Changing room mirrors

I remember a shop called Revone near Marble Arch - you couldn't even stop to look in their window in case you were dragged in by a saleswoman!

There Was a boutique called Garb on Oxford St where the staff were so persuasive that I once bought three little tartan kilts.Mini kilts, we used to wear them with a tight polo neck jumper tucked into them, remember? Of course I was a size10 then so they looked good, but the point is, that I was newly married, and we had hardly any money, so my purchase should have stopped at 1 mini kilt only.

An assistant once assured me that the too tight dress I was struggling to take off would be fine as I could 'just let out the seams'. I was young and lacked confidence but I managed to get out of the shop without buying that time. She must have been desperate for commission.

I also remember the boutiques in Oxford St late 60's early seventies, you were lucky to get out with any money still in your purse.

no mirror, no point in buying it! I always sit down in a garment too, see how it fits and how it creases, so a chair/seat is a must.I never ask anyone else how it looks on me, I can judge that for myself.

Firstly, I would refuse to buy an outfit from any shop who covers their mirrors, and secondly, I would not trust the opinion of an assistant for obvious reasons.
My Darling Sister tells me straight, and not just about clothes, she has a good eye. I trust her judgement completely as She tells it as it is.
Recently, I wanted a new lipstick, and the lovely Lady who helped me choose, sat me down and applied some to see how it would look. I was really not sure about the colour, so I showed the effect to my Sister. Her words were:
"You can wipe that off right now, you look like a clown".
She was right, in the daylight I did.?
Thank You Sis for your honesty. It may not be what I wanted to hear, but it was the truth.?

At least there are less communal changing rooms now. They had mirrors all round so you could not only see how bad you looked but everyone else could too. Everytime anyone went in or out all your reflections were shown to the shoppers outside. Some women would hover in the doorway to show themselves to their OH, and at the same time give him a good view of everyone else changing too!

A good sales person will always give an honest opinion, which is why I always shop in the same little boutique as the 'girls' never pull punches if the look isn't right! They do have mirrors - ridiculous to try & shop without, even if you do trust the assistants' opinions.

Nellie, might have been Zelda? The Marble Arch end of Oxford Street. Those small shops were awful. You only had to window shop and someone would be out, almost dragging you in, telling you there was plenty of other stock, and what lovely blue eyes you had! I soon learnt to avoid them. The other end of Oxford St was much better, with hardly any of those small shops. I just hated anyone coming into the changing room and catching me in my bra, prude that I was, so I fell over myself pulling my top off and getting into whatever it was at high speed before the curtain was inevitably swished back and the insincere accolades began, usually with another assistant being called over to agree. I needed my today's confidence back then, although I never bought anything unless I wanted it. Just found it embarrassing,

michellehargreaves I remember those shops so well. I went up to Londoin to buy a dress for my first dance and got trapped in one of those shops. Only the thought of what my mother would say if I returned home with any of the dresses they tried to foist apon me, got me out unscathed. I ended up buying a very pretty dress in Richards, I think.

However I am still nervous about going into boutiques unless there are at least two other customers already there.

michellehargreaves was that a very cramped one on a corner of Oxford Street where they used to allocate an assistant to badger you. It had a very small upstairs I can't remember the name. ?Z something?

Back about 1964 just leaving school and earning my own money, I went in a specialist lingerie shop and bought a black lacy bra, after trying it on first. My mother made me take it back as she stated she was not hanging that on the washing line - what would the neighbours think?

Years later I recounted this to a builder friend who was renovating that shop. He said the fitting rooms were laid out in such a way that the two-way mirrors all looked into a room behind!

A pub in Leicester had a sign outside, "Man creche, leave your men here whilst you shop"

I really like the idea of a man-crèche, but it would do away with the flirting opportunities described so eloquently by G and T. That would be a shame. Flirting opportunities are few and far between for me these days! Mirrors are an absolute must though! I need to confirm that my bum does indeed look big in this! ?

I absolutely agree. Mirrors are a must. Though I do think the mirrors seem more flattering than the ones at home. Bit like the hall of mirrors in reverse. Same with shoe shop carpeted floors. How comfy are your shoes in the shop and then in the real world of pavements etc. pimch and hurt.

When I was a student, and shopping in Oxford Street, there used to be dress shops where predatory shop-women would literally drag one into the shop if one was foolish enough to pause for a second to look in the window. They would fling loads of unsuitable clothes into the changing room and tell you that you looked wonderful, summon a couple of other harridans to tell you the same thing. OH how hard it was for the gently brought up to get out of the shop without being parted from the meagre amount of cash one had in those days - and for a garment one would NEVER put on again. Thank goodness the days of the very hard sell are over!

Definitely need mirrors in changing rooms - preferably positioned to achieve an all-round view, frightening as that may sound. I'm sure that the mirrors in our local branch of Debenhams are those which make you look taller and slimmer though!

Years ago when I was a student I tried on a Mac in a shop with no mirrors. The assistant said 'there's lovely'.The friend with me shook her head...Even now 45 years later 'there's lovely'is our code for 'don't even think about it' It still makes us giggle .

There have to be mirrors. At least 2 so you can view the horror from all directions. Also a chair so you can check if a skirt rides up when you sit. What I object to, are the mirrors that "slim you down" and the lighting that gives you a false sense of security, the "wow, I don't look that old" moment. Proper lighting and proper mirrors , then at least we can make rational decisions before we buy.

Much as I hate mirrors in the changing room you need to see what your trying on seems daft to me. W hen I get home and try it on again and look in my long mirror in my bedroom that's when I can tell more then it can go back or I keep it always have to be sure.

Another thought, won't this encourage people to shop on line more. if you can see what an item looks like until you get home, you might as well shop from you arm chair.

This blog has really cheered me up this morning. Was feeling miserable due to supporting a couple of bereaved friends, read the title as "changing the room mirrors" and wondered what could be said about that. Then have really had a chuckle over this. The idea of a man's crèche was excellent but I wonder if it took off as that was 15yrs ago! I never take my DH shopping as he gets so impatient I end up grabbing the first thing and then don't wear it!

Stupid idea.... No try no sale

There was a dress shop in Freeport Braintree that had a "mens area", mags, coffee, chairs etc. But it was taken away, when I asked why " the management said we had to use the space for display"

M&Co in Maldon had chairs round the corner from the changing rooms, they have recently moved them to where you can see the changing rooms, not a good idea, would feel like a dirty old man if I sat there.

Exactly so Sunseeker! I can tell straight away when something doesn't FEEL right, too tight, too loose, can't see my feet etc. Knowing if something look as as good as it feels is another matter. Most shop assistants seem to have been on body-language courses. If I go out to show my hub confidently, they say really complimentary things, but would I want them to say something bad about a garment I've just decided I look good in or is what I want? I'd rather have a silent mirror's opinion!