Jul 10
21
The Mirror Does Lie!
You’ve suspected it for years: You look in the mirror and say, “No way I can look that ____ (fill in the blank: pale, tired, old)”. I am here to tell you that you are right! A mirror has three strikes against it in distorting your image.
- It flattens your image which distorts how you actually look because it portrays a two dimensional image and you are three dimensional.
- The coating used to make the reflection is gray and so the image you see has a gray cast to it.
- The glass that the silver/gray coating is applied to has a green tint. Green is opposite red on the color wheel (red is the color of blood-which is what makes you look alive) and so neutralizes whatever liveliness is left of your image. Leaving you looking gray-green and flat. Ugh! No wonder so many of us don’t like looking at ourselves in the mirror.
Don’t believe me? Try these two tests:
Test #1:
- Look at your forearm or a piece of white paper.
- Now hold your forearm or the paper against the mirror and look at the reflection. Amazing, no?
Test #2:
- You and a friend stand in front of a mirror.
- You look at your friend.
- Now look at your friend in the mirror.
- Notice the difference in both coloring and the actual image. Amazing, yes!
By now you are wanting a magic mirror but I am sorry to say there is no such thing. There is a”Starlite” mirror which has the silver coating on clear glass, still not perfect because there is the gray cast from the reflective coating, but much better than an ordinary mirror. This is the type of mirror I use in my color analysis consultations so that my clients can come as close a possible to seeing a true image of their coloring.
So don’t believe that mirror! You look a lot more attractive and alive than what it is reflecting. And if you want to make sure you are always reflected to your best advantage, have a personal color analysis.
Jean LeFebvre founded Panache Personal Color and Image Consulting in Austin, Texas to help you learn to make the most of every business and personal encounter. After many years as an interior designer Jean has returned to her roots to offer individual consultations, seminars and workshops on all aspects of personal color, image and wardrobing. Jean trained with image consultants Robert Pante and Earlene Herman and with makeup artist Robert Huerta to hone her image and color consulting skills. As a designer, she has a unique perspective on the architecture of the body and its visual communication.
Jean will be presenting “Update Your Wardrobe With Fall Fashion Trends” at the August 26 Flourish Over 50 event benefiting SafePlace Austin.
