Buzz
A well-designed retail dressing room can really boost one's confidence. The lighting is gentle and flattering, the ambiance can be soothing (imagine Anthropologie), and the full-length mirrors enhance one's appearance.
In fact, they may be a bit too flattering. Some skeptical shoppers have long suspected that retailers use “skinny mirror” techniques to boost sales. After all, how many times have you tried on a new outfit at home only to be disappointed? Creating such a mirror is quite simple. As physics professor Dr. Ken Mellendorf explained to Apartment Therapy, all it requires is a slight curve in the glass.
"A perfectly flat mirror reflects an image that is identical in shape and size to the object. A slight curvature along one axis can make a person appear thinner or heavier. To make someone look slimmer, the image needs to be compressed horizontally or stretched vertically. Most mirrors naturally bend over time from top to bottom. If viewed from the side, a slight curvature at the edges is visible. The top and bottom edges generally remain straight. Your home mirror may develop this curvature due to its own weight. If the center bulges outward slightly, your height may seem slightly reduced, but your width stays the same."
Yes, even mirrors outside of retail stores can mislead. Thinner mirrors are more prone to warping and distortion over time, while thicker mirrors—particularly those framed or mounted—tend to provide a more accurate reflection.
But back to the dressing room: While the idea of “skinny mirrors” was once just a rumor, evidence now supports their existence. In 2015, entrepreneur Belinda Jasmine appeared on Shark Tank to present The Skinny Mirror, a collection of mirrors designed to make people appear up to 10 pounds lighter. Although none of the Sharks took the deal, Jasmine persisted with her business and has reportedly been in discussions with at least one well-known clothing retailer. This retailer likely has good reason to be interested: According to The Skinny Mirror website, stores that use these adjusted mirrors see a rise in sales, with up to 18.2 percent more purchases per customer.
While many customers view these mirrors as deceptive, The Skinny Mirror website argues that the product helps foster a positive self-image and boosts self-esteem, encouraging users to feel more confident and content with their appearance.
So, are skinny mirrors ultimately beneficial or detrimental? We’ll leave you to ponder that.
