note: this entry is purely for my course, hence why I'm disabling comments. If you have any comments or general feedback, feel free to e-mail me lovelys! My posts shall return to normal shortly after this :-)
Fat vs Thin ; the never ending debate. For years there has been controversy over what size (fashion) models should be. If they are all stick and bones, then there is uproar - people proclaiming how they are just
too thin, and that they aren't portraying how 'real' women should look. If they are anything bigger than a size 10 then they are much too big to model and are even considered being 'plus size' (and seeing as the national average dress size in the UK for women is a 16, that is saying something..). So where is the line drawn exactly?
Recently designers are seeming more keen to promote, as such, plus size models. In New York Fashion Week this year, designers such as Mark Fast, Marc Jacobs and Prada were using models up to a size 14*, which sparks some hope for the future. Could this just be the start?
Model and America's Next Top Model host Tyra Banks, is also joining in on promoting plus size modeling. As a plus size model herself, she has managed to go far with her modeling career, despite constant managers persuading to lose weight. On her show, she will take women of all sizes, and a plus size woman has even gone on to
win on her show, despite her size.
Another model who exploded onto the scene of plus size modeling is Crystal Renn. She stormed into Jean Paul Gautiers catwalk** showing the world that she wasn't conscious or worried about her body. She was an inspiration to many girls - finally, someone a normal women could perhaps look up to?
Unfortunately, many girls of this generation are becoming obsessed with their weight and body. In many magazines now, there are young girls writing into columns, saying how they don't feel skinny enough, or pretty enough. There are girls as young as thirteen who believe that they need to diet in order to look nice. How did it get this far?
Many may argue that a lot of this is down to advertisements and celebrities. Flawless women with what is seen as a 'perfect' body are used to promote products - shining teeth, glossy hair, toned body's, smooth skin, the list goes on. It gives the impression that, to be slim, and to have no flaws, is to be beautiful.
In mens magazines, such as FHM, the models are slim, big breasted, and have no ounce of fat on them. How are women meant to be compete with that? Must be all look like glamour models in order for men to find us attractive?
Many celebrities also don't help with this. In magazines such as Glamour and Cosmopolitan, there is news of how celebrities are dieting, and pictures of how they sued to look (normally rather curvy/slim), and how they look now (very very slim / skinny). Magazines are flooded with diet tips of how to get slim or help get a body like a known celebrity. It is almost as most they are throwing it in our faces - this is what we must look like, and this is how you will get like it.
This leaves women stuck with what to do. Are we meant to be stick insects, glamour models, or are we meant to look like normal curvy women? Or perhaps, shall we just stay in our own skin, eat when we want, exercise if we wish, and turn our backs on the anti- 'real' women campaigners. Yes? I thought so too.
* source:
Daily Mail
** source:
Any Girl Friday
