Picture this: you are out on your next thrifting trip and find a beautiful Gal Meets Glam dress. You search all over, but it looks like the previous owner cut off the care tag. Ugh! Now you can’t find additional information about the item including the style number, meaning you might not be able to find a stock photo.
Well, luckily those days are over now because you found this post!
Continue reading for your all inclusive guide to finding stock photos for clothing items that don’t have a care tag, or for brands that don't provide style numbers.
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Why Should I Use Stock Photos?
- Modeled pictures give customers a better idea of style and fit
- Utilizing specific model measurements gives customers peace of mind that the item will be a good fit
- Model pictures show ways for customers to style the item (example, a shirt you are selling paired with a skirt)
- Compete with other listings using stock images
- Stock photos can lead to the brand website, which can help with ideas of keywords and descriptors to use in your listing
Google Reverse Image Search
My absolute favorite way to find stock images is by using Google reverse image search. This super helpful feature allows you to snap a quick photo of an item and perform a search, getting your results within seconds.
You can perform a style number lookup with this feature from your phone or desktop. Here's how:
From Your Phone:
- Download the Google app from your app store
- Take a picture of the item you want to look up
- Go to your gallery and find the photo
- Find options for the photo
- Find “Search with Google Lens”
- Scroll through populated results to find your item
From Your Desktop, Laptop, or Browser
- Take a picture of the item you want to look up
- Upload the photo of the item
- Open a browser to Google
- Click Google Images
- Drag and drop the picture of the item into the designated area
- Scroll through populated results to find your item
Full transparency, Google isn’t able to detect and find every item. This especially applies to more basic items without distinct styles, colors, markings, or other features. However I find that this step is still well worth it, considering it takes about a minute in total from the start of your search.
Use Keywords And Item Descriptors
Another method of finding style numbers and stock pictures of items is by using your knowledge of fashion. Think of this as getting a head start on your title and description for this item.
If you need to brush up on your keywords and item descriptions, I suggest browsing on Pinterest. On Pinterest, you can find many helpful guides about current trends, how to describe items including terms used for necklines, sleeves, styles, and more.
Start describing the item as if you are talking about it to someone who is unable to see the item. Use descriptors and unique features to describe the item in a short sentence.
Some ideas of ways to describe the item include:
- Color (blue, multicolor)
- Pattern (checkered, polka dot, striped)
- Style (babydoll dress, flare jeans)
- Neckline (square neckline, halter neck)
- Sleeve length (¾ sleeve, long sleeve)
- Style of sleeves (dolman sleeve, bishop sleeve)
- Style of back (strappy back, open back)
- Style of closure (zip, button, pullover)
- Material (linen, silk)
- Any other unique descriptors (embroidered, lace)
Here is an example: “Gal Meets Glam maxi dress short sleeve v neck tie waist palm leaves”
Start by searching this phrase with Google. I typically start in the general search section, however if no results are found on the first page I will switch to the Images or Shopping tab of Google.
Your results may include the brand website itself, or it may yield poshmark or eBay listings of the same item. I prefer to get my information from the website first, however if that option does not appear, I will look at other resellers listings for reference.
Side note: the caveat to this is being careful about stealing/plagiarizing information from the brand or from the hard work that another reseller put in.
Make sure you are putting in the work on your end, creating your own titles and descriptions in your own words, and inputting your own measurements (especially pre loved items due to potential shrinking or stretching).
If you do not find your item by performing the Google search mentioned above, switch your search method by inputting the phrase to a Poshmark search.
After Poshmark, I will do the same with eBay and Mercari. After these efforts, there are times I am still unable to find the item. However, not all time was wasted because after this step, you have a solid head start on your listing title and description!
Search The Fabric Content
Each clothing item you resell has a fabric content that is unique to that item specifically. Luckily for that, this becomes another way to find a style number or stock photo.
Using my Gal Meets Glam example from, I would search “Gal Meets Glam dress 100% polyester”
So in your case, head back to your google search and type “*insert brand name* xx% cotton, xx% polyester, xx% rayon” and see what results you find.
From here, I use the same technique as earlier. I typically start my search on Google, with the same sequence of going to Google Images next, then Google Shopping, then Poshmark, eBay, and lastly Mercari.
Sometimes, even after all of this work and searching, you may not be able to find a style number and/or stock photo. If that is the case, ensure you provide quality pictures, most importantly a high quality cover photo, along with an accurate and detailed title and description.
Do you have any additional tips or tricks to find stock photos for an item? Comment below!
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