It’s hard not to be clothes-minded when it comes to artificial intelligence.
The sophisticated science is sneaking into every aspect of our everyday lives, from job hunting to finding a date — and now, the fitting room.
No need to set foot outside your home to shop for new duds — and no need to wonder if everything you’ve ordered online is going to be a good fit. At least not for Zara fans, who now have at their disposal an AI-powered try-on-before-you-buy tool.
The revolutionary, if slightly glitchy technology — which the Spanish fast-fashion imprint, owned by Inditex, officially introduced to the US market at the dawn of 2026 — allows shoppers a 360-degree glimpse of how they’d look in the threads featured on its free app.
Given the winter weather, the idea of a more immersive shopping experience without leaving the cozy comfort of home appealed to me — and all I had to do was upload a headshot and a full-body photo to the app and wait 2-5 minutes while the machines created a photorealistic, virtual version of me, dressed head-to-toe in Zara garb, doing a full twirl in front of a neutral backdrop.
The system didn’t require any body measurements or clothing sizes, nor did it ask for any of my color, fit or fabric preferences — it just took one virtual look at me, and decided what looked good.
If I hated the way an article of clothing looked on robo-Asia, I was able to either swap it out for a suitable alternative — or, I could ditch the look altogether and find a more flattering ensemble.
Before I knew it, I’d flattered myself into spending over $600 on business, casual and date night ‘fits — with several pairs of heels to meet each occasion, of course.
It was like I’d struck generative AI gold.
Like many of my fellow shopaholics, who, during the pandemic, found solace in compulsively clicking “Add to cart” while surfing the net for clothes and other little pick-me-ups (and haven’t quite kicked the habit six years later), I’ve grown to prefer online shopping over trudging through stores and malls.
Shuffling through the crowds, pawing through clothing racks for the perfect size, color and style to complement my personal pizzazz, and waiting in long lines just doesn’t do it for me.
And the torture of mistreating myself to a trip into one of those cramped, poorly-lit, gum-smashed-into-the-rug, finger-smudges-on-the-mirror dressing rooms to try on clothes — forget about it. Not happening.
So, taking advantage of Zara’s digital alternative was a dream.
Without giving away the secrets of its sophisticated sorcery, a spokesperson for the fashion hub exclusively told The Post, “With this virtual try-on feature, our customers can see how items look on them right in the app and style different Zara pieces together – and they can share their looks with friends, turning online shopping into a social and interactive experience.”
The representative did not expound on how its AI try-on feature actually works, and whether it’s been beneficial to both the consumers and the company’s bottom line.
But the ready-to-wear retailer is far from the only brand to newly adopt cybernetics and augmented reality in an effort to augment customer satisfaction and revenue.
A McKinsey Global survey found a nearly 25% year-over-year increase in the use of AI in standard business processes, and that a majority of executives who’ve implemented AI claim it’s “provided an uptick in revenue in the business areas where it is used, and 44% say AI has reduced costs.”
A January 2026 retail industry global outlook report, via Deloitte, echoed similar findings, noting that “26% of industry executives have already homed in on personalization through AI capabilities, while an additional 35% expect to have personalized AI recommendations [for customers] in the next year.”
The advent of AI has been hotly welcomed by clotheshorses worldwide, per Business of Fashion and McKinsey & Company’s “State of Fashion 2026” findings.
“Nearly a quarter of global consumers already rely on generative AI as their main starting point when shopping,” wrote the authors, adding that “85% of US consumers that use generative AI for shopping say they have a better experience than traditional methods.”
Although Zara is one of the first retailers to introduce this type of shopping technology to US shoppers, other online boutiques such as Revolve and Zalando, a German e-tailer, have each introduced AI try-on tools to their respective shoppers in recent months.
Revolve unveiled its “Build A Look” tool, through AI magic from Zelig, a B2B fashion technology platform, in late 2025.
The innovation allows patrons to curate complete looks, capturing how fabrics drape, proportions shift and textures layer. And it’s reportedly resulted in “triple engagement rates and double-digit cuts in returns.”
Revolve authorities, however, were not immediately available to confirm the reports.
Zalando boasts a virtual fitting room that lets shoppers create 3D avatars of themselves using their exact body measurements.
Pelin Anlu Bedirhanoglu, a Zalando exec, said in a recent statement, “We have already observed up to a 40% reduction in return rates with our virtual fitting room technology.”
“While these results are limited due to the testing phase of the technology, they are a promising indicator of its potential to enhance both customer and brand partner satisfaction,” said the pro.
When it came to my virtual try-on experience with Zara, I was mostly satisfied with my AI twin that the machinery had dreamed up based on a few cute pics.
It was, however, a bit jarring to see myself as a digitized cartoon, almost like a “Toy Story” character or some other computer-generated Pixar animation.
Robo-Asia looked like me, but also not like me at the same time.
Her skin tone, flowing locks and frame were nearly a perfect match to mine, but her facial features just didn’t resemble what I see in my reflection.
But the AI’s job wasn’t, necessarily, to produce my carbon copy. It was to give me a hyper-realistic glimpse at how good or not-so-good certain pieces worked with my vibe.
I first dressed my digital doppelgänger in a crimson tailored shoulder pad blazer ($109) atop a square neck stretch bodysuit ($25.90). When it came to bottoms, I vacillated between pairs of black or red high-waisted straight leg pants (both $59.90). Ultimately, I went with the red for a completely colorful finish — even though I rarely wear anything that bright. I matched the AI-produced look with a pair of $79.90 leather strappy sandals.
Next, I frocked the bot in a cutesy casual ensemble — flared jeans with a seam detail ($59.90), a bluish off-the-shoulder top featuring a metallic appliqué ($45.90) and metallic effect slingback heels ($59.90).
Last but not least, I decked my mini-me out in a sexy little black dress ($35.90) — perfect for a romantic date night with a lucky guy from Hinge. And I sealed the dishy deal with a pair of backless pearl-heeled sandals for $99.90.
But the faux fitting didn’t happen without a few technical hiccups.
Upon generating some of the looks, I received an error message reading: “It looks like something went wrong. Please try again later and if the problem persists, contact customer service.” Other times, the Zara app would shut down altogether, forcing me to rebuild an outfit from scratch.
Still, the cyber alternative — minor kinks and all — was worlds better than having to schlep to a mall.
Five business days, one blizzard and several hundred dollars later, I received a package in the mail containing the exact clothes I’d tried on via Zara’s advanced tech.
And much to my delight, the AI try-on bot hit the spot.
To my surprise, the crimson power suit not only complemented my complexion but gave me immediate girl-boss vibes upon trying it on in real-life. The fit of both the blazer and pants was comfortable and complementary, and the bodysuit cinched my waist and elevated my bust. I was happy.
The flare jeans, however, weren’t really my style. The fit was OK, but I preferred how they looked on robo-Asia over real-life Asia. The legs of the denim were a bit too long and flared for me, and I didn’t like the feel of the fabric on my skin. But I did like the off-the-shoulder top and silvery heels — very suitable for both me and my facsimile.
When it came to the saucy black number, I was ready to take myself out on a date. I looked hot.
So, while not every computerized piece was the perfect in-person match, I must say trying on virtual clothes without having to leave my couch was a worthwhile venture.
AI did a brilliant job styling my bot bod.
