LizClaiborne.com offers a smart “Shop By Look” feature. There are three categories of looks (Wear To Work, Casual, & Going Out) and each one contains dozens of head-to-toe outfits you can select. Pick the look you want and you can then see (and buy) all of that outfit’s items on one page. It’s a nice alternative to the a la carte method that requires a separate page for each individual item. I’m not sure the word “look” is the best choice here though (there’s a button that says “View Look” which is confusing since both those words usually mean the same thing).
"Shop by Look" works since the context of the word "Look" fits perfectly for clothing. Perhaps "Shop by Outfit" would work better?
I think the term "look" works for this. It's fashon lingo. "Outfit" sounds like something my mother would call it. Now it's time to watch some more Project Runway.
In order to be consistent with the "View Outfit" link, the "View Look" button should be changed. Or better, change the "View Outfit" link to "View Look" then you could keep the "Shop By Look" title.
Perhaps "Shop by Your Look" and "View the Look" would work...the grammar needs to be improved so that "look" is more expressly identified as a noun.
What I wish more online stores would offer is "Shop by Color." Whether trying to complete an outfit or match items for a room, it'd be useful -- particularly when things come in multiple colors.
This is actually a pretty common attribute of retail sites aimed at female consumers. The Gap has a "get this look" link inserted into most of their email marketing campaigns, and even the flash monstrosity that is the Express site has what they call their Changing Room, a drag and drop shopping guide. Ann Taylor and J.Jill have similar features on their sites also.
But really, I think this idea would better serve *male* consumers. Women often prefer to build a wardrobe that is personal to their character and style, while men typically just want to buy the manequin.
gap and bananarepublic.com both have shop by look (business, business casual, etc)
How about "Check Your Look"?
Or "Scope Da Threads"? Or "Scope the Vouge", "Gape Yer Wraps", "Scan the Glam", "Shop the Op", "Vouge the Robes",
Target has a well-executed new custom clothing selector.
Target's custom clothing site rocks! Easy to use, they ask for specifics on fit trouble-spots, etc. Now why don't J. Crew, Banana Republic, Gap, etc. offer something like that?