Methods for use of 3D body scans for comparative visualization and evaluation of garment fit or body changes over time

A computer-implemented method of generating a comparative 3D body model for visual assessment of garment fit assessment by an online garment shopper in an online shopping environment, said method comprising:

• by one or more processors, and via execution thereby of computer readable statements and instructions stored in one or more non-transitory computer readable media:
• (a) storing in non-transitory computer readable memory a first 3D mesh model of a 3D body scan of a garment wearer, distinct from said online garment shopper, who has been visually documented wearing one or more purchasable garments offered for purchase in said online shopping environment, visual documentation of which is available for online viewing by said online garment shopper using an electronic device connected to a communications network;
• (b) receiving a second 3D mesh model of a 3D body scan of said online garment shopper;
• (c) from said first and second 3D mesh models of said 3D body scans of the garment wearer and the online garment shopper, creating a comparative digital 3D body model that embodies visually overlaid representations of at least parts of the 3D mesh models of said 3D body scans of the online garment shopper and the garment wearer, in visually distinctive relation to one another to reveal differences in body size and shape between the online garment shopper and the garment wearer, wherein creating the comparative digital 3D body model comprises executing a body variance assessment algorithm to identify one or more areas where a dimensional variation between the first and second 3D mesh models exceeds at least one variance threshold, and wherein the visually distinctive relation comprises displaying the identified one or more areas in one or more highlighting colors that contrast one or more other areas at which the at least one variance threshold is not exceeded;
• and
• (d) enabling online viewing of said comparative digital 3D body model by said online garment shopper over said communications network, from which online viewing said online garment shopper can visually gauge a body similarity between said online garment shopper and said garment wearer, which in combination with viewing by the online garment shopper of said visual documentation of the garment wearer and the one or more purchasable garments, enables informed judgement by said online garment shopper as to how well any of said one or more purchasable garments would fit said online garment shopper.