Asos criticised after shopper spots model's dress has been altered using bulldog clips

Asos has been criticised for using bulldog clips to alter the fit of its clothes on models.

A Twitter user, who goes by the handle @xronnieanna, shared a series of images from the Asos website of a model wearing a £35 navy blue cami dress.

In two of the photos, bulldog clips can be clearly seen cinching the garment at the model’s waist.

“Uhmm @ASOS …think you forgot to edit those clips out,” the caption read.

The tweet has since received more than 19,000 likes and been flooded with thousands of comments from angry shoppers.

“I always wondered why nothing ever fits even remotely close to the photos on the website…guess now we know why,” one person wrote.

Another added: “Wow, these sorts of things make girls and even guys feel soo s****. Like make the clothes actually fit a normal person and don’t clip it so it’s a different shape than what it’s actually gonna turn up like!”

Some also called on the retailer to stop using “sneaky” tactics while others pointed out the irony of the error in relation to the store’s new policy banning serial returners.

“Why not clearly show how the dress fits, instead of changing it to fit in a different way than it clearly wouldn’t without the clip, definitely an idea for the specialist team?” one person commented.

Another added: “The irony of the them clearly deceiving what the clothes actually look like yet recently banning accounts that ‘return too many items’.”

Some Twitter users did manage to see the funny side of the blunder, arguing that the clips were a “good look”.

“Ooo @asos I love this look It's so Punk Rock,” one person joked.

Another commented: “What if it’s a lewk? Soon enough, tweens with clips will roam.”

Soon after the original Tweet was shared online, Asos removed the offending photos and replaced them with pictures which didn't feature clips.

A spokesperson also replied to @xronnieanna, writing: “We're sorry to hear the clips are showing in the picture.

“We'll now raise this with our specialist team. If you have any questions please send us a message we'd be happy to help.”

Earlier this month, the online retailer announced changes to its returns policy which could lead to some users having their accounts deactivated.

Asos sent an email to its shoppers, detailing changes to its returns policy, which stated that in order to ensure returns are made in a “sustainable” way, if it notices an “unusual pattern” of returns activity, it may “investigate and take action”.

In December 2018, it was reported that Asos shares had dropped 37 per cent after the online retailer warned it had experienced a “significant deterioration” in trading.

“The current backdrop of economic uncertainty across many of our major markets together with a weakening in consumer confidence has led to the weakest growth in online clothing sales in recent years,“ Asos stated at the time.

The Independent has contacted Asos for comment.