I bought a magic mirror - YouLookFab Forum

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I bought a magic mirror

Ann in New England

Since I've been taking photos for YLF in our bedroom (better light), I needed a mirror in there (I normally get dressed in my windowless walk-in closet). I found a cheval mirror at Goodwill that is light enough for me to move around, so I bought it. Brought it home, stood in front of it, and YOWEE. I look tall and slim!

DH did the same thing, and without me prompting said, "Ooh, I love this mirror."

Sadly, we both know it's a flaw in the glass and we haven't suddenly gotten sexier, but I do admit I enjoy modeling in front of it. I just hope I don't start believing the lies.

Dressing

14 replies

Latest reply was from lynne

catgirl

Veteran

OMG, what if I have one of those? It would explain a lot about why often think I look great until I take a photo.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I think my mirror is just the opposite. Either that or the stores have magic mirrors!

Heh, anyone else think of Romper Room when they read "magic mirror" or is it just me?

Mo

(website)

Veteran

"I see Mary, and Jaime, and Bill".
I have an awesome mirror stuffed behind things in the garage because it was the top to a dresser set, and the dresser is at my would-be-mother-in-law's place. It was my step mom's teenage set from the 50's, that I used from my teens until my 30's, and the glass is flawless. I need to get it put in a frame that can hang on the wall, I think. I bought a full length chevral mirror with stand a few years back, but it has the expected waves and tricks in it. And the bathroom mirror here in FL has the unhappy accident of a 'fat' wave right at hip height. Ugh.

MsMary

Veteran

I loved Romper Room!!

And yes, the stores do have magic mirrors! No question about it!!

Ann in New England

I bet the stores do have magic mirrors! That would explain so much...

Traci

Veteran

I don't remember if I've shared this before, but there's a trick for testing a mirror for illusions.

Take a piece of paper and cut it into a perfect square. Stand in front of the mirror and move the paper up and down and watch for changes in the proportions. If it turns rectangular you know there's a tricky spot there.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Interesting Traci - I have to try that next time I'm in some stores.

bj1111

Veteran

ah, the skinny mirror! all the stores have them. this would explain why i never look as fab when i get the stuff home.

merwoman

Veteran

Stores seem to have magic mirrors and magic lighting...except those selling swimsuits!

DeeCee

alaskagirl, this was my first thought!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I think it is great to have a flattering mirror. If you think you look good you will walk around feeling confident and you will look good! If you look in a bad mirror you will walk around feeling self conscious and not so fab. Loved Romper Room!

Echo

Veteran

I have a floor mirror (the enormous ones that lean against the wall), and those are automatically "magic"! Anytime a mirror tilts away from you at the top, even just a smidge, it will give an illusion that you are thinner. And the paper test wouldn't work with my mirror, as the difference is slight (but noticeable). It is not enough to visually stretch something out of shape enough that you would really notice. Anything that would stretch a square into a rectangle clearly enough for someone to notice the difference would count as a funhouse mirror to me! If a person could see the square change, it would be hard not to notice the distortion on other things reflected, wouldn't it?

Traci

Veteran

Echo, you should try the paper trick. You can see the distortion with paper easier for two reasons.

It's a very clear cut proportion. 1x1 stands out to our eye. I've tried it with a circle, which should be the same top to bottom and side to side as well, but it's harder for my eye to see the shift. I've also tried it with a rectangle to observe if it lengthens and I can't see that as easily as I can see the square morph either.

With the piece of paper you're able to move it over the length of the whole mirror within seconds. This is very different than the way we look at ourselves in the mirror. We don't look at our hips in the top of the mirror, then in the middle of the mirror and then at the bottom of the mirror. We're looking at different parts of our bodies in each part of the mirror and so we don't see the distortion as clearly as if we would look at one very simple item in different parts of the mirror.

It's basically just taking away any distractions and looking only at the way the mirror reflects proportions to you.

lynne

Veteran

Thank you, Traci, for that easy way to test the mirrors. I know some of the stores I frequent have them, (Banana Republic, Anthropologie).