Think On It

Fabulous or scary?

March 17th, 2007

“But the new mirror, introduced to Nanette Lepore by IconNicholson, an interactive design firm in Manhattan, takes the concept of shopping in tandem one step further by streaming real-time video to the Internet and inviting shoppers to actively involve off-site friends to join the process. It brings fashion into the realm of social networking where people already freely share their opinions and lives via MySpace, Friendster, Facebook, YouTube, blogs and Web cams.

But it raises the question of whether the immediacy and tactile experience of shopping together in person can translate to a virtual audience.”

You can read all about this mirror here. Don’t worry about registering– there are no negative results.

I can see the appeal. I would love to be able to shop with eg or Susan from here.

On the other hand, I can see potential for shoppers using this to end up looking like members of a gang, with one group taste applied to all. Tribal style doesn’t appeal to me much.

What do you think?

Entry Filed under: Uncategorized, Fashion

3 Comments Add your own

1. Lynnegh | March 17th, 2007 at 3:38 pm

I don’t think the “virtual” aspect, trying on the clothes by moving back and forth until your body contours match up (sorta) to the displayed clothing, will ever catch on. There isn’t a substitute for actually hanging the textiles off the bod to determine how it’s going to look on oneself. The “sharing” aspect, having your friends on-line and commenting, will go really big with the younger set - and will be useful for those of us who are far from our near and dear, but none-the-less interested in their opinion BEFORE laying out the green stuff. I can’t see that it will make “fashion tribalism” any more prevalent than it already is, which is to say, ubiquitous.

It’s REALLY going to fly when they get the video stream feeding to cell phones!

REAL fashion mavens, those who like to spring the complete “look” as a surprise, will never use this, any more than they shop with friends. At least IMHO.
2. Annika | March 17th, 2007 at 6:59 pm

While I love the idea of getting immediate feedback on what to buy, I still need to try it on, to feel the fabric, to see what it does with my body. I don’t buy clothes via postorder because of this, because while I do have a good sense of what I look good in and a good enough imagination to “see” myself in the different outfits, there is still the ‘fit’ matter to attend to and that can only be judged by trying the clothes on. A top that looks gorgeous when I hold it up in front of me might look horrible on me, making me even more broad shouldered and flat chested than I already am.

Then again I’m not the kind of gal who shops with her friends. I am my own toughest critic, and if I’m not sure whether or not to buy an item I don’t. If I’m not sure, but someone talks me into buying it anyway, I won’t wear it.
3. Cherrye | March 17th, 2007 at 11:50 pm

I agree with Annika - it might be novel for a bit, but….nah!