The Importance of the Mirror

Lorry Newhouse, a/w12-13

If you were sceptical about the title of this post – fear not! This is not an article about the mirror and make up and therefore our own vanity, but mirrors and the importance of dressing. Can you believe I have nearly spent a whole year in university accommodation without a full length mirror and one at home that is no use to anyone on a dark landing! On countless occasions I have left the house without really knowing if my combination works proportionally. I have relied utterly on the opinions of friends – and that is trust indeed – because really only you can tell if you’re looking your best or how you want to. Conversations are an endless back and forth of ‘you look fine’ – ‘just fine, not good/hot/pretty…?’ – ‘No, you look great!’ – ‘Are you sure?’ and so on. Now that I have written that out I realise how petty it is! Equally though, without a mirror I have grown to trust my instincts and inner confidence that I do look great because I am feeling great!

There is much to be said for the positioning of a mirror. Not hanging up a full length mirror surely impacts how you see your reflection, because why is it that certain mirrors actually make us look fatter than we are? And from then on your evening is lost to thinking about how big your thighs are, when really you’re being pathetic! Nothing can be worse than changing room mirrors. Nothing. Who would have thought you had spent a week in the gym when looking in that Topshop mirror? The lighting and angles make my self esteem plummet! Over the years there have been numerous studies of clothing chains to find that many use slimming mirrors in their changing rooms. We unconsciously think we look better than in reality and so we are more likely to buy the item of clothing – very clever but very misleading! So, although I may complain about not having a full length mirror, I don’t think a mirror that offers a true reflection of yourself exists – a truthful friend is your only ally when it comes to appearance.

FX