Fashionista - Fashion Designers, Models, Shopping, Style

Jul 01, 2008 @ 12:09pm

chanel price tag.jpg We have no idea how this would work, but we want to believe it works anyway:

Three students from a high school in Scotland came up with a device that could seriously change the way we all shop. They've invented something that enables cell phones to read the bar code on any price tag, which will then tell you whether the clothes you're about to add to the already huge stack on your arm fits you.

This could be most revolutionary for online shopping - just think, Net-a-Porter posts a picture of the price tag next to that Chanel shift you're thinking about, and you can know whether it will fit or not without putting out the $25 delivery fee!

But could this be real? We don't really get it (since when do bar codes denote anything about the size of a garment? And how will the device know your exact shape?), but it did win the three kids a regional prize and a showing off trip to MIT.

If it absolutely works, we can't wait. And if it doesn't, well, at least we know the upcoming generation is already thinking of better ways to shop.

posted by clare

Jul 01, 2008 12:14PM

i have heard about something like this. it wouldn't happen for ages but has a lot to do with bodymetrics, a scanning device we have in london at selfridges and harvey nicks.

posted by FWD

Jul 01, 2008 12:15PM

It's all well and good to know if something will fit, but I think I'll stick with dressing rooms until the doohicky can tell me which garments will make my butt look big.

posted by Choubelle

Jul 01, 2008 1:07PM

woah! Where is this cell phone? That is waay cool.

posted by HauteTopicTumblr

Jul 01, 2008 1:35PM

Oh, if only Net-A-Porter (or any legit online retailer, for that matter) actually carried Chanel. Then I might actually have a shot at owning a piece if they ever happened to hit the sale section.

posted by mio

Jul 01, 2008 1:52PM

This is true! The barcode DOES contain size and color info which is why if you exchange for size, the receipt will reflect two different codes (not swapping two of the same item)

I saw this technology in (drumroll) Japan. They'll have barcodes on posters and such, you and take a picture of it, and then your cellphone automatically decodes it into a web address, so you go to the companion website.

posted by guest

Jul 01, 2008 1:56PM

this is kind of like a system they have in Japan, where you can take a picture of a products bar code then go to some website and get info on the products, such as product info and reviews from people who bought the item

posted by hommenivore

Jul 01, 2008 2:04PM

This would 100% work if the garment maker in question were to encode or store actual measurements of, like, shoulder width, armpit-to-armpit, hip diameter, inseam, etc.—the same as a dressmaker or tailor would. It's fairly straightforward data; it would only be up to the customer to know his/her measurements.

posted by mia

Jul 01, 2008 3:31PM

I kinda like to buy my clothes, bring them home, try them on in a different light and some what babysit them for the night. But now, to have it right on your cellphone, telling you what fits and doesn't fit, well then...no need for returns

Jul 01, 2008 9:44PM

my phone already has a feature
that scans bar codes.....

posted by purly

Jul 02, 2008 1:51PM

So like would it know every single measurement of your body, like around your ankles and every part of your arm, and somehow the barcode would have all that info encoded into it?

Jul 04, 2008 4:43AM

yea, they've had this in Japan for years and years now. if you read japanese magazines, the clothes have little bars next to them for your phone to scan.