How to try on virtual clothes while you shop using Google’s new Apparel feature

Shopping online normally feels like a gamble. You see a nice shirt, you buy it, and then it arrives looking nothing like the picture. Well, Google is trying to fix that specific annoyance. The search giant has just rolled out a new update in India that essentially turns your phone into a digital fitting room.

The feature is called the Virtual Apparel Try-On and it is pretty clever. It does exactly what it says, letting you try on clothes virtually, using AI. It’s available on Google Search now and supported clothing product listings will now display a new icon alongside.

Rather than just pasting a flat image of a shirt over your photo, it uses a custom AI model designed specifically for fashion. That model generates a clear visual of your selected clothing.

The coolest part is that it understands the weird little nuances of clothing physics, too. This includes things like draping (how fabric hangs off your body), along with folding, stretching, and clinging. The AI knows that a stiff denim jacket is going to sit on your shoulders very differently than a silk blouse would. Billions of listings are supported now, covering dresses, jackets, bottoms, and even shoes.

How to use

If you want to give this a go, it is actually quite straightforward.

1. Find the right button: You need to start by searching for clothes on Google Shopping just like you normally would. While you scroll through the endless sea of shirts and trousers, keep an eye out for a specific “try it on” icon. It pops up on product listings that are supported by the tech.

2. Get your photo ready: Once that icon is tapped, you will be asked to provide a picture. A professional shot isn’t needed here, but quality matters. A regular photo from your phone is totally fine. Just make sure the lighting is decent and you are facing the camera directly.

3. Let the AI work: After the upload is finished, the heavy lifting is done by the system. It maps the selected clothing onto your body, showing you how it fits your specific frame. You can zoom in, swap between different colours, and change sizes.

ALSO READ: How to detect scammy texts using Google Circle to Search and Lens

4. Share the results: If you are still on the fence, the generated images can be saved or shared to perhaps get a second opinion.

Once you are happy with the look, you just continue to the checkout page as normal.