I’d been dreaming about these pants…as you can see by the Polyvore set I’d created around them.

I tried them on at Anthropologie, loved them, bought them delighted thinking they made me look tall, thin and leggy.

Like this…

And now for your viewing pleasure, here is what they actually look like on me.

WTF?

Clearly something went radically wrong.

I had Lasik eye surgery about 15 years ago. They never told me this would be a side effect.

Even when I got these pants home and tried them on I swear I didn’t look like a hobbit.

I’m wearing platform sandals with them, I know they would have looked better with 4″ heels, everything looks better with 4″ heels, but it’s not realistic. The Clark sandals I’m wearing here I can actually wear all day without developing a brain aneurysm.

I was excited thinking I’d scored some super comfy figure flattering classic summer trousers.

This is when you must trust the camera not your mirror.

My camera captured the truth.

These pants visually add 10 lbs to my frame and make me look like I’m walking on two very thick, well aged, wrinkled tree trunks.

Needless to say when I saw the photos I screamed, ran to the kitchen and anger ate 2 pieces of cake, a handful of nuts and 2 protein bars cause, healthy packed up the trousers immediately to return them.

I always try to take photos of items before I commit to keeping them.  It is shocking what a universe of difference there can be between the reflected image in a mirror and a camera lens.

The camera acts as the honest but well meaning friend that has the guts to tell you,

“Yes, those pants do make you look fat.”

Or for those of you that have polite friends & cameras,

” You can do better.”

I’ve known for a while that I think I’m 20 years younger, 20 lbs lighter and 6 inches taller in my mind.  Normally people can live quite contently in ignorant self delusional bliss.  The problem arises when you are a personal style blogger and are forced to look at photos of yourself regularly.

There have been many days when I would have much rather dressed up my pug for outfit photos than myself.  Zoë is cool with her wrinkles, Buddha belly and hairy legs. I think I could stand to learn a thing or two from her.

Plus she snores and she doesn’t even care.

Do you suffer a delusional disconnect between what you think you look like and what you actually look like?  Does that make it hard for you to purchase clothing?