How to make sure your online purchases fit

In the market for some new beachwear but want to skip the dressing room drama? Do you love shopping online, but hate the game of Russian Roulette you play when picking out a size?

These days, finding adorable outfits online is easier than ever before, but the process of choosing the perfect fit can be a frustrating exercise. But we’re living in the future, so don’t fall into the never-ending “will it fit?” trap: Smart shopping tech is here to save you with virtual dressing rooms and sizing apps.

1. True Fit

With a little bit of honesty, True Fit is all kinds of awesome at helping you pick out the ideal style to match your body type. Simply answer a few questions about your body and the True Fit database will crunch your data to tell you what styles are right for you.

Size is only half the battle, so True Fit not only helps you pick out the right size but also takes into account how each piece of clothing matches up with your body type. If True Fit’s crowdsourced data says the cute top you’re looking at just doesn’t work with your measurements, it’ll warn you and suggest something better, just like a trusty friend.

2. ThirdLove

Most people won’t see you in your undies — unless you’re having a particularly wild Spring Break — but just because they’re private doesn’t mean they can’t be luxurious and sexy. ThirdLove is all about amazing bras and panties, and the ThirdLove app is your perfectly personal measuring tool.

All you need is your smartphone, a mirror and a well-lit room for the app to work its measurement magic. Snap a couple of photos within the app and ThirdLove will match you up with the ideal selection of adorable unmentionables. You can browse, compare and order right from within the app, making it the ultimate in undie shopping convenience.

3. TrueCo

Site TrueCo also focuses on the clothes you wear under the clothes you wear. This company is so sure it will find the perfect-fitting skivvies for you that it lets you try — at home — before you actually buy.

Take a quick survey and honestly dish a little about your love-hate relationship with your lingerie. Based on your responses, TrueCo shows you what should fit. You pick out a few brands and sizes that look good to you, and the company picks out a few more. You plunk down a $45 refundable deposit, TrueCo mails you five different bras. You keep what you want, and send back the rest in a pre-paid mailer. Easy peasy.

4. Fits.me

We all dream of having a fitting room right in our own home, but until 3-D printers get to the point where we can snatch a piece of clothing out of thin air, Fits.me is as close as we’re going to get.

Using the site’s “Virtual Fitting Room,” you enter your measurements to create a digital version of your own body, and then play dress-up to your heart’s content. Pick out a virtual wardrobe from tons of high-fashion brands and see how different sizes will fit on you before using your credit card.

5. Zappos OOTD

If you’d rather let someone else pick out a look for you, Zappos is willing to do the work for free. The popular online clothing shop is using its Instagram skills to match people up with fantastic outfits from its massive collection of brands.

Simply post a body selfie on Instagram with the hashtag #NextOOTD, which stands for “Outfit of the Day,” and you’ll get a reply with a customized outfit picked out specifically for you. It’s the perfect way to discover styles you might never have considered, and since all the items Zappos suggests are available in its online shop, you’ll never have to worry about being disappointed by an empty shelf.

6. ItsMeSee

If you really want to take your digital shopping experience to a never-before-seen level,ItsMeSee might be right up your alley. The company aims to eliminate buyer’s remorse by giving you as many techy shopping tools as you can handle, from basic sizing assistance all the way to creating a virtual clone able to try on an endless number of outfits.

The most basic version of ItsMeSee shows you a generic mannequin to dress up with various items. Enter a few size measurements and your experience becomes a bit more catered, but that’s just the beginning. If you really want to go all-out, you can enter every measurement imaginable, snap a suite of selfies, and let the system build a 3-D version of you that acts as the ultimate fashion guinea pig. ItsMeSee is currently seeking funding, so you can get in on the ground floor.

With all these shopping tools at your disposal, your days of misfit attire will be a thing of the past. So, leave changing rooms in the past, and embrace the new digital age of dress up!

Jennifer Jolly is an Emmy Award-winning consumer tech contributor and host of USA TODAY’s digital video show TECH NOW. E-mail her at techcomments@usatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter: @JenniferJolly.

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