Clothing shopping can be a frustrating experience for women of all sizes. It seems that clothing manufacturers all have different sizing ideas. And sizing doesn’t just vary by manufacturer, you can even find discrepancies in different styles offered by the same manufacturer. A size 10 in jeans may be a size 8 in slacks. An Old Navy 16 may be a Lane Bryant 12.
Intellifit takes the guesswork out of sizing by taking your measurements for you. You step into a booth, much like a phone booth, and the system scans your body with low-power radio waves. The system takes up to 200 measurements and within ten seconds then suggests the brand and styles that fit you best.
The goal of the Intellifit system is to take the frustration out of finding the correct fit and reduce the cost of returns and unsold merchandise. The biggest advantage of intellifit is that you don’t have to waste time trying on multiple articles of clothing. The system tells you which manufacturers and styles will fit you. You also don’t need to undress, the system will read you fully clothed. Finally, you don’t have to deal with the embarrassment of having a stranger measure you. Your numbers are between you and intellifit.
The biggest disadvantage is that these units are not available everywhere and are only used by some specialty retailers. As of 2005 Lane Bryant, David’s Bridal and Macy’s were all testing Intellifit systems in select markets. As of 2009 the intellifit corporate website only lists four locations: Fashion Bug stores in Westchester, PA and Calexico, CA and Layne Bryant Outlet Stores in Woodburn, OR and Woodbridge, VA.