Content warning: This article might be upsetting for readers with body dysmorphia.​

Ah, the dreaded task of clothes shopping – a pastime some of us love and some of us loathe. Wherever you may stand on the subject, we’ve all experienced the frustration of trying on clothes in a shop, only to find that it doesn’t look or feel great on, or the disappointment of finding a piece you love, but it just doesn’t fit quite right.

We all know the lighting and angle of mirrors can often make a garment look a lot better or worse than it really is, but just how much can a fitting room change the way you look?

It’s heartbreakingly true that we can’t love ourselves all the time. But sometimes, it’s not what we look like that makes us feel bad; it’s the effect of unrealistic mirror images or terrible-quality lighting.

Bree Lenehan, a body-positive influencer from Queensland, shared photographs to prove how lighting and mirrors can make her body look entirely different with each store she visits.

‘All fitting rooms are different, you never know what external factors are at play,’ she said in her Instagram post.

Fitting room mirrors are sometimes manipulated. Credit: breeelenehan/Instagram

‘A lot of the time, what you see doesn’t reflect the reality of the situation,’ the influencer explained. Bree took pictures of herself wearing the same teal-coloured dress across four different clothing stores to show the stark contrast between their fitting rooms.

‘Lighting, angles, posing, different lenses and mirrors can change the way we look – especially in fitting rooms,’ she added.

Bree explained that some stores use wide mirrors or harsh lighting that casts shadows over the body and exaggerates every feature. Some use softer lights or manipulate the mirrors to hide lumps and bumps.

‘In case you were wondering, there is nothing wrong with having lumps and bumps!’ Bree said.

Clothes can look flattering or unflattering depending on how someone poses in photos. Credit: breeelenehan/Instagram

She also reminded everyone to ‘be kinder to ourselves’.

‘We are all our own harshest critics,’ she explained in her post. Bree also added that sizing differs depending on the store or outfit, so it’s okay to size up or down when trying different clothes.

The influencer said that bad body image moments don’t have to turn into a ‘bad body image day’. She urged her followers to acknowledge how they speak to themselves, and to ‘take a deep breath and consciously try to switch to more gentle thoughts’.

The problem of social media and its influence on body image is multi-faceted. On the one hand, it can be damaging and dehumanising in how it encourages people to compare themselves and create feelings of anxiety. On the other hand, it can be a powerful platform to challenge and reclaim body ideals.

Bree demonstrated how lighting changes what we see in the mirror. Credit: breeelenehan/Instagram

By sharing stories and experiences, many people are learning to accept and be proud of their bodies and their differences. Bree Lenehan’s post is a great example of this, with her words resonating with nearly 60,000 people, and amassing thousands of praises from other social media users.

‘Thanks so much for this! I was in the fitting room today trying on a dress, finding all these reasons not to buy it because of small things that nobody but me will ever notice,’ shared one.

Another commented: ‘This is so true! Well done on making a huge impact on people’s lives, you are changing views, keep it up.’

‘I'm always shocked they don't have amazing lighting as it would make you want to buy the clothes more,’ mused one woman.

Key Takeaways

• Bree Lenehan, from Queensland, took four pictures wearing the same teal-coloured dress in four different clothing stores to demonstrate how the lighting and mirrors in the changing rooms make a huge difference to how a woman's body looks in them.
• Bree reminded everyone to be kind to themselves, as the lighting and angles can change the way we look drastically.
• The post received an overwhelming response from social media users who praised Bree for her reminder that not all Instagram pictures are real life and there is no need to compare oneself to other people.

We love Bree’s message to extend positivity – not just to others but to ourselves as well. Let us know your thoughts about this in the comments, members! Remember, be kind to yourself today!

 

[Suzanne rose]

I worked in a bridal store for many years and every wall had a mirror that went from floor to ceiling.
Over the years I had a number of brides ask if they were skinny mirrors, I laughed and said no, why would you think that because you are gorgeous.

They would reply because some shops actually have mirrors that make you look skinnier when you try on items and look in the mirror. One even said it's the way the lightening is over the mirror. I would turn that particular light off and they would see they looked the same.

I was amazed by these comments as I hadn't heard of that before except those mirrors at carnivals that changed your looks

 

[Zemo]

Notice the differences in the pix: breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out ...
She's also an innie, as opposed to an outie, depending on her breath intake at the time.