Try-On Technology for Fashion Hauls: Is It Worth It
Hey beauties! As someone who’s been making fashion content for the last 5 years with a following of 750K across platforms, I live off haul content. There are new packages arriving each week, new outfits to try on and new content to generate. And honestly? The process is exhausting. That is why I was skeptical when I first heard of virtual try-on technology, and particularly what VISBOOM offers. I’ve been testing it for three months, and in the spirit of full disclosure you’re going to get every bit of my utterly no-holds-barred take.
Reality Check: How Long Does It Really Take to Make One Haul Video?
Let me explain this differently for those who are not creators. For one haul video that's 15 minutes long, that you watch while eating:
Prep: 2-3 hours: Unboxing stuff, steaming outfits, outfit combo prep, lighting and setting up the camera.
Shooting: 3-4 hours: Changing outfits literally 8-12 times, re-shooting angles that looked bad, changing makeup because the lighting changed, fixing hair after changing outfits a billion times.
Editing: 4-5 hours: Cutting, color grading, adding text overlays, music, transitions, and making it engaging, not boring.
Total 9-12 hours per video: Times that by 2-3 videos a week and don't forget IG Reels, TikToks, and Stories? I am honestly working 60+ hours a week, bestie.
Enter: Virtual Try-On Technology
VISBOOM is really unlocking your own version of AI-based photo editing website with try-on features. It's just an outfit "try-on" but virtually. You upload your photo, select outfits from the catalog (or upload your own), and AI generates how it looks on you. Seems too good to be true? That's what I thought too.
Testing Phase: 3 Months Real Experience
First impression: surprisingly user-friendly interface. Post my full-body pic (good lighting, to be clear!), choose the ensemble I’d like to try, sit for 30-60 seconds and bam, results.
Quality? Honestly, I was shook. Not great, but way better than I thought it would be. The fit was meh, colors were a little off, but at least I did not have to physically put on clothes for the content planning stage.
Week 3-6: Incorporating into Workflow
This is the period when I began to seriously test things out. I used VISBOOM for:
Pre-Haul Planning: I first use the virtual try-on before I buy, just to see what may actually look nice on my body type. This ALONE has saved me from purchasing mistakes that I normally spend thousands of dollars on per month.
Content Planning: I test all outfit combinations virtually before shooting day. So on shooting day, I literally know which combinations will work, no time wasting.
Quick Content for Social Media: For Instagram Stories or quick TikToks, a virtual try-on's image is good enough. I can post "outfit ideas" daily, without actually having to change clothes every day.
Weeks 7-12: Strategy Optimization
By month 3, I developed a hybrid approach that I feel is best:
70% Real Try-On for main YouTube content, because audiences still value authenticity and want to see some real fabric movement, real fit, and of course, real me.
30% Virtual Try-On for auxiliary content such as Instagram carousels showing "10 ways to style this dress", TikTok outfit ideas, or Pinterest boards.
Time-saving : For content planning and pre-visualization this is a complete game changer for you. Decreases planning time by 60%.
Cost Savings: Fewer buying errors. I would buy 10 items for hauls and only 6 would actually look good on camera or fit well/both, now it is 8-9 that will because I pre-visualize.
Volume of Content: I could create 2-3x more supplemental content without needing to shoot any more.
Physical Energy: Not going to lie, changing clothes 15 times in four hours is physically draining. Virtual try on gives my body some reprieve.
Experimentation: I can play with unconventional styling without having to force it into my purchase. "Hmm I wonder what this blazer with shorts would look like…" Let me virtually try that out first before spending real money.
Not 100% Accurate: AI still struggles with certain fabrics, specifically; airy fabrics, anything sheer, anything with complicated draping, the results can look stiff.
Lighting Dependent: The quality of the result is dependent on the quality of the input photo. If you have weird lighting or weird angles the results will be weird.
Lack of Texture: It has no "feel." For fashion content, textiles matter, velvet, silk and cotton all act and photograph differently.
Engagement metrics: Here is the real tea, you will get 20-30% lower engagement on pure virtual try-on compared to traditional try-on videos. Inner audiences could tell there is a difference and they prefer "real" vs "AI."
Not Suitable for Detailed Reviews: If you're doing in-depth product reviews discussing stitching quality, fabric feel, comfort level, virtual try-on is obviously useless.
Financial ROI: Let's Talk Numbers
VISBOOM subscription: around $20-40 per month (depending on plan).
Savings from reduced buying mistakes: $150-200 per month.
Time saved (valued at my hourly rate): around $300-400 per month.
Additional revenue from increased content output: $200-400 per month (more posts = more brand deal opportunities).
Net benefit: $650-1,000 per month.
From a pure ROI perspective? Absolutely worth it for full-time creators.
Who Should (and Shouldn't) Use This?
Full-time fashion influencers producing high-volume content
Content creators with limited shooting time
Online boutique owners needing product visualization
Fashion enthusiasts who frequently impulse buy and want to reduce waste
SHOULDN'T USE (or use minimally):
Creators whose brand heavily emphasizes authenticity and "realness"
Luxury fashion reviewers, luxury audiences expect premium production
Plus-size creators, AI is still less accurate for non-standard body types (this needs improvement, brands!)
Apps like VISBOOM and other virtual try-on technology can be used as an innovative tool, but should never be utilized as a full replacement of in-person try on content. If used in a mindful manner within a creator’s content workflow, they can truly add value in a variety of ways. If fully replaced with AI virtual try-on content or scale down your authenticity, it will lead to diminishing trust with your audience.
As a rule of thumb, I think a standard ratio of 70-80% of real content and 20-30% of virtual-assisted content seems reasonable. You should be able to successfully leverage the efficiency of technology while still maintaining authenticity through genuine in-person try-on content.
Is it worth it? Yes, for no kidding, serious fashion creators! If you don't fall into that category, you have to base it on your personal volume of content and what you typically buy each month. If it's just for your audience, you are rewarded by receiving diverse content from your favorite creators, so it's a no brainer.
For Fellow Creators: If you find yourself switching outfits just to take a photo and spending money on clothes you ultimately don't wear, try virtual Try-On. Start with a VISBOOM free trial, and try it out with 10-20 outfits. Then decide if it works for your workflow. Try it, place your bet; I was very skeptical; now it is the tool I use most often.
For Brands: Collaborate with creators who openly and honestly share what virtual Try-On technology they implement; and do the right thing and include support to create better and fairer AI including body types and sizing.
For Audiences: Demand that creators disclose what they use if they indeed do use virtual Try-On technology. But also, give it a try; this technology can allow creators to provide you with MORE content, MORE outfit inspiration and MORE value; isn't that what you want?
Let me know below your thoughts and experiences! Have you tried and trusted recommendations based on virtual Try-On technology? If this was helpful, give a thumbs up and be sure to subscribe for more helpful and honest "technos" in the fashion space.
Stay stylish, stay smart, bestie!
✨Disclaimer: I'm not sponsored by VISBOOM for this review. All opinions are genuinely mine based on 3 months of extensive testing. If I recommend something, it's because I actually use it, not because I was paid.