Retail customers distrust AI virtual try-on tools because of inaccurate fit
12 posts across 6 communities in the last 30 days; 25% from r/SideProject.
“I’m exploring an idea called Fitly, but haven't built it yet. The problem is that your size isn't necessarily your fit. A size 32 might fit perfectly at one brand, feel tight at another, and work differently depending on the cut. The idea is to build a personal fit profile that…”
“build the demo on their actual catalog, not sample data. pull a couple hundred of their real products and let the director ask it for a jacket in his own size, that lands harder than any slide about conversion lift. and on the return rate thing people mentioned, get him to say…”
“As a buyer, fit is probably the first thing I'd hesitate over here. I can like the design and still leave if I can't picture how it actually sits on the body. Same thing happens when I'm browsing wholesale stuff on Sinsang Market. I'll save something from the photos, then…”
Customers express skepticism about AI virtual try-on features, citing concerns that the technology doesn't accurately represent how clothing fits on their bodies.
SOURCES (38)
“I’m exploring an idea called Fitly, but haven't built it yet. The problem is that your size isn't necessarily your fit. A size 32 might fit perfectly at one brand, feel tight at another, and work differently depending on the cut. The idea is to…”
“I’d use a one-product sizing audit to open the conversation. Pick a garment with reviews mentioning fit, show the merchant the exact comments, and ask how they handle that today. It gives them something concrete to discuss without booking a demo. [re: Selling to fashion e-commerce merchants: how did you get the first 3 to talk to you?]”
“If you’ve tried it, I’m curious what you were looking for and whether the suggestions were any good. Would love to hear about the last time you did and whether you found something you liked or ended up going elsewhere. submitted by /u/Marcus8233 [link] [comments]”
“build the demo on their actual catalog, not sample data. pull a couple hundred of their real products and let the director ask it for a jacket in his own size, that lands harder than any slide about conversion lift. and on the return rate thing people mentioned, get him to say the number out loud in the meeting so it's his problem and not your pitch. With you being a dev and the tools available today, this shouldn't be too big of a lift! [re: 15 years as a dev, zero years in sales. Build”
“As a buyer, fit is probably the first thing I'd hesitate over here. I can like the design and still leave if I can't picture how it actually sits on the body. Same thing happens when I'm browsing wholesale stuff on Sinsang Market. I'll save something from the photos, then measurements and fabric decide whether I keep considering it. I'd test a really simple try-on video before touching the price. [re: Getting traffic to my clothing brand but almost nobody adds to cart — what”
“i'd use it before pulling the trigger on something that looked great on the model but i'm 90% sure will look stupid on me, the size and fit thing is what gets my return rate so high”
“for outerwear i'd look at fit anxiety before photos. garment measurements are great but most people never measure themselves, they compare to a coat they already own. a one-line fit note right next to the size picker ("roomy, size down if you're between sizes, fits over a chunky knit") answers the question they actually have. pull fit comments out of your reviews and show them there too if you can. also check where your free returns/exchange message sits. if it's only in th”
“Your app sounds like a game changer. I feel you on the whole “what looks good on a model versus what looks good on me” struggle. I’ve avoided buying clothes online for ages because I end up with a closet full of “what was I thinking?” stuff. This could seriously save me from more closet regrets.”
“The moment people pay is avoiding a bad purchase & most online clothes returns are about size and fit, not look. A camera overlay would shows the look which would make the one thing I'd prove first is why your target users sent back their last online order. If 7 in 10 say it didn't fit, the paid version has to say something about size. "Compare outfits before an event" feels like the stronger free hook.”
“I don’t think that virtual try-on is going to significantly move the needle. Good size guide is enough.”
“Did you ever find anything that helped? Do you think letting shoppers visually compare how each size would fit their body through a fit accurate virtual try-on would help solve your issue?”
“Is your view based on the virtual try-on tools you’ve seen so far? Would it change if shoppers could compare how each size fits their body so they could visually find the one they prefer, or do you think a good size guide already gives them what they need?”
