The skinny vs. curvy debate: when will it end?
December 16th 2009 03:53
We've been hearing the same old story for decades now, and still it seems there is no end in sight. Does the fashion industry promote an unhealthy body image by using only very slim models on the catwalk? Would using larger models minimise the development of eating disorders in young girls, or would it be promoting obesity? Is fashion all about fantasies and ideals, or do we want to see "real girls" representing our "real world"? The questions go on and on, and yet, in late 2009 we are still no closer to getting any answers.
In October this year, iconic German designer Karl Lagerfeld made global headlines by making his rather brutal opinions on the size issue very, very clear. "No one wants to see curvy women," he was quoted as saying. "You've got fat mothers with their bags of chips sitting in front of the television and saying that thin models are ugly."
The designer concluded by saying that the fashion world was about "dreams and illusions" and dismissed the claims of popular fashion magazines wanting to cater for larger women as "absurd".
Other designers have heeded the cries of the world's larger ladies, and have made deliberate moves to use heavier models on the catwalk and in their advertising campaigns. In 2006 French designer Jean Paul Gaultier sent a size 20 model strutting down the catwalk at Paris Fashion Week, clad in a risque black corset and stockings. As would be expected it set the fashion industry ablaze, with some applauding Gaultier's move, others calling it a blatant publicity stunt and still others calling it counterproductive, in that the use of a clearly overweight model was an offense to healthy plus-sized models.
While larger models on the catwalk remain a rarity, they are more frequently popping up in magazines and ad campaigns promoting products to "real women", such as Dove's now-famous campaign for "real beauty". Glamour magazine also featured a flabby-bellied model in one of their photo shoots earlier this year, which prompted a wave of both criticism and admiration.
It's clear that designers, magazines and advertisers are listening to what society at large is saying, and some are even making moves to change existing modes of thinking.... but is it really what we want? If it is what the public wants, is it enough, or could you consider it to be mere tokenism?
Personally, I don't have a problem with thin models, provided that they are not unhealthy looking. I don't have a problem with plus-sized models either, provided that they, too, are not unhealthy looking. I would applaud diversity in the fashion industry, that is, models of all sizes, as long as they are the right shape for their size!
Put simply, seeing globs of fat hanging off a model's body is a sure-fire way to turn a healthy woman off the product or design being advertised. At the same time, seeing an emaciated model’s entire ribcage is also far from ideal. What we need to find is a happy medium: models who are representative of every size (and ethnicity!) while promoting neither anorexia nor obesity.
I have to say, I’m also pretty sick of hearing the words “real girl” and “real woman” thrown around with such reckless abandon as they have been of late. In my opinion, it reeks of bitterness to claim that just because a woman is genetically blessed, she is somehow fake, or alien. If models aren’t real women, then what are they?
And as for “real women have curves”? Sure they do, but real women also don’t have curves. We should be celebrating that diversity, rather than marginalizing women based upon their body shapes, and I think it’s up to the media and the fashion industry to the lead the charge.
So what do you think? Would you like to see models of all sizes, or would you prefer to keep the current fantasy ideals of fashion in place? Are you more disgusted by the too-thin or the overweight female figure? And what do you think should be done to end the skinny versus curvy debate, once and for all? Let me know your thoughts.
Which would you rather see?
In October this year, iconic German designer Karl Lagerfeld made global headlines by making his rather brutal opinions on the size issue very, very clear. "No one wants to see curvy women," he was quoted as saying. "You've got fat mothers with their bags of chips sitting in front of the television and saying that thin models are ugly."
The designer concluded by saying that the fashion world was about "dreams and illusions" and dismissed the claims of popular fashion magazines wanting to cater for larger women as "absurd".
Karl Lagerfeld likes them thin
Other designers have heeded the cries of the world's larger ladies, and have made deliberate moves to use heavier models on the catwalk and in their advertising campaigns. In 2006 French designer Jean Paul Gaultier sent a size 20 model strutting down the catwalk at Paris Fashion Week, clad in a risque black corset and stockings. As would be expected it set the fashion industry ablaze, with some applauding Gaultier's move, others calling it a blatant publicity stunt and still others calling it counterproductive, in that the use of a clearly overweight model was an offense to healthy plus-sized models.
Size 20 model Velvet d'Amour, on the Paris catwalk for Jean Paul Gaultier
While larger models on the catwalk remain a rarity, they are more frequently popping up in magazines and ad campaigns promoting products to "real women", such as Dove's now-famous campaign for "real beauty". Glamour magazine also featured a flabby-bellied model in one of their photo shoots earlier this year, which prompted a wave of both criticism and admiration.
One of the many images from Dove's campaign for 'real beauty'
Lizzie Miller in Glamour magazine
It's clear that designers, magazines and advertisers are listening to what society at large is saying, and some are even making moves to change existing modes of thinking.... but is it really what we want? If it is what the public wants, is it enough, or could you consider it to be mere tokenism?
