Thursday, September 19, 2013

Why Thin Vs. Plus size Models? What's wrong with "Average Size"?


With NYFW, LFW behind us and MFW heating up, a lot has been covered in the media about trends that we must have and what designer collections we should love right now. However, the deeper issues that came across as of late has to do with the acceptance of plus-size models on the runway and the huge market for plus-size fashion that is in the billions of dollars. Sure, the quantity of fashion consumerism will be much greater than ever before
with plus size available more widely, especially in designer collections. But does that really mean plus-size is embraced because socially it is the right thing to do or is it just a for-profit band-wagon?  What do you think?

photo source

I have a very difficult time understanding why the industry  just  can't have normal, "average-size" models?? Wouldn't it be for the best of everyone's interest? The models themselves, the fashion industry, the consumers? The substitution of aspiration for relatability should be a better approach than the "image-selling" unattainable unrealistic depiction of beauty achieved with fashion. There should be standards or rules prohibiting models to work if they are under their healthy BMI (Body Mass Index).  This is the most social-conscious thing to do--to prevent  models and young girls who aspire to be models (or try to emulate their thinness) from eating disorders, depression, drug use, and other metabolic/medical problems associated with these dangerous activities.


 Over more, if we celebrate the "healthy size", which I think is attainable by aiming for the right body mass index, we  change the world by advocating for healthier lifestyles and putting a break on the worldwide obesity epidemic [World Health Organization Stats].  With millions of Americans overweight and obese, it's not a sign of social empowerment to encourage the sustaining of lifestyles that perpetuate this trend--the plus size trend. There are many health problems associated with being extremely underweight  and overweight, and it's more than just how one looks on the outside. We need to raise the bar to ensure that the standards for social acceptance does not drive one towards self destruction.  Because quite frankly, when one is sick or suffers clinical depression fashion is not going to save them.

From a responsible medical and social perspective, one of the best solutions would be to encourage the industry to employ models who are healthy examples that everyone could strive to be-- proportionally beautiful from inside and out; mentally and physically. No fashion statement is as beautiful as good health. With that said, I believe that the responsibility to make things right is a 2-way street: "for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction."

 

Resources:
1) Aim for Healthy Weight
2) Health Problems associated with overweight and obesity
3) Health problems associated with underweight

11 comments:

  1. Over size 10 it is overweight and that is not healthy!!! I don't know why everyone attacks slim women and says overweight and fat women are healthy and okay. Rubbish!!!

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    1. Hahahaha silly bird it's about your BMI and not the size of your clothes. Besides you can be a 6 or 8 and be very unhealthy or a 10 or 12 and be as healthy and fit as a horse.
      Don't fret little bird everyone attacks anyone over silly matters to make themselves feel better about their life, always has been and always will be.

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    2. There are many very healthy plus sized women. Thin does not always mean healthy. Its all sbout eating right and excercising and then what body you have will be healthy--plus sized or not. A person who starves themselves or who is bulemic to be thin is not healthy--and, in my opinion is not beautiful either. I find plus sized models to be the most beautiful. Be true to the body you were born with.

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    3. There are many very healthy plus sized women. Thin does not always mean healthy. Its all sbout eating right and excercising and then what body you have will be healthy--plus sized or not. A person who starves themselves or who is bulemic to be thin is not healthy--and, in my opinion is not beautiful either. I find plus sized models to be the most beautiful. Be true to the body you were born with.

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    4. These are Australian sizes. They start higher than the US sizes...

      An Australian size 10 is an American size 6.

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    5. In America, the healthy size depends on height. For example, a size 5 on a shorter woman would be considered overweight, yet a size five on a really tall woman would be anorexic. I'm a size 5 and tall, but not really that tall.

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  2. you really just need to imagine a model as a clothes-hanger, not a person. They HAVE to be skinny to best show the clothes. A lot of the time, the clothing doesn't even suit them, doesn't look good on them, they are literally just to DISPLAY the clothes. Average size models (size 10) can take away the attention of the clothing. by making the models be incredibly skinny, it draws attention to the clothes.

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  3. Person above has this nailed - couture models are walking coat hangers. Less there is of them the less it detracts from what they're selling - and they're selling clothes, not themselves at the end of the day. If the flesh wobbles, moves, sways, bounces etc the clothes don't; designs wantto show how the clothes hypnotise not the wearers.

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  4. It is equally impolite to degrade someone due to lack of weight as it is to degrade for excess weight. By insinuating that all women who are thin starve themselves you are contributing to a hateful stereotype. Different people see beauty in different ways and that's perfectly fine. There's beautiful women of all shapes and sizes. If VS seems to want a specific body type that is their right. There is more work for models and other brands for women who don't fit into the VS mold. Society needs to stop stereotyping and start elevating our confidence and minds.

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