Bloomingdales 3D Body Scanner - Yay or Nay - YouLookFab Forum

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Bloomingdales 3D Body Scanner - Yay or Nay

JulieJohn

Veteran

This is an interesting video announcing that Bloomingdales in Palo Alto has a 3D Body Scanner. You step inside, it scans your shape, and sends it to your iPad. From there you can find the right clothing without so much guesswork, that's the idea anyway.

http://news.yahoo.com/video/bl.....00226.html

What do you ladies think of this technology? Would you get scanned, and do you think it will help find the right fit, or is it just a gimmick? Any big brother conspiracy tie-ins, like the store saves your info and sends it to Homeland Security? Or is it just me who has that kind of paranoia?

(Hubs thinks they should marry this with the new 3D printers and just print the right jeans for each of us on the spot. Maybe that is coming next....)

Shopping

19 replies

Latest reply was from Keix

JenA

Veteran

Actually, about a month ago my family went into NYC. As we were walking we passed a new technology exhibit called "For HumanKind" (link is below), ..... anyhoooo..... we saw that technology, met the inventor/developer, and they even let my dd try it. I thought it was a great idea, because it would help with sizing since there seems to be no standard across designers. I also think is has such great potential for people who have specialty fit issues or needs.

http://www.solifestyle.com/201.....e-nyc.html

ETA, it didn't look so high-tec when we saw it without the fancy shell!

JulieJohn

Veteran

Neat, Jen! Thanks for sharing that.

Echo

Veteran

I wonder if the TSA scans could accomplish the same thing!

And I guess I'd have to see how the scans would help a person discover anything they didn't already know. For example, I know my measurements, and either I know or good SAs know how an item fits, so I just can't see these scans providing any significant advantage. And regardless of how a brand typically fits, a person would still have to try things on. So does Bloomies also have the exact measurements of every item they carry? I would guess that would also be impossible (everyone has had the experience where one size 4 and another size 4 of the same item fit entirely differently, right?).

Maybe I am missing something or just not understanding, but this sounds gimmicky to me.

Sylvie

Veteran

One of my acquaintances on fb is planning to go try it.

I am a skeptic and I think jean fit is such a complicated problem that it's unlikely to work. That being said, I would go try it in a heartbeat if I were in the store and didn't have to wait in line.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Like Sylvie, I am a skeptic. Wouldn't they have to measure every single size of every single garment to know if it would fit? And then adjust for ease, quirky styles like BF jeans, different rise preferences... I dunno, outfits feel much more like art than science to me.

JulieJohn

Veteran

Echo - yes, sizes run differently even in one brand - sheesh! How's a fashionista or fashionisto ever supposed to get a break?

Sylvie - Let us know the results!

Rae - More like art than science = well said!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

This reminds me a little bit of MyShape. You entered your measurements and they selected clothes that would fit and flatter. They went out of business. It's similar in that the company/machine/software/whatever knows better than you do, how to pick the best fitting clothing for you.

This means the manufacturers, and in Bloomie's case it's premium jeans makers, must send very precise measurement info to the body mappers. But besides measurements, there are other variables! The garment's stretch, for example. Not to mention, as others noted, the deviation between one garment and the next, even with the exact same size and wash.

I think this is fun and certainly got some PR for the denim dept at the STanford Mall. But as far as finding a solution to perfect fit, it would need some perfect world scenarios to make it work.

Marley

Veteran

This looks a lot like the body scanner thingy-majiggy that Tim Gunn used (on his now canceled show) several years ago - can't remember the name of the show. It was an upscale version of "What Not To Wear."

One of the exercises that he would do with his clients was to have them go through a 3-d body scanner - and although he did not use it to help figure out the client's sizes, he did use it to figure out their proportions and therefore be able to advise them on what style of clothing would look best on them. It was really helpful to be able to SEE that you were long-waisted, or had hips the same width as shoulders, or short-legs compared to torso, etc. etc. - and he had specific advice on what styles of clothing to wear to best flatter your body. I was fascinated by it and though it was great!
I'd do this in a SECOND!

jayne

Veteran

oh i would do it in a second and hope like crazy I could use it to order clothes online. being out of the US, online ordering with postage and toll are totally out of the question, especially when running the risk they won't fit. I hope this is sign of the future.

