Have you ever changed your mind based solely on a stock picture - YouLookFab Forum

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Have you ever changed your mind based solely on a stock picture

Anonymous

I ordered these slacks for two reasons. One, they were on sale. Two, they would be a great addition to my spring wardrobe based on the light color. I was pretty excited.

But every time I see the stock picture, I think how unflattering they are on the model. There is just something off about that rise. It makes her body look weird. I have lost all desire to try these pants. I am guessing that is why they were on sale.

And yes, since they are being shipped to my house, I will try them on. But my eye is jaded and I am thinking I was shopping with sales goggles. I am disappointed in myself.

Nic + Zoe 'The Perfect' Ankle Pants (Regular & Petite)

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23 replies

Latest reply was from Jaime

Joy

Veteran

I can't remember changing my mind because of a stock picture but I do reject items outright based on those pictures. You are right. That's probably why they go on sale.
I can see the appeal of these pants. The color would be a good neutral for spring and I have had good luck with a couple toppers from this brand for quality. They may be a great fit on you.

Joyce B

Veteran

It looks like the rise of the pants is too long for the model but the back looks like it fits. I hope you will have good luck with them, if your body type is different from the model's they may fit you.

Anonymous

These look like they might be good pants.
I find it hard to 'see' clothing if worn by a very anorexic-looking gal with very bony broad shoulders, as this is so unlike my body type.

Peri

Veteran

Try to stay open...they may be great. I've heard a lot of comments on the board along the lines of things looking better on them than on the model. And a lot of times that happens with hanger appeal too. Don't know til you try!

catgirl

Veteran

Yes, all the time. Generally it doesn't look great on a tall model, what are the chances for short me? But I've also learned that photos aren't everything. More often I'm sucked into buying something that looks great on the model. I have to say, when I search for cropped pants on the Nordie's site, for instance, some of the looks really give me pause as I scroll through. There's a fine line between JFE and frump.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/sr?o.....ropped+pan

LaPed

Veteran

Yeah, unfortunately this is one of the pitfalls of online/catalog shopping. The model photos set up false expectations. My expectations are usually too high -- maybe by having a low expectation you'll be pleasantly surprised with these.

Anonymous

I do have to stop and think about how something is going to look on my curvier body. They never seem to show models with my body type.

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

They don't look nearly so weird on the Nic+Zoe site. Those pants don't get the Nordstrom model https://www.nicandzoe.com/the-.....ankle.html

Anonymous

Maybe they're on sale because the photo is crushing the product? Sometimes I see images online at multi label retailers that make me think if I was the manufacturer I would never let them have my clothes again.

El Cee

Veteran

I like the color of those ankle pants, so I can see why you'd like to try them. I personally do not to let stock pictures affect my opinion of an item. I have a tall, curvy body and can never really tell about fit until I try something on. If I like the overall style, color, print and/or fabrication and can see the item working with what I have in my wardrobe, I will take the risk and order (as long as the item can be returned for credit if it does not work out).

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Usually the other way around - they look awesome on the model and they look crappy on me! Especially with pants, I try to ignore the pictures as far as fit goes, and rely on my own experience with the brand, if I have any, and choose from retailers that allow returns and expect a low success rate.

unfrumped

Veteran

Yes!
Although it's mostly I try to tell before ordering, I do often take things out of cart after really looking at photo. Have to be careful, of course but sometimes I see a detail or cut that I think I can tell will not work, so don't want the hassle. Or I decide about color.
i find those nanosecond video clips helpful sometimes because they'll show some drape issues or where the waist falls.
I usually get in this fix when I'm trying to meet a sales deadline or shipping quota and so get too sloppy, or sometimes it just hits me, this is the same style that didn't work, duh.

AviaMariah

Veteran

I have purchased items that Angie recommended that I would have never ordered based on the stock photo. I probably rely too heavily on the photos but it's hard to ignore the visual!

kerlyn

Veteran

I recently found a great fitting pair of jeans in store. When I got home I looked online and they looked so different, really unflattering even on the skinny model. In fact, all the jean styles in that brand were styled so terribly, with the wrong shoes and tops. I'm so glad I tried the pair on in store because I've since ordered a couple more pairs of this brand. I never would have based on the unflattering photos. So maybe they'll turn out to be a great choice for you!

Anonymous

These arrived one day early. I didn't like the pants (too short). I hated the jacket. It was constructed of some of the worst "feeling" fabric ever. It screamed cheap. It looked cheap. I sent both back.

Halogen Open Front Blazer (Regular & Petite)

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Nic + Zoe 'The Perfect' Ankle Pants (Regular & Petite)

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texstyle

(website)

Veteran

It is so hard to judge based on one image - I send a great deal of items back after trying them on. At least you took charge right away and got them back in the box so you can move on to other things. Yay for not getting stuck with something you don't love!

Anonymous

This is precisely why I don't like on-line shopping. Either the models (cough, Nordstrom, cough) are too generic looking , often don't add any character to the item and the clothes look just blah, or the clothes look far better on-line than they do in person (BR, JCrew are two that aggravate me in that regard) .

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Bummer. Fabrication is so difficult to tell online, especially with department stores that carry multiple brands.

Aziraphale

Veteran

I'm with Lisa -- I find online shopping really tricky because it's SO hard to know what an item will look like on me based on how it fits a 5'10" model. I also really need to feel the fabric to know if I'm going to like it. As you say, Sterling, sometimes an item that looks good in the picture feels really cheap when you see it in person.

Anonymous

I agree with everyone, online shopping can be difficult. That said, I actually do most of my shopping online. I got into the habit originally because I am tall and frequently needed to order "talls." A lot of stores in my area carry regular and I can visit the store to assess things like fabric, construction. So that is good.

If it sounds like I was complaining, my post was not meant that way. I am grateful that I can find so much variety online compared to what is available to me in brick/mortar stores. Online shopping has been very good to me. Returns are part of the process.

Style Fan

Veteran

I do very little on line shopping. I have only bought duplicate items of pieces I already have. Low risk. I worry about the returning if the item does not work out.
I have seen pictures of jeans that I own that I would never have bought if I was buying from the picture. I like Angie's finds because she explains what works for different body types.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I do most of my shopping online because I live far from cities with the in person shopping access. I go more by product description than stock photos, and a lot of times, when I buy something that has to be returned, it's because I didn't read carefully enough (e.g., jacket with a short back and long front, or pleats I didn't pay enough attention to.) I probably return at least one in four items, though. Maybe even one in three.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

When a site shows the model moving (ASOS does this sometimes) I find it much easier to assess. If the piece doesn't look good on the model I tend to doubt it will work on me.