Googles AI Fashion Tool A Hands On Test

Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable Composite; lupengyu / Moment / Getty / Google

Google's I/O 2025 event was packed with AI announcements, but one that particularly caught the eye was a new virtual clothing try-on tool. Now part of Google Shopping, the "Try it on" feature allows you to upload a personal photo and digitally experiment with different outfits. It’s a modern take on the iconic Clueless closet, a dream for many since 1995. As Mashable Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel noted, this tool effectively brings Cher Horowitz’s futuristic wardrobe to life.

Shortly after its debut, the tech community began its now-familiar ritual of attempting to "jailbreak" the new AI. The Atlantic highlighted some eyebrow-raising behavior, reporting that the tool seemed inclined to add female features to a photo of J.D. Vance. More troublingly, the same report indicated it would do likewise for images of underage individuals.

Intrigued, I decided to put the "Try it on" feature through its paces. Below, I share my experiences—the impressive, the awkward, and the downright cringeworthy. Spoiler: as a shopping aid, it's surprisingly good.

How to Use Googles Try it on AI Shopping Tool

The virtual try-on capability is among the free AI tools Google released and is currently housed within Google Labs, where users can test experimental AI. Getting started is quite simple:

1. Ensure you are signed in to your Google account.
2. Navigate to Search Labs and activate the experiment.
3. Upload a clear, full-body picture of yourself.
4. Go to Google Shopping and find a product you wish to virtually try on.
5. Look for the "Try it on" button, typically located over the product image.

The "Try it on" button appears over the product image. Credit: Screenshot courtesy of Google

As a Fashion Tool Googles Try it on Feature Works Well

From a purely functional standpoint for trying on clothes, this new virtual experience is genuinely impressive. Google explains that the tool utilizes a custom image generation model specifically trained for fashion applications.

I approached this with my usual skepticism for new AI tools, especially being particular about my personal style and current men's fashion. However, the tool performs as promoted. While Google's I/O presentation showcased models switching outfits seamlessly and quickly, the live tool is a bit slower, taking around 15 seconds to generate each image. Nevertheless, the overall product experience closely mirrors the demonstration.

To give you a concrete example, let's compare some recent selfies I took at a Banana Republic in New York City with the AI-generated images Google produced for the identical clothing items. For context, here’s the original photo I uploaded (and please remember, I'm a Tech Editor, not a style icon):

The photo I used to virtually try on clothes. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

In this first comparison, I'm wearing a blue cashmere polo. The AI-generated image is strikingly similar to the photo taken in the Banana Republic dressing room:

Trying on a blue polo... Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

And here's how Google imagined the same shirt. AI-generated image. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

I found the AI shopping tool did a good job capturing the overall fit and style of the shirts. It even adjusted my pants and shoes to better complement the selected item. If there's any consistent bias, it's that the virtual try-on tool tends to make me look slightly slimmer than I am in reality.

I ended up buying this one. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

AI-generated image. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Yeah, I bought this one, too. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

AI-generated image. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

In one image, Google added a necklace I'd never choose, and the AI-rendered shirt was a tad more slim-fit than its real-world counterpart. Generally, though, the overall style was accurately represented.

I decided this isn't my style. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Neither is the imaginary necklace, watch, and matching white sneakers. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

While images are being generated, a disclaimer appears: "AI images may include mistakes. Fit and appearance won't be exact."

Considering it's an experimental tool, its accuracy is quite remarkable. People have wished for such a tool for decades, and thanks to advancements in artificial intelligence, it's finally here.

Of course, not all the AI's creative interpretations are so flattering...

Google Also Digitally Altered My Image Including Chest Hair

This is where things took an interesting turn. In the previously mentioned Atlantic piece, the authors discovered that if you prompted the tool with a revealing dress or top, it would sometimes generate or augment breasts in the photo. This is particularly prone to happen with women's clothing, for understandable reasons.

When I used the tool with a pink midi dress, the outcome was mortifyingly precise. I suspect that's almost exactly how I would appear wearing that specific low-cut dress. To achieve this, Google had to digitally remove most of my shirt and depict me with chest hair. Again, the accuracy was startling.

I'll save you from viewing the actual image. However, when I "tried on" a pink women's sweater, Google did give me some additional padding in the chest area, though I've previously written about why that's not entirely Google's doing in my particular case. Fortunately, this feature was not active for lingerie items.

What can Google do about these issues? It's not straightforward. Men are perfectly entitled to virtually try on cute pink midi dresses, and Google can hardly forbid users from selecting cross-gender clothing. I wouldn't be surprised if Google eventually restricts the tool for items that reveal too much skin. While The Atlantic criticized Google for altering images of underage individuals, those users uploaded the images themselves, contravening Google's own safety policies. I also suspect similar outcomes would occur with almost any AI image generator.

In a statement provided to Mashable, a Google spokesperson said, "We have strong protections, including blocking sensitive apparel categories and preventing the upload of images of clearly identifiable minors. As with all image generation, it won’t always get it right, and we’ll continue to improve the experience in Labs.”

The potential for misuse of the virtual try-on tool for cyberbullying or creating deepfakes of celebrities certainly exists. However, this is an issue inherent to AI technology in general, not uniquely to this tool.

In its safety guidelines for this product, Google prohibits two categories of images, in addition to its general AI content guidelines:

• "Adult-oriented content, child sexual abuse imagery, non-consensual sexual content, and sexually explicit content."
• "Inappropriate content such as dangerous, derogatory, or shocking."

Once again, you can explore this tool at Google Search Labs.