Dressing rooom depression...

[Elena]

It's getting hotter by the day here in Las Vegas, and all my work clothes are long sleeve and sweaters, so I broke down and went shopping... not my favorite activity unless it comes in a jpg, png, or psd! Anyway, I was fine all through winter in my jeans and long sleeves. I actually thought I looked OK. NOT! Let me tell you... under those dressing room lights it ain't pretty.

Anyone share my pain?

[anke]

that and the hair dresser! Is it the light??? I always feel I need a facelift when I go there and the dressing room should be against the law. Those 3way mirrors are cruel!!!! I decided I will need a bathing suit with a skirt down to my knees!

[echogirl]

I feel your pain....all I'm going to say on the matter is 3 children in 3 years 4 months...do I need to say more?!?

[GoingtotheSun]

Oh woe is me! I hear you, girl! : )

[MIDA78466]

I had the same experience yesterday. Starting to work out tomorrow!!

[DonnaNJ]

LOL My guess is that there will be dozens of responses in agreement within the next hour :-) At least I know better than to go shopping LOL

[maureenreynolds]

It is a classic woman thing. I plan to buy a bathing suit from Lands End. They cover a multitude of sins and I'm not out to impress anyone. I just don't want to shock them!

(Close your ears now Randy!!) Men, foolish creatures that they are, usually think they are better looking than they really are, and don't often see what the mirror reveals. We should learn from them tho.

[Blesus]

Elena - right there with you! Left the mall, discouraged, to come home and see the new goodies in the DD store. Sigh - everything "fits" here .....

[cstaff]

Oh just wait until you hit your 60's. The tummy has a mind of it's own and sweat pants all winter just teased me... Shopping can be evil. Now... yard work and extra miles are my friend... shopping will wait...

[champsarahjoy]

Originally Posted by maureenreynolds

I'm not out to impress anyone. I just don't want to shock them!

I just want you to know that you gave me a chuckle Maureen....this is EXACTLY my philosophy!

[hendon]

I can't believe dressing room mirrors have such bad lighting and wonky mirrors - you'd think they would be on to that one - great lighting, slimming mirrors - I'm sure we'd buy more!

[carollee]

Oh yes, dressing room lights are not good and I reckon the mirrors aren't accurate either. SAme as the lights in the ladies room. They show all my grey hairs! LOL

[KerryMac]

I've always wondered why they don't spend the majority of their decorating money on lighting in the dressing rooms!? I mean, duh. They seem to put in lights that pick up cellulite, shadowing, the hamburger you ate last night for dinner, the extra beer...
Sheesh. Yes, I feel your pain!

[ValerieP]

I know I am with you on this and more-need-really must start riding my bike to work!

[esther_a]

My recent shopping experiences have included shopping with 18yo DD who looks amazing in ANYTHING and crinkles up her nose and goes "nyeah" at whatever I try. The other experience was when I put on an expensive designer dress in something like my usual size. The 'snug' fit turned out to be an 'impossible to get off' fit and I had to call a dressing room attendant to help me squeeze out!! Mightily embarrassing!

[DonnaNJ]

Originally Posted by esther_a

My recent shopping experiences have included shopping with 18yo DD who looks amazing in ANYTHING and crinkles up her nose and goes "nyeah" at whatever I try. The other experience was when I put on an expensive designer dress in something like my usual size. The 'snug' fit turned out to be an 'impossible to get off' fit and I had to call a dressing room attendant to help me squeeze out!! Mightily embarrassing!

Oh Esther that is so funny.. I'm sorry I'm sure you didn't think so at the time but the image just gave me such a chuckle

[grandma lynnie]

Dressing rooms are not nice places. I've lost some weight and keep thinking I look pretty darn good until I try to buy some new clothes. Then the truth is revealed. Yuck! I definitely feel your pain Elena!

[Tesia]

Originally Posted by cstaff

Oh just wait until you hit your 60's. The tummy has a mind of it's own and sweat pants all winter just teased me... Shopping can be evil. Now... yard work and extra miles are my friend... shopping will wait...

Have any of you seen the Wanda Sykes "I'm a be me" (or something like that). It is insanely hillarious and she has a who segment about her gut with a mind of it's own. Helps lighten the mood!
Anyway, I totally feel the dressing room pain...that's why I end up with five different colored shirts in the same style if I find anything halfway decent!

[suzanne]

I so can feel your pain on this one. I have been working really hard the last 9 months to lose weight and it is making clothes shopping a nightmare. I hate seeing myself in those stupid mirrors. I swear they add at least 10 pounds and the lighting is horrible. They say of you are shopping for a swimsuit you should get a spray tan done before hand because the tan makes you appear thinner. Wonder if it works for other summer clothes shopping too.

[FlowerGirl]

I went to try on some exercise clothes yesterday and I swear I looked 3 inches shorter (and thus, chubbier) than I am. You would think they would try to enhance peoples' appearance if they want to sell things!

[earlofoxford]

I so know how you feel, Elena! I have never been keen on shopping, and as the years (and pounds) have piled up, it's now like torture. Plus, I think most things are SO ugly. Guess I'll just wear what I have until it's threadbare.

[b2halter]

I SO hate trying things on in dressing rooms! It's just painful!!

[justmp]

Right there with you! and I let myself put on some weight this winter, so none of the clothes from last summer feel good when I put them on, so I KNOW I look bad! Started counting calories again Monday and worked out twice!

[annaaspnes]

It's all about the lighting Elena and the quality of the mirrors! You'd think they'd make more of an effort so that they sell more.

[maureenreynolds]

It really is astounding that the lighting in particular is not a warm, flattering bulb. I know it is environmentally sound to have the lights they have but it is also poor marketing. Scrappers, encourage your daughters to go into Industrial Design!

When I still did paid work, I used to shop at our local Talbots.They did have good lights in the dressing rooms which were also well mirrored and spacious. I still usually just took anything I was interested in home to try on...after charging the merchandise! I would rather take the time to go back and return the unwanted items, in particular to also avoid having a sales clerk keep asking me 'how I'm doing'. btw, the Talbots moved to a new location and now have horrible fluorescent bulbs throughout the store. Everything looks awful and I realized I couldn't tell if I looked good in something or not since the lighting made ME look ill.

[Applechick]

OMG - as someone who has increased in size by a LOT over the last few years I find shopping excruciating! - sometimes I catch sight of myself in the mirror and think - 'who is THAT'!!!

I'm thinking that candlelit dressing rooms might be the answer!

Fiona

[DonnaNJ]

ROTFL... Candle lit dressing rooms... Fiona you are too funny :-)

[Starlite9711]

I'm with Fiona! Candelight is the answer!!

Elena, seems you (we...) aren't alone!! Depressing indeed!

[whatnext]

heheeee...that's why i NEVER try stuff on in those dressing rooms. i just buy it and try it on under the kinder lighting at home, then return it if it doesn't work out.

[Julie DeGuia]

Elena - If you are talking about the whiteness of your skin, I feel your pain. I try to wear capri pants whenever possible throughout the summer but it gets pretty darn hot here too. Now I am off to go put on a short skirt and play tennis. For some reason my white legs don't bother me as much in a tennis skirt - go figure.