Anthropologie website — now with model shots!!

Late last week, Anthropologie surprised us all by unveiling new product shots in the knits & tees section. Instead of the usual dress form shots we were greeted by models happily smiling back at us in prints, solids and colorblocking.

It’s something many Anthro lovers have been asking for. I’m undecided on the results. On the one hand, we get styling ideas by seeing the tops on models. They’re much calmer than the Free People model shots which I appreciate — light on accessories and models standing up straight is a good thing for me.

Here’s the thing though: these models are so far away from my body type that it’s almost less helpful than the dress forms. Once I learn the differences between the models and me it won’t matter as much but right now I’m feeling clueless about fit. Let’s take the lovely model shot of the Alstroemeria Tee ($78, reviewed here). I know this model from the J.Crew catalog, but contrast how the top looks on her…

…versus on me. It looks like a completely different top! The likelihood of Anthropologie using a model who is a 6 on top and a 10 on the bottom is low I know. There’s really no winning for Anthropologie in this situation. I would appreciate it very much if they chose models that were curvy and at least in the size 4-6 range. Shopbop’s models, for instance, at least represent a closer approximation to reality. I don’t mean this as body snarking — these models are beautiful and all look healthy. But they’re all tall and lithe and, well, I’ve got one part of that covered and not so much the other.

So for me, these new shots are no more or less helpful than the dress form shots and no different than the model shots on most other clothing websites. If they go this route with dresses I already know it will be pretty much useless for me from a fit perspective. At least for now they do not appear to be super-Photoshopped like the model shots on the Ann Taylor family of sites, which tends to wipe out full appendages from its models.

For styling purposes though I love the new model shots. They demonstrate more of how Anthro would create an outfit around each item which is fertile ground for my own outfit planning. From that angle these new shots are a total win. I’d like to see both dress form and model shots if possible. Time will tell what Anthro settles on. What do you think of the new model product shots?


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