Not only do most women not have an enchanted mirror like the Evil Queen in Snow White, most do not have an adequate ordinary mirror, period! Am I right?
I suspect that you are now mentally taking inventory of your personal mirror collection. Where are they, and are they truly functional is the question. Much like most women’s lighting situation (that’s another story for another day), many women settle for substandard mirror options in their home.
Let me give you an example. I was doing a wardrobe consultation with a client one day and at one point I asked her to put something on so we could look at the fit of the outfit and play with the mixing and matching possibilities. She very readily agreed and after she changed I asked her where her full-length mirror was. I followed her down two hallways, three rooms, and into a closet to get to a mirror in a guest bedroom on the other side of the house!
“Do you use this?” I asked. “Occasionally,” she replied sheepishly. She explained that mostly she used the mirror on her medicine cabinet in her bathroom where she could see, at most, to her waist if she stood on her tiptoes.
How did she ever tell if something looked okay, I asked. She didn’t. Mostly, she just crossed her fingers a lot and hoped for the best!
Having a mirror where you can see from head to toe is not a luxury. It is a necessity, and, thankfully, it doesn’t have to cost a fortune or take up massive amounts of space.
Let’s not just wonder if an outfit works. Let’s know for sure!
If you are relying on the mirror on your dresser that cuts you off at the knees or a full-length mirror on a door you can’t open all the way in a dark corner at the end of a hallway (you think I’m kidding, right?), please take 10 minutes, go online and invest (it can be a tiny investment) in something much more functional. Once you do, you’ll wonder how you ever did without it.
Keep these five things in mind when choosing a mirror. It must be:
- Conveniently located in your bedroom close to your closet.
- Well lit. It is useless to look at yourself in the dark!
- Smooth and straight. Warped, “fun house” mirrors distort your body (and your perspective), and they don’t do a thing for your self-image or self-esteem either.
- The right height. Can you see all of yourself without standing on a chair or squatting? (Yes, your head and feet are important parts of how you look.)
- Lastly, you must use it!
Once you have a great mirror, it is important to look every once in a while and make sure all is well – if nothing else, take a peek at your rear view and make sure everything looks okay. Others see this view of you all the time, and you want to be sure you know what’s going on back there! (Some day I will share the story of a friend going to her mailbox…)
Need help choosing a mirror? Here are 3 options:
Over the door mirrors. Here’s a beautiful (albeit more pricey) one from Pottery Barn, but you can find a door mirror (some need screws) for as little as $14 at Target.
Multi-functional. This one stores all your jewelry, too. I own this mirror and love it (the price has dropped significantly since I got it—lucky you!).
http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.item.H86082.desc.Gold-Silver-Safekeeper-Mirrored-Jewelry-Cabinet-by-Lori
Your traditional floor mirror. They range in price from $33 to $200+.
http://www.amazon.com/Cherry-Finish-Cheval-Floor-Mirror/dp/B000K2O4UK/ref=pd_sbs_hg_18
Hey, I even found an ironing board that has a full-length mirror on the other side! There is no end to the options. So, if you do not already have a great mirror, have fun shopping! Oh, and I’m not done with mirrors yet. Look for a future article on makeup mirrors!
I’d love to hear from you if you find any full-length mirrors that you think are particularly great.