“Really helpful, thanks. Quick follow-up: does your view on virtual try-on change at all with catalog size, or do you think it's just generally overrated for apparel regardless of scale? And have you seen fit-related returns respond to anything conversational — like a chat widget answering 'does this run small' in the moment — or does that fall into the same 'not worth it' bucket as try-on?”
“If I'm spending that much money - I probably want an in person measurement. It's not trusting the app, it's trusting myself to measure well. There's weird-dashes-between-words and other strange visual artifacts. If I am trusting your brand with how I look, I'd expect your site is flawless. It isn't a well organized site. When I land on the site I should see a call out for the type of customer I am. Funnel me to custom clothes. Or excellent fabrics (with a reason why I'”
“Zara is the one that always breaks for me, their model shots have the garment on a body already so it double applies. jewellery is basically hopeless. anyway you'll see it yourself the second you test it.”
“The live demo is promising. Retailers will probably care most about latency, fit accuracy, privacy, and proof that the experience improves conversion rather than just engagement.”
“Thanks, agreed — getting a clean garment crop from the product link is the hard part, and a poor source image can throw off the whole result. If you give it a try, send me one tricky retailer link plus a screenshot of the result; that would be really useful.”
“The thing that kills these is the product photo, not the model. If the store shoots on a mannequin or a flat lay, the try-on looks wrong and people blame your app instead of the source image. So test the ugly cases first, not the nice ones. Zara and ASOS product pages, jewellery, anything with a busy print. Ask testers to send you the link plus a screenshot of the result, and you'll find out fast which retailers break it.”
“Yes definitely! Ultimately I see it as a tool that my favorite brands could incorporate to their product pages, then I already know my usual size / how their measurements fit me. If a dedicated app, I should be able to register my favorite brands in different tabs (let’s say Zara, Mango and Uniqlo) and see the same product content as on their website (but without the fluff, the ads etc). So I can try on their latest products and even mix and match on my silhouette from different brands / favorit”
“Style preview, yes. Buying decision, no, and I think you've put your finger on why: the try-on image answers "does this look like me", but the return happens because of "does this fit me", and no generated image has ever touched the fabric. From the merchant side, the thing that actually closes that gap isn't a better model, it's a person holding the real garment. When a customer can ask "how does the medium sit on someone my height, does the shoulder pull, h”
“I'd trust it as a style preview, but not as the deciding factor. If it helps someone picture the look, that's useful, but I'd still want the actual measurements and customer photos before buying.”
“I’ve tried a few AI clothes changers lately, and I think people sometimes expect them to answer a question they can’t actually answer. They can help with “Would this color, cut or pattern look right on me?” That alone is useful when the product page only shows the garment on one model or as a flat lay. But a generated image can’t know exactly how a size medium will fit, how much the fabric stretches, or whether the shoulders will feel tight in real life. I’ve started treating virtual try-on as a”
What is the stack and tech behind this? Is this custom built AI model?
“Seems like a nice idea but honestly won't work the try one things just puts the stuff on your body it does not give you the sense of how it would actually look to your body In virtual Tryon it feels nice because it seems fitting but reality could be different Also this could be better with watches, shoes and other accessories”
“I didn’t say anything about it and that is the one thing I actually like about it. My complaint only that I cannot fit and buy cloth this way”
“It can still be useful for somethings e.g. to see if the color matches/you like how the color looks on you. It usually gets things like color right.”
“Yeah, just like how retailers use very specific lighting to make clothes look better in fitting rooms, they could make a fit look slimmer with the wave of a keyboard”
“I can see this being a gimmick in a clothing store but I'm not going to buy clothes based on what I look like on the screen, I'd want to try on the clothes to see how it actually fits my body not just see what it looks on a screen where all my lumps and bumps are hidden or smoothed out.”
“I can speak as a customer, I would never trust one of these because I can already determine if I like the look of an item. What I can't determine is whether the fit is right, and this product wouldn't convince me it can simulate fit. With that said, do I think retailers might go for it? That's a different story, so I won't nay-say it just because I as a consumer am disinterested.”