Online Shopping - Model or No Model - YouLookFab Forum

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Online Shopping - Model or No Model

velvetychocolate

Veteran

I just noticed something unusual - was on the Nordstrom site, and noticed that they are now featuring a lot of their clothing items without a model in the photos. At first, I thought it was all items that were less than $100, but later noticed that isn't always the case.

Anyway - when you're shopping online, do you prefer to see photos where the item in question is worn by a model, or do you like to see the item all by itself (no model) ?

Personally, I much prefer the photos with a model, and find it difficult to 'imagine' how a certain piece looks when it's featured on a plain, white background.

Shopping

17 replies

Latest reply was from

Parsley

Veteran

I agree with you, VC. It's much easier to tell how things look on a model. And preferably one who is not 6'2" and 110 lbs.

rae

(website)

Veteran

MODEL. The non models annoy me so much. I want to see how long things are, even if it is on a 6'2" model. I REALLY appreciate sites that show it off the model, on the model, and give the item size and model's specs.

Anonymous

I'm OK with websites not using models. Models' proportions are so far from my own that I don't find pictures especially useful. Even the ones that give size/model specs aren't that helpful -- generally the biggest models are a size 6, and I'm a 10 on a good day, so ... yeah. Plus, retailers are known for pinning the material a certain way so what you're seeing in the photo isn't necessarily what you're going to get anyway.

Raisin

Veteran

I prefer a model because it lets me see how sheer things are and their length, and since I do a lot of online shopping and size is an issue, it really helps when they stae the models measurements. Most are very close to mine, so it really helps for selecting a size. The best of all is when they give you the actual garment measurements.

Anonymous

Agree that seeing the item on a model, or at least a mannequin, really helps. Even better, to my mind, are the retailers who provide measurements of the garment itself in different sizes. Like Rae, I like to know the length to determine if it will be flattering to me, and knowing the waist measurement can help me order the right size.

Boden provides measurements for all of its garments, and J Crew provides them if you use the chat feature. Do you YLF shopping gurus know of other on-line retailers who do so?

-Ryce (whose to-do list for the day includes packing up and returning some on-line purchases that did NOT fit)

velvetychocolate

Veteran

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who has a hard time visualizing an item when it's featured on a nondescript, grey-ish background. Even if measurements are given, it helps me a lot to see where a sleeve lands on a model, or the length of something etc.

Kim

Veteran

I like ASOS in particular (although I don't buy online usually) because they have the RUNWAY feature. I can see it on the model (and they say how tall she is and what size she wears) then I can see it in "action" as well and that's made me realize more things than just what a 2 dimensional picture of a model will show. It's fabulous and I wish all online stores had that feature!

Diana

Veteran

Definitely model. Even if she's a 10 foot tall stick-thin model, she's still a real person in three dimensions. It helps to know where a waistband lands, or where that weird flappy piece of fabric is supposed to go, etc.

By way of example, Allsaints never uses models in its product shots. Their clothes have all sorts of weird ties, drapes, flaps, etc, and it's never clear what you are supposed to do with them. Half the time you can't even see them in the flat product shot, especially since most of the garments are black.

Ryce, I discovered recently that Uniqlo actually has full garment measurements for each size, although it's not publicized. If you click on "size chart" it links to actual garment measurements.

lynne

Veteran

Absolutely model. I need some sort of context for the garment.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Agree with all those who say model, for all the reasons mentioned. An item can look so different on a human form than just hanging or lying flat. Even mannequins are more helpful than nothing at all.

Anonymous

Model. And not the kind of models where the body is all contorted and hips are jutting out and you can't tell how something really fits (Zappos, 6pm.com and Victoria's Secret!). I like the Zara models. They just stand there.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

LOL Anne! Whenever I see one of those contorted poses, I wonder what design flaw in the garment the art director is attempting to mask.

JuneBug

Veteran

I would definitely want a model to pose with the clothes intended for purchase because often dart placements and the length is just not clear on the clothes by themselves! Infact even if I loved something I wouldn't purchase it if I wasn't able to see it on a person! Also clothes floating around without a body to drape on look vaguely unappealing to me and I wouldn't be able to visualise myself in them either.

ironkurtin

Veteran

I like to see both, like the do at the outnet.

Vildy

Veteran

Not only model but I appreciate those websites that give a back and, more important, a side view. Even better is a video showing the model moving in the garment. I do tend to scroll up or mentally block out the model's head so that I can better ask myself how this shape would look on *my* shape. Another thing is saturation/contrast. I love bold and saturated colors but I'm relatively fair with medium/low contrast. I was looking at a non-commercial site that was about wearing a lot of color. I began to mentally note that all that great looking bold, mixed, high contrast color was shown on dark haired, higher contrast models. I started searching for similar color used on a lighter more blended model. Had to scroll through many, many pages.

DonnaF

Veteran

I prefer models and LOTS of info. I really like Zappos little videos showing what the shoes look like in action on real people.

Anonymous

I like both too -- I like seeing it in 3D on a model, as long as they give measurements too. But I do like seeing the product shot by itself also.