A method for generating garment model data representative of a piece of garment, the method comprising - processing input image data containing a view of the piece of garment; - determining a type of wearing condition from the input image data as at least one of a first type, where the piece of garment is worn by a person, and of a second type, where the piece of garment is not worn; - if the first type is determined, -- identifying a shape of the piece of garment and a shape of the person wearing the piece of garment in the input image data utilizing an active contour modelling approach based on a preset body model, wherein the active contour modelling approach is initialized with a face detector and the preset body model, which in particular is a statistical body model; -- adapting the identified shape of the piece of garment and the identified shape of the person, based on a garment template model retrieved from a garment template model database; and -- determining the garment model data from the input image data based on the adapted identified shapes; and - if the second type is determined, -- identifying a shape of the piece of garment in the input image data; -- iteratively comparing the input image data with a respective garment template model retrieved from the garment template model database to identify at least one matching garment template model; -- aligning the identified shape with a shape of the at least one matching garment template model; and -- determining the garment model data from the input image data based on the identified shape and on results of the aligning; - wherein each of the garment template models stored in the garment template model database contains at least one of the following: -- a set of control points that define a relationship between a shape of a garment and a body wearing said garment; -- a geometrical description that defines a relationship between a shape of a garment and a body wearing said garment. - processing input image data containing a view of the piece of garment; - determining a type of wearing condition from the input image data as at least one of a first type, where the piece of garment is worn by a person, and of a second type, where the piece of garment is not worn; - if the first type is determined, -- identifying a shape of the piece of garment and a shape of the person wearing the piece of garment in the input image data utilizing an active contour modelling approach based on a preset body model, wherein the active contour modelling approach is initialized with a face detector and the preset body model, which in particular is a statistical body model; -- adapting the identified shape of the piece of garment and the identified shape of the person, based on a garment template model retrieved from a garment template model database; and -- determining the garment model data from the input image data based on the adapted identified shapes; and -- identifying a shape of the piece of garment and a shape of the person wearing the piece of garment in the input image data utilizing an active contour modelling approach based on a preset body model, wherein the active contour modelling approach is initialized with a face detector and the preset body model, which in particular is a statistical body model; -- adapting the identified shape of the piece of garment and the identified shape of the person, based on a garment template model retrieved from a garment template model database; and -- determining the garment model data from the input image data based on the adapted identified shapes; and - if the second type is determined, -- identifying a shape of the piece of garment in the input image data; -- iteratively comparing the input image data with a respective garment template model retrieved from the garment template model database to identify at least one matching garment template model; -- aligning the identified shape with a shape of the at least one matching garment template model; and -- determining the garment model data from the input image data based on the identified shape and on results of the aligning; -- identifying a shape of the piece of garment in the input image data; -- iteratively comparing the input image data with a respective garment template model retrieved from the garment template model database to identify at least one matching garment template model; -- aligning the identified shape with a shape of the at least one matching garment template model; and -- determining the garment model data from the input image data based on the identified shape and on results of the aligning; - wherein each of the garment template models stored in the garment template model database contains at least one of the following: -- a set of control points that define a relationship between a shape of a garment and a body wearing said garment; -- a geometrical description that defines a relationship between a shape of a garment and a body wearing said garment. -- a set of control points that define a relationship between a shape of a garment and a body wearing said garment; -- a geometrical description that defines a relationship between a shape of a garment and a body wearing said garment.