Mirrors in high street stores

[Musicforsnorks]

I’m kind of ‘nerdily’ fascinated by this, so wondered if anyone else has ever noticed the differences in changing room mirrors.

What I have observed, personally:
1/ H&M have the best, I always seem to look fitter and more groomed in their mirrors!

2/ Primark the worst, I have avoided using them and prefer to return stuff if it doesn’t work. I mean, they make me look bloody unwell even.

3/ Cos, close second contender for worst. A depressing experience.

4/ &Other Stories are bonkers. I feel as if I have entered an alternate, disturbing, multi-dimensional universe where my ass and hair have swapped places and given up. Actually knock about 4 inches off my height. What fuckery is this?

5/ Topshop, ok, not flattering, but gets the job done.

6/ Next are dreadful, but at least they provide a back view so that I am never troubled by indecision (nope, nope and nope, nothing suits me here)

7/ M&S, has rear view, better than topshop but not especially pleasant.

8/ Jack Wills, very nice, even pleasant. Pity I don’t shop there.

9/ Urban outfitters, spacious and decent, seem to tell it like it is. Thumbs up, if you can tolerate the noise and the impact explosions of teenagers exitedly stamping on wood.

10/ Mango, depressing.

11/ Gap, suffocating, too close. Not a good look.

12/ Hobbs, antouch cramped, reflection bearable.

13/ Whistles would have been ok if staff hadn’t shadowed me, fussing around outside, etc.

14/ Debenhams used to have rear view but did away with it in my town. Not flattering but at least spacious. Staff lead you in and out jailer style.

15/ New Look, ok, surprisingly. Fairly honest reflection, not too grim.

16/ Zara, too small, curtains don’t fully cover gap, mirrors seem decent, quite flattering.

17/ Joules, too small, no rear view, no frills, reflection reflects reality.

These are just my own observations.
Seems H&M are the best on my list, although I strongly suspect some level of mirror-sorcery at play as I often look like a supermodel from the back and it makes me suspicious ;)

Your experiences of best and worst?

Hobbs - a touch cramped.

I have no idea but am impressed at your extensive research

Aye, I’ve dedicated years to this, even allowed my career to slide....family have distanced themselves. GP visit after Xmas I promise!

Very impressive research!

I'm pretty sure Jigsaw uses mirrors that make you look slightly thinner. I've taken to scrutinising my reflection first in my own clothes, so I'm not conned into thinking the outfit I'm trying on has magical slimming properties.

Last time I went in Zara they had larger cubicles than you describe.

I got stuck in a dress for about five long scary minutes. The fear that I was going to have to ask the assistant for help.

Not been in again since lol

I do think they use special mirrors, or told them somehow, to make me look slimmer. I never quite look the same when I try things on in front of my own mirror.

OP, maybe you need to be some sort of changing area mystery shopper!

Lol very attentive

I’ve been in some changing rooms that made me feel so down I now rarely ever try on clothing
I think it was House of Fraser and Mango, I didn’t bother buying anything

Now that you mention it, I can remember having no issues with H&M’s changing rooms. Haven’t shopped there since a teen though

It was my questionable attempt at humour!

I’ve just cast my mind back over the past 10 yrs or so, trying to recall what each store felt like. There are a few I can’t recall, and at least one horror in there that I have most likely repressed

Im only seemingly slimmer in H&M though.
Many, especially primark and next , make me look worse - I hope!

On a more serious note though, mirrors are interesting as they do, whether we like it or not, become entangled in our day to day relationship with our self image.

I think you have to cultivate an amused stance, or else...well, we all need to feel better about ourselves!

Interestingly, we regularly stay at a cottage in Cumbria, and the mirrors in there are diabolical. I always assume I’ve gained weight and then when I go home it’s quite a shock to discover I’ve actually lost it from all the walking,etc.

Mirrors are weird.

Mirrors are weird. When I'm in the house on my own if my other half is away,
Sometimes in the night if I go down for the bathroom I won't look at them incase I see something behind me. I'm 39 🤦🏽‍♀️

It’sBritney - my mum was similar when I was growing up.
I never understood that one, but then I am more afraid of uncurtained windows in the dead of night. I always expect to see a face peering in!

They use mirrors which make you look better

I think it's the lighting not the mirrors.
Harsh white lighting is going to make everyone a bit lumpy. Slightly gloomier lighting hides and smooths...

This is why I like my bedroom mirror!

I always think there’s someone behind the mirror. Like a one-way mirror set-up

I know it’s ridiculous. Actually... is there cctv in changing rooms?

The thing with the mirrors that make you look thinner is that they still don't smooth out the lumpy bits!

I don't often venture into changing rooms but the tk maxx ones I used, last week, weren't bad. No rear view but the lighting was reasonably OK. I've used some in the past that are so dark that you need to go outside just to see yourself properly.

Massimo Dutti changing rooms are so dark.

Very impressed by research.!
I always hope that mirrors in changing room with fluorescent lights make my celliulte look much worse than in real life .
I have heard a trick that shops do is to have the top of the mirror flush against wall and the Botton sticks out by a couple inches - apparently makes you look skinnier and slightly taller - I always check for this.

Before I even read your post, I was going to say H&M too! Sometimes I go in with no intention to buy, but just to look at myself in the mirror

Anyone else confused by the mirror set up in &other stories?

Or is it just the manchester branch?

I've mentioned the &other mirrors to the staff - they must be losing a lot of money due to them. i always leave there very very depressed

They’re a bit like funhouse mirrors - without the fun.

I completely agree on Primark. I always worry that I look really ill when I see myself in a Primark mirror. Truly unflattering.

This is why I shop online only, because I can rely on my trusty landing mirror to be kind to me. My bedroom mirror, on the other hand...

lol at funhouse mirrors without the fun 😂