Why do some mirrors make me look skinnier than others? Here’s the truth about fat mirrors and slim mirrors
It's not just your imagination, some looking glasses really do make you appear slimmer
HAVE you ever wondered why you can't leave a shop without that dress - even though you don't really need it?
When the light in the dressing room is soft and your reflection is looking pretty hot, you just have to treat yourself, but others - not so much. Here's the lowdown on why.
Why do some mirrors make me look skinnier than others?
Sadly, when you get home your new get-up suddenly doesn't look so good - and some believe that this ISN'T in your imagination.
Conspiracy theorists have suggested retailers use "skinny mirror" tricks to make more sales.
According to Dr. Ken Mellendorf, a physics teacher from Illinois, there's something in this - but it's all about the shape of the looking glass.
"A completely flat mirror will show an image behind it of exactly the same shape and size as the actual object," he told .
"Slight curvature along only one axis can make a person look fat or skinny.
"To make you look thin, your image needs to be compressed horizontally or extended vertically."
Over time most mirrors bend from top to bottom and there can be a slight curvature at the edge.
"Your home mirror can do this due to its own weight," Ken explained.
"If the centre bulges out a little bit, your height will appear slightly smaller but your width will not be changed.
"This can make a person look a little fat."
It is important that the actual glass is not bent.
That means a thick mirror, or one which is wall-mounted, is more likely to give a true reflection.
However, if a thin, or an unframed floor, mirror is leaning up against the wall it could well be offering something a little way from the truth.
So there you have it - it's not just you, sometimes mirrors really will do you a favour.
We previously covered a story about a woman accusing high street chain H&M of using curved mirrors that made her look fatter.
We also reported that some of the top stores are removing changing room mirrors to stop customers feeling body conscious.
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