A virtual fit

SHANGHAI: It's a hassle - pushing through department store crowds, scouring rack after rack for prospective outfits, and trying on item after item in the dressing room.

But a growing number of Chinese are discovering a faster and easier way to try on more outfits in less time, making the quest for the perfect buy more convenient than ever.

Many shoppers are discovering "virtual dressing rooms" - that is, sections on some clothing companies' websites allowing users to create a model of themselves according to their physical features and "try on" clothing and accessories at mouse-click speed.