Can we talk about Fitting Rooms Please?

[vandubby]

Am I the only person who would rather try on clothes and actually see what they look like on me, rather than be duped by a skinny mirror that makes me look amazing, and even though I know it's a skinny mirror I somehow persuade myself that even when I'm 'scaled up' to actual size it'll look fine. Then I get home and it doesn't. And I end up taking stuff back. Or worse, not taking it back, but never wearing it. Which I guess is what they want in the first place. River Island, H&M, Next and DPerkins are all guilty. Are there any shops that actually reflect you AS YOU ARE? Even M&S seemed suspiciously flattering the other day. Am I alone in this?

I get stuff online from reputable chains and try it on at home. That way you can see all the different combinations with the stuff you have. For me, that beats grabbing something from a store, queueing for the changing room etc. I find it easier to return stuff by post (again, no queueing, no staff quibbles, the returns policy of etc.) Much easier for me to order late at night when DS is asleep and try stuff on again, when I have a quiet moment.

Mind you, 10 years ago I imagine I would have thought very differently.

I vaguely had an idea some mirrors might be more flattering but that in itself hasn't been a major problem, however.

Maybe I'm actually really slim, and my mirror at hoome is a 'fat'mirror?!!

I'm lucky if I can try anything on with a double buggy in tow.
Can honestly say that I've never noticed a difference in the mirrors in shops apart from when it's been licked all over by DD.

|They're just always so hot...I get all flustered and impatient. As such, I always either buy online or just buy without trying and take them home! Unless it is really quiet, I'm really chilled or whatever.

blimey
was just about to start this thread

bought a jumper in gap , I look so fab in gap.

look so lumpy in it at home

tell you where they don't do it - wallis , shitola lighting in my local one

A way to tell if the mirror is fitted to be uber-flattering is to run your finger down the side of it. It should be sitting the same distance out from the wall all the way down - i.e at the same point on your finger. If it gradually goes 'out' then it has been fixed that way to make things more flattering - keep in mind when deciding to purchase!

Honestly - I'm amazed that only 2 of us think this is true! Surely I don't have such low self esteem that I refuse to believe I look good. I just try to have a good hard look at what I'm actually wearing first and honestly see how it compares. I think NEXT is a tricky one as they have that corner mirror thing going on, which can be a bit of a shock when you don't look at yourself from that angle ever. ggirl - GAP are def a bit guilty of this. I work in town and have been doing a LOT of trying on recently. River Island definitely the guiltiest in my book. Will try the finger down the mirror trick this week notyummy!

i've asked in gap and H&M and both times the sales assistant said they are skinny mirrors

h&m girl showed me to a normal mirror

Ha - where do they keep the 'normal' mirrors? In a special area where no one can hear you scream?! H&M are v. skinny IMO. At least they admit it. Interesting.

I haven't noticed skinny mirrors in any of the places I shop (eg M&S, Debenhams). In fact, I would say they have the fat arse mirror, based on my experience.

I think you could easily tell if you were being duped. Your head would be narrowed, which would be very easy to detect.

I can instantly tell if I am looking in a skinny or fat mirror. Still find it depressing though when I see myself in a fat mirror.

The White Stuff one near me had a particularly fat mirror, I keep telling them to get rid of it.

I agree, unflattering lighting is the worst thing. Probably costs lots of sales. Just don't know why shops don't address this.

The main mirror outside the rooms was a normal one.

I've always thought they extend your mid-section. So I duck down and put my face at stomach height to see if it's distorted.

Or I could just lose 3 stone of course...

I don't notice the mirrors

I hate changing rooms with nowhere to put your clothes and hot lights

I always try at home so I can put on different items of clothing combinations. I especially hate the fitting rooms at Dorothy Perkins at Marble Arch because the assistant spends a lot of time spraying them with evil air "freshener" which stinks and makes me wheezy (and I don't have asthma).Most fitting rooms are filthy IMO.

H&M and River Island both do skinny mirrors, Topshop slightly more honest imho. It is quite off putting, I know I am not skinny!