outfit):\n"
+            f"The following items are already selected and MUST appear in all 3 outfit suggestions: {mandatory_refs}\n\n"
+            f"Complete each outfit with complementary pieces from the available items above."
+        )
+
     def _format_preferences_for_prompt(
         self,
         preferences: UserPreference | None,
@@ -738,10 +763,12 @@ async def generate_recommendation(
             learned_prefs=learned_prefs,
             good_pairs=good_pairs,
             recently_worn_dates=recently_worn_dates,
+            mandatory_item_ids=set(include_items) if include_items else None,
         )
 
         # Format enriched prompt
         items_text, number_map = self._format_items_for_prompt(scored, good_pairs, user_today)
+        mandatory_items_section = self._format_mandatory_items_section(include_items, number_map)
 
         worn_combinations = await self._get_recently_worn_outfit_combinations(user, days=7)
 
@@ -763,6 +790,7 @@ async def generate_recommendation(
             precipitation_chance=weather.precipitation_chance,
             preferences_text=preferences_text,
             items_text=items_text,
+            mandatory_items_section=mandatory_items_section,
         )
 
         # For single_outfit mode (notifications), replace multi-outfit format

backend/tests/test_item_scorer.py

@@ -281,6 +281,27 @@ def test_returns_top_n(self):
         )
         assert len(result) <= 70
 
+    def test_prioritizes_mandatory_items_into_top_n(self):
+        items = [_item(type="shirt") for _ in range(100)]
+        mandatory_item = _item(type="shorts")
+        items.append(mandatory_item)
+
+        result = score_items(
+            items=items,
+            weather=_weather(temp=5),
+            occasion="casual",
+            preferences=None,
+            user_today=date(2026, 3, 8),
+            current_season="spring",
+            learned_prefs=None,
+            good_pairs={},
+            recently_worn_dates={},
+            mandatory_item_ids={mandatory_item.id},
+        )
+
+        assert result[0].item.id == mandatory_item.id
+        assert mandatory_item.id in {s.item.id for s in result}
+
     def test_small_wardrobe_skips_scoring(self):
         items = [_item() for _ in range(10)]
         result = score_items(

backend/tests/test_recommendation_service.py

@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ def test_prompt_format_accepts_time_of_day(self):
             precipitation_chance=10,
             preferences_text="",
             items_text="[1] shirt | blue | cotton",
+            mandatory_items_section="",
         )
         assert "evening" in formatted
         assert "casual" in formatted
@@ -129,6 +130,7 @@ def test_prompt_format_all_time_of_day_values(self):
                 precipitation_chance=30,
                 preferences_text="",
                 items_text="[1] shirt",
+                mandatory_items_section="",
             )
             assert tod in formatted
 

frontend/app/dashboard/outfits/[id]/page.tsx

@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ export default function OutfitDetailPage() {
     }
   };
 
-  const title = outfit.name || `${outfit.occasion} outfit`;
+  const title = outfit.name || outfit.reasoning || `${outfit.occasion} outfit`;
 
   return (
     <div className="space-y-6 max-w-4xl mx-auto">
@@ -108,6 +108,36 @@ export default function OutfitDetailPage() {
               : 'Lookbook template'}
           </span>
         </div>
+
+        {/* AI reasoning */}
+        {((outfit.name && outfit.reasoning) ||
+          (outfit.highlights && outfit.highlights.length > 0)) && (
+          <div className="mt-2 space-y-1.5 text-xs flex-1">
+            {outfit.name && outfit.reasoning && (
+              <p className="font-medium text-foreground break-words">{outfit.reasoning}</p>
+            )}
+            {outfit.highlights && outfit.highlights.length > 0 && (
+              <ul className="space-y-0.5">
+                {outfit.highlights.slice(0, 3).map((highlight, index) => (
+                  <li key={index} className="flex items-start gap-1.5 text-muted-foreground">
+                    <span className="text-primary">•</span>
+                    <span>{highlight}</span>
+                  </li>
+                ))}
+              </ul>
+            )}
+          </div>
+        )}
+
+        {/* Styling tip */}
+        {outfit.style_notes && (
+          <div className="mt-2 p-2 bg-muted rounded border text-xs">
+            <p className="text-muted-foreground">
+              <span className="font-medium text-foreground">Tip:</span> {outfit.style_notes}
+            </p>
+          </div>
+        )}
+
       </div>
 
       <LineageCard outfit={outfit} />

frontend/components/outfits/outfit-card.tsx

@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ function getSourceBadge(outfit: Outfit): {
 
 function getCardTitle(outfit: Outfit): string {
   if (outfit.name) return outfit.name;
+  if (outfit.reasoning) return outfit.reasoning;
   if (outfit.highlights && outfit.highlights.length > 0) {
     return outfit.highlights[0];
   }