Have you ever asked a friend "Does this dress make me look fat?"  Are you insane enough to think that you will get an honest answer with this no win question?

Consider all the bad singers on American Idol.  They have lived in complete denial their whole lives with no one telling them the honest truth.  On national tv, Simon Cowell is their first reality check.  We live our lives without a blunt Simon Cowell to tell us our fashion faux pas.

Don’t be a Glamour “fashion don’t.”  With a little assistance, you can be your own best critic.   Let me tell you a little secret from years of shopping alone and making costly mistakes:

Did you know that your old digital camera can be your free personal shopping advisor on your next clothes shopping trip?

When you go to buy your new pair of jeans, carry a small camera tripod and your digital camera in the dressing room with you.  Why? HELLO . . . you only have 2 arms!!!

It is anatomically impossible to take pictures of your butt without a little tripod assistance. Ok . . . stop distracting me with questions.

Next set up your digital camera with its timer. Ah what?

Didn’t you read your camera manual? Ahhhh me too, I only read it when I need something.

Since this is a fashion emergency there is no time to waste sweating the details.  Knowledge is king so like a boy scout “be prepared.”  Now we go through your fashion check list:

• Camera is ready . . . check
• Tripod is set up . . . check
• New jeans are on. . . check

Time for your fashion show to start. Take pictures of your front, rear and the sides.

What for? You can only see your front side in front of the mirror and your mind is used to blipping out honest feedback. There is something about a candid camera that tells no lies.

Look for bulging tummies and butt hanging out.  Why your butt? How many of us see women every day with their undies hanging out for the world to see all in the name of smaller sizes?

Keep on trying on clothes until you find your picture perfect choice from all angles. Be your own worst critic as you check out your pictures in your own free personal shopper slideshow.

If you think this doesn’t work, just imagine if Britney Spears could have seen a photographer’s “no underwear” angle.  I rest my case.

Until next time . . . may your camera be your trusty fashion lie detector.