Aiming to merge online and in-store shopping with a social media twist, Web site and mobile app provider Stylinity debuted the Style Stage in October. After trying on an outfit, users step into the sleek, white box, which is equipped with professional lighting. A display screen provides simple steps on how to pose for the best shot, and high-resolution photos are taken from four angles simultaneously. Users can then review the photos and enter their email address via touch screen to gather instant feedback by sharing the images via social media sites, like Facebook, or online networks through Stylinity.com. (Images can be kept private, shared publicly, or just with friends, depending on the user’s preferences.)
While the Style Stage was originally developed for retail environments as a free service for shoppers, it can also be rented for live fashion events across North America. “In particular, we see the Style Stage being used to bring a social media aspect to fashion competitions, whether in the context of a live design challenge or pageant,” says chief marketing officer Jennifer Capriola. “Contestants or models can photograph themselves onstage and post the images online for feedback on favorite styles and looks.”
Clothes with R.F.I.D. tags are also linked with online buying information, allowing users to find, share, and purchase items at any time. (The tagging will also eventually allow users to browse public Stylinity profiles to see clothing on people with similar body types.) In May, Stylinity is planning to host an event with emerging designers to introduce the Style Stage to a larger audience and allow people to try on the designers’ clothes and share the images online for feedback.
