Monday, May 09, 2011

Mirror, Mirror

There is an old saying that goes, “The mirror never lies.” In other words, you can think you look a certain way, can want it or wish it, but when you gaze into a mirror, you see the truth.

But do you really?

For the past 10 years, I’ve been a regular shopper at a women’s clothing chain near my house. I can always find something on their racks that I like, and when I model it in front of their mirror (situated outside the dressing room for all patrons to use), I usually get a shot of confidence, too...


Somehow the outfit makes me look sleeker...longer even...and maybe even a little royal. Like all I’d need is a big, silly hat and I could be taken for Kate Middleton’s American aunt.

But inevitably, back home, that magic is gone. Of course, I still like the clothing or I wouldn’t keep shopping there. But I know why I never got my royal invite.

I have cheerfully asked the sales staff if they realize their customers are looking into a Skinny Mirror, and their faces have gotten very tight. Apparently these are not words that earn you calls to special sales or discount coupons. But...whatever, right?

Then last month, I was on an airplane and popped into the bathroom. Only to immediately discover, with a glance in the mirror, that I’d suddenly grown a good two inches and dropped about ten pounds. Which definitely amused me, and drove home my belief that Skinny Mirrors exist.

Later I did some on-line research and found out that, quite simply, no two mirrors are the same, and if you were to visit a store specializing in mirrors, you could easily find them that distort in all directions.

So I stand by my statement that my local clothing store is using a Skinny Mirror. (And wonder if they have a higher-than-usual product return rate to “reflect” this?) Although I do think in the airline’s case, it was a fluke.

Have you ever come upon a Skinny Mirror? Any thoughts on all of this?

Tina

Tina Ferraro
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www.tinaferraro.com

6 comments:

stephhale said...

Wow, Tina. I thought skinny mirrors were just a myth. I think I've been a victim. I just blamed it on the meal I ate in between trying the clothes on in the store and putting them on at home. :)

Marley Gibson said...

Oh yeah...I've seen them and I've wanted to rip them off the walls and bring them home with me! LOLOL!! = )

Janie Emaus said...

Hi,
I've seen those ones that make you look all long and funny shaped. But I wouldn't put it past clothing stores to use "fixed" mirrors. I think make-up counters use them, too, when they put makeup on half your face and it actually looks different!

TinaFerraro said...

Haha, yes, I'd like to have one for my home, too!

erica and christy said...

I'm not sure about skinny mirrors, but I definitely hate those bright lights that hang over some of the mirrors I've tried lately!
erica

Heather Davis said...

Ooh, weird! I seem to get the opposite -- the haggard mirror effect, where the lighting is bad so your skin looks bad and your outfit looks colorless. Airplane bathrooms are the worst!