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Original poster

Changing room mirror hell

17 replies

Saggingninja · 04/05/2018 13:55

Apologies for the DM link but it's actually an interesting piece on how different changing room mirrors can be. I tried on a dress in John Lewis last week and practically cried at awful I looked in the mirror. Why do stores do this? Surely it's in their interests for us to look half decent when trying on their clothes?! Anyway the JL mirror and horrible lighting is mentioned!
changing room mirrors

OP posts:

neveradullmoment99 · 04/05/2018 14:21

Surprised they didn't do next. There isn't space to swing a cat and there are mirrors all around you. The light is at the top and very dull but seems to create shadows everywhere.

neveradullmoment99 · 04/05/2018 14:22

I am also surprised they don't do more with changing rooms. I have been reduced to despair in some changing rooms when looking for an outfit. It can be make or break!!!!

glitterbiscuits · 04/05/2018 14:22

Crikey! I would never have given this any thought but it’s very interesting. I hadn’t realised. No wonder most of my stuff is delivered these days.

Thebluedog · 04/05/2018 14:36

Next are buggers with their mirrors. Always make me look about half a foot taller and about 2 sizes smaller! I get the item home, try it on again and end up returning it.

GaryBarlowsTaxReturn · 04/05/2018 14:57

I agree with the article about M&S mirrors; I won't try anything on in there any more, their down lighters are hideous. Uniqlo are also terrible. On my the flip side, I once spent a fortune on a bikini from Sweatty Betty because their changing room lighting made me look flawless

Original poster

Saggingninja · 04/05/2018 14:58

It's so weird though. Considering how much stores spend on psychological tactics you'd think they'd invest in lighting and mirrors that don't make you resemble a porridge skinned troll. (when I say 'you' I mean 'me' of course)

OP posts:

Timefortea99 · 04/05/2018 18:11

I have done wonders with my figure in the last 16 months. Lost 30 pounds, and toned up. Still a stone to go, I am a work in progress but I am looking so much better and feel so much positive about myself. I have a few lumps and bumps but I am a work in progress.

Last week I spent ages trying on summery trousers. And my god I came home thoroughly depressed. I did look like the aforementioned porridge skinned troll. Any positivity about myself went and I bought nothing. Those changing rooms are brutal. If they are not brutal they are too dark or with mirrors from the House of Mirrors that distort and try and pretend you are 6 inches taller.

I got some trousers delivered and felt fine in them because I tried them at home. I seriously think that the High Street needs a radical think about how it treats its customers or how it presents its offerings. What is the point of the High Street when you get a better and more positive experience when you buy stuff online?

BusterGonad · 04/05/2018 19:27

The secret the shops use so you look good is to tilt the mirror at the bottom. You then look slimmer and taller.

Bluntness100 · 04/05/2018 19:36

Yes have to agree, some of them are awful. Trying a bikini on in m&s or house of Fraser and it would make you want to cancel the holiday, dress is sack cloth, and wear a bag over your head.

The upside though is if you can miracously find something that looks remotely good in those changing rooms, you will look a million dollars outside them....

WishingOnABar · 04/05/2018 19:41

To be fair I prefer the bad ones, at least you see the worst case scenario. I wouldn’t want to be looking in the h&m mirror thinking I’m a goddess then actually be out wearing the clothes with VPL and full gut visible through them

eggsandchips · 04/05/2018 19:49

I agree. Victorias Secret is not too bad. But generally I hate changing rooms. Topshop is horrible.

LadyOfTheCanyon · 05/05/2018 07:15

And the heat! Why are changing rooms always kept so hot? The last thing I want to do is struggle sweatily in and out of clothes feeling like an overheated heffalump.

niceupthedance · 05/05/2018 07:24

Cos changing room makes me look like I've been on holiday for two weeks

Odiepants · 05/05/2018 07:46

I've pretty much always put back clothes I've tried on in John Lewis because they look awful when tried on - makes more sense now! Sometimes I end up buying the same thing direct from the brand and keeping them. JL are really doing themselves out of sales with those awful changing rooms.

Agree too with the tiny changing rooms in M&S. I tried some trousers on last week and it was virtually impossible to get a proper look at them in the actual cubicle.

Hassled · 05/05/2018 07:51

That is really interesting. I've had way too many of the "Jesus wept - I had no idea I look this shit" moments in changing rooms. And it makes no sense - why not throw money into making people look great, or at least normal? They'd be far more likely to buy the clothes.

PetulantPolecat · 05/05/2018 08:31

Oh crap. So that means when I splurge on the lovely clothes at Selfridges and Fenwick because they just look so fab on me and make me look slimmer... 👀.... it’s just a fucking good mirror

PetulantPolecat · 05/05/2018 08:33

I too love Cos because their mirror tilt... so I take a picture of my reflection in a reflection and I’m able to see how it really looks on me to other people - not just how it looks on me backward (in a reflection)

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