Too thin? Probably.
Personally, I don't have a problem with thin models, provided that they are not unhealthy looking. I don't have a problem with plus-sized models either, provided that they, too, are not unhealthy looking. I would applaud diversity in the fashion industry, that is, models of all sizes, as long as they are the right shape for their size!
Put simply, seeing globs of fat hanging off a model's body is a sure-fire way to turn a healthy woman off the product or design being advertised. At the same time, seeing an emaciated model’s entire ribcage is also far from ideal. What we need to find is a happy medium: models who are representative of every size (and ethnicity!) while promoting neither anorexia nor obesity.
Beautiful models: not too thin, and not too fat
I have to say, I’m also pretty sick of hearing the words “real girl” and “real woman” thrown around with such reckless abandon as they have been of late. In my opinion, it reeks of bitterness to claim that just because a woman is genetically blessed, she is somehow fake, or alien. If models aren’t real women, then what are they?
And as for “real women have curves”? Sure they do, but real women also don’t have curves. We should be celebrating that diversity, rather than marginalizing women based upon their body shapes, and I think it’s up to the media and the fashion industry to the lead the charge.
Healthy, diverse, and fabulous!
So what do you think? Would you like to see models of all sizes, or would you prefer to keep the current fantasy ideals of fashion in place? Are you more disgusted by the too-thin or the overweight female figure? And what do you think should be done to end the skinny versus curvy debate, once and for all? Let me know your thoughts.
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Comment by Michelle Sweeney
Competition Queen
Comment by Journeywoman
Great Hair Style Tips
I Dream of Hollywood
Fashion Peach
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Journeywoman
Great Hair Style Tips
I Dream of Hollywood
Fashion Peach
"Fashion industries need to have a reality check and realize that the image of fat moms with their bags of chips complaining about the skinny models is totally false."
Nope, that happens all the time I'm afraid... obese women love to complain about their thin counterparts. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia are on the rise in Australia, but so is obesity, and on a much larger scale (pun not intended).
Promoting a healthy lifestyle is the only way forward. Too thin is wrong, but rolls of fat is not the answer either.
Comment by Anonymous
1 For The Road
Blondini
Reviews
It's strange though, because I had an eating disorder when i was young and it wasn't because of super thin catwalk models, it didn't bother me at all, it was their job to be thin so the clothes fell the right way. I think it was more to do with magazines and airbrushed images of 'healthy' women. I'd look at magazines and then in the mirror and hate myself. The computer trims off all the lumps and bumps of a womans natural figure potraying an unattainable image that some young people aspire to achieve without realising its impossible! I'd love to see a magazine decide not to airbrush photos so we can celebrate who we are in all shapes and sizes instead of changing what's real. It doesn't send a good message when the natural female form isn't good enough.
Comment by Anonymous
I'm a camera ham at 155 to 165 pounds, I could wear any kind of clothing and make them look awesome.
It's not the clothes that makes a model look awesome it the person and how confident they are wearing them that makes the clothes look awesome.
I thought the model in the size 20 was being realistic in today's life. In this times, her walking down that catwalk is real. Times are changing so are clothing and people. Many men I know feel thin, skinny and unhealthy looking person are totally unattractive and won't even date them.
Why try to wear something you are NOT? Why try to sale clothing for people who you know its NOT going fit. And totally discourage overweight ladies. My daughter in law is drop deep gorgous and she wieghs 290 lbs. I have been trying to talk her into modeling clothes for those who overweight.
I was married to a biker who told my son, "If you are looking at my magizines for the models, then remember this you are NOT going to find of them in real life, no telling what kind of whore she is." What a thing to day to a child.
Men buy ladies clothing for their girlfriends, wifes and/or mistresses. And get upset becaue they can't find their sizes. How can he find nighties to fit an peson who has those extra pounds if you advertising them?
In reality most men are not with ladies are NOT 105 lbs. Husbands, boyfriends and so on needs to find clothing to enchance their ladies looks NOT to embarrass them.
People who are into saling fashion needs to understand in these times most ladies are overweight and they need to focus on those ladies. It would make sense to me their sales would be higher if they did. I am not talking about hip huggers for heavy ladies either. I'm talking about clothing that enhances a ladies apparence.
Fashion desighners would probably make a fortune if they did.
Comment by EmoCookie
Comment by KaliFleur
Well said. There is no positive way to marginalize anyone, but doing so based on gender/body type/skin color, etc- based on the outer shell in other words, is about the stupidest. We are all spiritual, intellectual, philosophical, emotional, creative, visionary and social beings, and as such are worth more than the sum of our body parts. I do disagree that it needs to start with media and industry. We can start just by being kind to ourselves and to other people.