Perplexity AI’s new clothes try-on tool takes on Google – I tested it and I'm starting to get addicted to virtual dressing up

• Perplexity’s virtual try-on lets you see clothes on a digital avatar made from your own photo
• The tool realistically shows how fabrics drape and fit, making online shopping feel more accurate
• The feature is fast and available now for Pro and Max users

If you’ve ever wondered whether that jacket you’re eyeing will actually suit you, Perplexity now has an answer. It has just launched a new virtual-try-on feature as part of its new shopping tools that builds a digital twin from your photos and shows you wearing real clothes pulled from online stores.

Forget ordering clothes online just to find out that they don't suit you. Now you can give them a virtual spin first.

Google offers a similar feature from its own shopping AI portfolio, but I decided to see how Perplexity stacked up because it looks like it could be a lot more use to you if you're shopping for clothes today.

To make my virtual model, I uploaded a selfie to Perplexity. It used that as the head, and then offered to put my head on a generic body that didn't quite match my real physique.

The other option was uploading a picture of my whole body for it to use. Once I found a suitable image and uploaded it, Perplexity built a digital avatar shaped like me.

After that, it was simply a matter of looking for different items of clothing I was looking for using the Shopping tab. For instance, a winter coat. There, I could click on a possible purchase and see a “Try On” button appear.

Clicking on it produced, in under a minute, a photo of my avatar wearing it, accounting for posture, body shape, and how the fabric might drape around my limbs. I was impressed.

Perplexity's closet

I found that the try-on tool was quite good at reimagining me in different outfits, but only one piece at a time. A full suit never offered the try-on button, though some interesting jackets worked.

Even sticking to individual pieces didn't mean everything I looked up was usable for a digital trial. Costume pieces never seemed to produce the button.

As an extra experiment, I had Perplexity use just my head and its generic body for one of the try-ons. It was a good selling point for the full-body shot.

Google's approach is arguably more flexible and successful in terms of handling costumes and full outfits. But Google takes noticeably longer than Perplexity to complete its fashion show.

If you just want a quick appraisal of how you might appear in, for example, a shirt in eye-wateringly bright pattern of rainbow zig-zags, Perplexity has you covered, and will hopefully save you from spending the even more astonishing price on it.

Bear in mind that to use the Try On feature in Perplexity you'll need to be a Pro member, and that costs $20 a month.

My verdict

All told, Perplexity’s try-on tool is fast, surprisingly accurate, and genuinely useful if you’re shopping for individual items. It still can’t match Google’s ability to preview full outfits, but if speed matters more than fancy lookbooks, Perplexity wins. Just be prepared to pay for the privilege.

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