Express & Star

Does my bum look big in this? It’s the question females everywhere are always left wondering when they try on a new outfit, writes Maria Cusine.

As we scrutinise our reflection in a full-length mirror, we often have to take on the skills of a contortionist in order to see ourselves at every angle possible.

But now shoppers can enjoy a 360-degree experience thanks to revolutionary delay mirrors which were unveiled in the West Midlands for the first time today. Fashion chain New Look opened the doors of its new Birmingham branch today – and with it came three unique video mirrors.

Video journalist Victoria Hoe went along to try out the mirror. Watch her video here

Based in the store’s fitting rooms, the mirrors, which mix elements of plasma screen, camera and a computer, allow you to see yourself from every angle.

So if you’re shopping alone, or don’t trust the judgment of a friend or relative – and especially don’t believe your other half’s verdict on your rear – you can now rely on the mirror to show you just how big your bum really looks in the outfits you are trying on. As you stand before the video mirror, you see yourself as you were three seconds ago. So a pose or a twirl is always delayed in time.

The mirrors have been installed in a communal section of the fitting room area. It means shoppers can try on outfits in the privacy of one of the 18 individual changing rooms and then step outside for a different perspective in front of the special mirrors.

Kelly Stait, manager of the New Look store in Corporation Street, said it was the first time the DelayMirror had been used in a shop. “We’re delighted that our new Birmingham branch is home to these mirrors,” said the 27-year-old from Great Barr.

“We all know that girls worry about what their new outfit looks like from behind, so these mirrors give them the chance to see themselves from every angle possible.

“We’ve just installed them in the female changing rooms, as we know that women worry a lot more about what they look like than men do.”

As for my bum looking big in this, it doesn’t. It looks enormous! But at least I had some fun in the process.