Kim

Veteran

I wonder if it's going to be better for those who don't already know their body "shape". Maybe it's going to be a simple verion of "You are an hourglass shape, so you should try a wrap dress. Ignore A-lines with your shape. Here's all our wrap dresses...Give them a try."

I'm guessing the average woman outside of YLF has not given body shape a second thought when shopping so she wonders why some things look good on her and others don't. This would help her narrow down her search a bit, but not completely.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Yeah...we are probably not the intended audience, on the whole. It would be more revelatory for those who had never considered their shape. I think one would still have to try things on. At the same time, I wouldn't mind a little print out showing proportions with some suggestions. For me, proportions are MUCH trickier than mere shape (and more important for figure flattery, in my case).

Diana

Veteran

Hmm, I wonder if this means that they'll have measurements for all the sizes of the things they carry. Now THAT would be wonderful. However, I can't really see Bloomie's doing this, as they carry such a large amount of stuff.

Otherwise I don't really see how this is going to be much help. I already know all my measurements inside and out anyway, and jeans in particular have so many other variables like stretch, ease, etc. What I *do* think this would be fantastic for would be if someone were making custom garments. Imagine having your very own virtual fit model all the time!

If I were there, I'd try it though. Just for the novelty factor.

MsMary

Veteran

LOL at your hubby, JulieJohn!

I would definitely give this a whirl if it were available around here, although I take it with a big grain of salt for the reasons already stated.

lynne

Veteran

I'd do it in a heartbeat if it allowed me to virtually try on clothes I was thinking of ordering online. Even knowing my body shape, online shopping can be tricky. Some sites show the clothing on models, some don't use models at all (Allsaints), and even if they are shown on people they are often pinned or otherwise tailored, so seeing how the garment would look on ME would be great.

Lisa

Veteran

I'm a nay. I am a slow adopter to anything "new" and I'm still not a fan of the body scans as the airport. I was surprised to hear stores have these now too.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I think this would be fun but not so sure on how effective the shopping outcome. I did use My Virtual Model when it came out. (Same basic idea - you input your measurements and then use it on different clothing sites to dress your virtual 'paper doll') I'm more of a numbers geek, though, so I may be more interested in the tech itself than shopping with it lol.

shiny

Veteran

I believe it was Levi's that offered 3D body scanning for custom jeans several years back? Does anyone remember that?

Personally, I love the idea and can't see many drawbacks.

1) If enough people do this, they can build a database of measurements and use those to revise/overhaul the sizing system/patterns so that they fit real women.

2) Bloomingdale's can offer improved personal stylist services to their customers. They scan in your measurements, get an understanding of your needs, likes, favorite colors, etc, then when new clothes come in, the stylist can select for you, including comparing measurements, going as far as measuring individual garments themselves. This would save a lot of time.

3) Likewise Bloomingdale's can use your measurements to alter the garment without you needing to have a fitting.

4) There's also the custom clothes angle, which Levi's tried. Imagine if every garment you bought was made custom just for you. That would save time, $ and resources.

If it comes to my local Bloomie's, sign me up!

shiny

Veteran

You could combine 3D printing with this. Get scanned in at one location. Send the measurements to another. Use 3D printing to create a custom mannequin. Then use the mannequin to create or fit and alter. Or a stylist could try clothes on the mannequin to check fit for you -- before shipping to you in the mail.

I could send Angie my 3D scan and she could have a custom mannequin of me made, and then select clothes just for me, in Seattle... no air travel necessary...

Or send the scan to a tailor in Hong Kong and have bespoke suits made...

Keix

Veteran

I don't have a convenient Bloomie's nearby, but this reminds me of MeAlity (or something, not sure if I spelled it right) which scans you and recommends jean brands and sizes. I tried it and was thoroughly unimpressed; based on the results, it just measured my waist and told me that was my denim size. Due to my body shape, my denim size is actually 1-2 sizes smaller than my waist size, and I was curious if the scanner would figure that out--nope.