Configure gender-specific sizing to provide accurate recommendations based on different body types and fit preferences. Gender selection affects which measurements are collected and how size recommendations are calculated.

Available Gender Options

SmartSize AI Fit Recommender supports three gender configurations, each optimized for different body types and sizing conventions.

Male

Best for: Men’s clothing and traditionally masculine sizing

  • Focuses on chest, waist, and shoulder measurements
  • Uses standard men’s sizing conventions (S, M, L, XL or numerical)
  • Optimized for typical male body proportions

Female

Best for: Women’s clothing and traditionally feminine sizing

  • Emphasizes bust, waist, and hip measurements
  • Supports both numerical (0, 2, 4, 6) and letter (XS, S, M, L) sizing
  • Accounts for typical female body proportions and fit preferences

Unisex

Best for: Gender-neutral clothing and inclusive sizing

  • Collects comprehensive measurements for all body types
  • Uses flexible sizing approaches
  • Accommodates diverse body shapes and preferences

When to Use Each Gender Setting

Choose “Male” When:

  • Selling men’s specific clothing lines
  • Products follow traditional men’s sizing charts
  • Target audience is primarily male customers
  • Fit is designed for typical male body proportions

Examples:

  • Men’s dress shirts
  • Men’s suits and formalwear
  • Men’s athletic wear
  • Male-specific undergarments

Choose “Female” When:

  • Selling women’s specific clothing lines
  • Products follow traditional women’s sizing charts
  • Target audience is primarily female customers
  • Fit accounts for bust, waist, and hip curves

Examples:

  • Women’s dresses
  • Women’s blouses and tops
  • Women’s jeans and pants
  • Female-specific undergarments

Choose “Unisex” When:

  • Selling gender-neutral clothing
  • Products are designed to fit all body types
  • Want to be inclusive of all customers
  • Sizing doesn’t follow traditional gender conventions

Examples:

  • T-shirts and casual wear
  • Hoodies and sweatshirts
  • Outerwear and jackets
  • Accessories and loose-fitting items

Impact on Measurement Collection

Gender selection determines which body measurements are emphasized in the quiz interface.

Male Configuration

Primary Measurements:

  • Chest Circumference (emphasized)
  • Waist Circumference (standard)
  • Hip Circumference (de-emphasized)

Measurement Weights (Default):

  • Chest: 0.8 (high importance)
  • Waist: 0.6 (medium importance)
  • Hip: 0.3 (low importance)

Female Configuration

Primary Measurements:

  • Bust Circumference (emphasized)
  • Waist Circumference (high importance)
  • Hip Circumference (emphasized)

Measurement Weights (Default):

  • Bust: 0.7 (high importance)
  • Waist: 0.8 (highest importance)
  • Hip: 0.7 (high importance)

Unisex Configuration

Primary Measurements:

  • All measurements treated equally
  • Balanced weighting approach
  • Accommodates various body types

Measurement Weights (Default):

  • Chest/Bust: 0.6 (balanced)
  • Waist: 0.7 (slightly emphasized)
  • Hip: 0.6 (balanced)

Sizing Chart Considerations

Male Sizing Standards

  • Letter Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL
  • Numerical Sizes: 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, etc.
  • Focus Measurements: Chest and waist for most garments

Female Sizing Standards

  • Letter Sizes: XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL
  • Numerical Sizes: 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, etc.
  • Focus Measurements: Bust, waist, and hip for most garments

Unisex Sizing Standards

  • Inclusive Approach: Combines elements from both systems
  • Clear Labeling: Explicit measurement ranges for each size
  • Flexible Options: May use custom or brand-specific sizing

Creating Multiple Gender Quizzes

For products that serve multiple genders, create separate quizzes for optimal results.

Strategy 1: Separate Quizzes by Gender 

  Quiz Setup:
- "Women's T-Shirts - Casual Collection" (Female)
- "Men's T-Shirts - Casual Collection" (Male)

Advantages:

  • Gender-optimized measurements
  • Tailored customer experience
  • Accurate size recommendations

When to Use:

  • Products have different fits by gender
  • Separate sizing charts exist
  • Different measurement priorities needed

Strategy 2: Single Unisex Quiz 

  Quiz Setup:
- "Unisex T-Shirts - Casual Collection" (Unisex)

Advantages:

  • Simplified management
  • Inclusive approach
  • Single size chart

When to Use:

  • True unisex fit and sizing
  • Simplified product management preferred
  • Inclusive brand positioning

Best Practices

Gender Selection Guidelines

  1. Match Your Products: Choose gender settings that align with your actual product fit and sizing
  2. Consider Your Audience: Think about who will be using the quiz
  3. Review Size Charts: Ensure your sizing system matches the gender configuration
  4. Test Different Options: Try different configurations to see what works best

Inclusive Sizing Approaches

Inclusive Language:

  • Use clear, descriptive size labels
  • Provide detailed measurement guides
  • Avoid assumptions about body types

Measurement Flexibility:

  • Allow customers to input their preferred measurements
  • Provide multiple measurement methods
  • Include size conversion guides

Common Scenarios

Scenario 1: Traditional Clothing Store

  • Use Male/Female for gender-specific lines
  • Create separate quizzes for each gender
  • Optimize measurements for traditional sizing

Scenario 2: Modern Unisex Brand

  • Use Unisex for most products
  • Focus on inclusive measurement collection
  • Provide comprehensive size guidance

Scenario 3: Mixed Product Catalog

  • Use appropriate gender settings per product line
  • Maintain consistent naming conventions
  • Group quizzes logically in dashboard

Technical Considerations

API Integration

Gender selection affects how the quiz integrates with your Shopify theme:

  • Different measurement prompts based on gender
  • Customized recommendation algorithms
  • Gender-appropriate language and imagery

Analytics and Reporting

Gender configuration influences analytics:

  • Separate conversion tracking by gender
  • Different success metrics
  • Targeted performance optimization

Customer Experience

Gender selection impacts the customer journey:

  • Relevant measurement requests
  • Appropriate language and terminology
  • Optimized recommendation accuracy

Troubleshooting Gender Configuration

Issue: Inaccurate Size Recommendations

Possible Causes:

  • Gender setting doesn’t match product fit
  • Measurement weights not optimized
  • Size chart incompatible with gender configuration

Solutions:

  • Review gender selection for accuracy
  • Adjust measurement weights if needed
  • Consider creating gender-specific quizzes

Issue: Customer Confusion

Symptoms:

  • High quiz abandonment rates
  • Support questions about measurements
  • Size return issues

Solutions:

  • Ensure gender setting matches product marketing
  • Provide clear measurement instructions
  • Consider unisex option for ambiguous products

Next Steps

After configuring gender selection:

  1. Set Up Garment Categories - Choose appropriate garment types
  2. Configure Size Tables - Define measurements for your selected gender
  3. Optimize Product Linking - Associate quizzes with appropriate products
  4. Test Your Configuration - Verify gender settings work correctly

Need help choosing the right gender configuration? Our best practices guide provides detailed recommendations for different store types.