Lane Bryant has trick mirrors!

I went to Lane Bryant tonight, got myself an outfit, while I was in the dressing room admiring myself and thought I looked like hot stuff and was so happy with how the clothes made me look. So I get home and try them on and look in my mirror and looked terrible, so I take a full shot picture of myself with my camera to make sure, it's always been the only surefire way I know how I truly look as my view of myself is often distorted. I looked HORRIBLE in the picture too, the outfit looked like crap on me. Why did I look so good in Lane Bryant's mirrors, but so horrible at home in my mirrors and camera? This happens to me all the time :( Sorry for the whine

Ah!  Here's the answer.  You still look hot stuff!  But, your mind is playing tricks on you!   For the longest time, I would catch a glimpse of a really cute skinny chick in the mirror out of the corner of my eye.  I'd look dead on and there's frumpy old fat me looking back.  I would still see frumpy me in pictures too.  I'm better now.  The fat chick only comes back a few times a month to haunt me.  Just last night, I was crying real tears because I felt fat and thought I looked fat.  My poor husband.  He thinks I'm insane.  He just doesn't understand.  He tries to comfort me but ends up making it worse.  At least he tries.   Hang in there sweetie.  It'll get better soon.  Just keep watching for the new you out of the corner of your eye.  She's there ... just hiding a bit longer.

Terri is so right - we still see through our "big fat eyes" and I think it will take a long time to get past that.  put the outfit aside and try it on in a day or two and see how you feel - if it still is terrible, just take it back, try again :) hang in there, your new eyeballs will catch up to the rest of  you!

Also note.. the camera WILL add pounds to you in a picture.  So it's not a really good indicator of how you look in an outfit.  Best is your mirror, or a trust person's opinion.

*hugs* 

Everytime I take a update picture of myself to put on my blog page.. I'm appauled!  Even my husband admits I look better in person.   I just don't photograph well... it's always been that way.  We have a brand new top of the line digital camera.. and still.. it brings out all the things I hate.. and hides all the things I like about myself.   Also.. I noticed in the lane bryant I went to.. the lighting was really dim.. and that came play tricks on your eyes too. We are our own worst critic.  I'm sure you look great!!!! -shakeira

Could be the lighting? I always feel very different about clothes once I've bought them and taken them homes. Don't be so hard on yourself...I'm sure you look smokin hot in it!

Part of it is what Terri said and part of it is the lighting in these stores. Dressing rooms have dim, soft lighting that is flattering to just about anyone. However, when you get into the harsh of daylight.... And I'm not saying that means you're fat! In fact, thin people have complained about it. A burgundy color looked great in the fitting room. At home, it looks like someone rubbed brick dust all over the shirt!  It's just sometimes an outfit flatters you more under the great store lighting than it does in "real life."

Hugs Melissa, I agree with Terri. 

Everyone is right with their responses.  However, Lane Bryant is one of the stores that has been 'caught' with trick mirrors in the past (as well a couple of other department stores).  Apparently you can tell if the mirror is a skinny mirror if the middle of the mirror is not attached, or loose.  If it is, then there is a slight bow of the mirror which can give the appearance of a trimmer body.  This is the stores gimic to make us think we look taller and slimmer then we are in their cloths so we will buy them.  As it so happens, there was just a story on this very topic on 20/20 last week.  WIth that said, all of us who have lost weight struggle to see ourselves in our new body.  However, we need to be careful of some of the stores' tactics to get us to buy cloths.