Virtual try-on (VTO) for shoes is one of the most effective ways to make online shopping feel more like in-store: shoppers can see style and fit in context, build confidence faster, and make more informed purchase decisions.
But what happens when the “store” isn’t a product page—it's a printed magazine?
In our partnership with Glamour Magazine, WEARFITS created a virtual avatar named Wero and an augmented reality (AR) try-on experience for Converse shoes, giving readers a direct path from print to interactive product experience.
The campaign goal: make print interactive (and measurable)
The objective was to create a fresh, high-engagement activation for Glamour’s audience—using AI + 3D + AR to bring the campaign to life. Wero appeared on Glamour’s cover, and the AR experience let readers interact with Converse in a way that print normally can’t: try-on now, from wherever you are.
The challenge: AR try-on has to “just work” in the real world
If you’ve ever evaluated an AR shoe try-on vendor, you know the hard part isn’t building a nice demo. The hard part is delivering realism and stability under real conditions:
- messy environments and mixed lighting
- different camera qualities and mobile devices
- movement (and the inevitable jitter)
- and a big one for footwear: users often try on while already wearing shoes
When VTO breaks, users don’t politely “try again.” They drop.
How we built the experience
1) Digitizing the product for a digital-first campaign
To make the experience feel premium, we created digital assets for the campaign—starting with scanning the Converse shoes for Wero to wear during the digital photoshoot.
2) Creating Wero: a virtual avatar for Glamour
We also produced three digital outfits for Wero that were published in Glamour Magazine, tying the avatar to the editorial/creative narrative while keeping the product at the center.
3) AR try-on from the magazine via QR flow
The key activation: enabling readers to try on Converse shoes directly from print.
Readers scanned a QR code in the magazine and were taken into the AR shoe try-on experience—no extra steps, no hunting for a product page first.
To deepen immersion, we also enabled readers to view Wero in AR through a QR scan—turning the cover/story into a “live” moment instead of static content.
Results: engagement you can’t get from print alone
In the first month after launch, the campaign delivered:
- ~2,000 try-ons
- 2+ minutes average time spent in try-on
That level of interaction is the point: VTO isn’t only about conversion mechanics—it’s also a marketing asset when it’s realistic, fast, and accessible.
Why this works (and what other brands can copy)
This campaign is a strong blueprint for brands that want more from VTO than a PDP widget:
Make the entry point frictionless
A QR-to-AR flow from print, OOH, packaging, or in-store signage removes the biggest engagement killer: “I’ll do it later.”
Use VTO as a creative format—not just a feature
A virtual try-on experience becomes significantly more shareable and memorable when it’s part of a story (avatar/editorial concept), not just a utility screen.
Measure what matters
Try-ons and time spent aren’t vanity metrics when you’re running awareness campaigns—they’re proof of attention and intent.
Want to launch an AR shoe try-on campaign like this?
If you’re planning an activation (magazine, OOH, retail screens, or social) and want it to perform in real-world conditions—real devices, real environments, real users—WEARFITS can help you deploy a scalable virtual try-on for shoes experience.
