When I discussed the idea of shopping for clothes online in my post from 15 January (http://bloggettaveneta.blogspot.com/2009/01/asos-magazine.html), many people commented that they think it is not a good experience because you cannot try on the clothes as you do in a shop’s fitting room.
Well, this argument is not a strong one anymore. With the online tool provided by My Virtual Model (www.mvm.com), you can try on clothes online in your own avatar! It works like this: you upload your info such as type of face, body shape, height, weight, bust size and waist for women (it works for men with slightly different info). You can even upload your own picture of your face, and put different backgrounds to see for example how the outfit would look with you on the beach… The service is currently provided in the US to some brands such as H&M, Sears, Land’s End and Speedo.
One potential problem that I found when asked for some female friends to try the service is that women can tend to be a bit optimistic about their virtual model’s body… This can lead to some problems of tight clothes when they are delivered, and they will claim the guilt is with the online tool… On my side, I found my virtual model a bit weird, and the clothes not that realistic… I don’t know if I would try the tool.
The ones who have tried it before please share your experience. The ones who thought this was the main problem about buying online please tell what you think of the tool. And don’t mention about the texture feeling and the scent of the clothes, I’m pretty sure that soon you will be able to feel it online as well…
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mcfcforever 30p · 841 weeks ago
I think some clothing retailers (my experience is only UK) - like Next - have reasonably cost effective ways of allowing returns of unsuitable clothing. With a large high street presence its easy to drop clothes back at a local store. This may seem like defeating the object of shopping online but the major advantage of trying the clothes on at ones leisure and in the comfort of ones own home, without the attention of an either fawning or insulting shop assistant remains.
I for one dislike clothes shopping due to the strange and intimidating behaviour of clothes shop employees!
lvallis 39p · 841 weeks ago
Everyone's body shape is different: you could line up three women with the same mesurements and a dress would look different on each one of them. These online shopping tools are fun, but nothing beats being able to try something on in the comfort (and privacy!!) of your own home. And then send the bad stuff back for free :)
kaajal 26p · 841 weeks ago
Hitu_Malhotra 38p · 841 weeks ago
mleal 19p · 841 weeks ago
My wife just bought her mother some clothes as a birthday present. It worked particularly well for us because we could send her a gift from here (she is Brazil!).
The reason it works is because of the free return system others mentioned. The first purchase my mother-in-law made had all the wrong sizes. She sent it back and got the correct size back. Since then she became a loyal customer of the store. Price, quality and convenience are the reasons she enjoys buying online.
In case you're wondering, this is the store: http://www.posthaus.com.br/
marceloperalta 38p · 841 weeks ago
johnwheeler 32p · 841 weeks ago
In my experience, fashion items still need to be seen and tried on first as sizes can vary wildly. The hassle of taking delivery, trying something on, repacking and returning to store takes much of the benefit out of buying in this high variability area.
Of course, many would say that the last fashionable item I bought was a pair of Dr Martin boots in about 1990 so I have very little credibility in blogging about the fashion business at all!
Ignacio 26p · 841 weeks ago
Toby · 841 weeks ago
Anant 38p · 840 weeks ago
Kläder på nätet · 665 weeks ago