“Be your own kind of beautiful.” Does that phrase sound familiar? That’s because it is donned on various items all for the same reason: To make everybody own their beauty, regardless of how curvy, thin, or mediocre they might be. Up until recently, the media has been hounding society with what is considered “beautiful” by trying to persuade people on what they should or should not look like. It all started in the mid-60’s when a fashion model by the name of Lesley Lawson (aka Twiggy), stepped into the limelight. Lesley is a British model who is known for her thin build and her androgynous look consisting of large eyes, long eyelashes, and short hair. She was named “The Face of 1966” and landed on the covers of highly esteemed magazines such as Vogue and The Tatler (“Twiggy”). She was the start to the new look of high fashion. Because of models such as Lesley Lawson, society feels the need to look like those on the covers of magazines. However, society’s viewpoint on beauty nowadays is starting to turn around. Besides haute couture, the women that grace the covers of magazines today are curvier; which in turn, is sending the message that curves are more desirable. Just because couture models are thin and lanky, the media and public should not be making stereotypical assumptions based on what meets the eye. In other words, fashion models are just fine the way they are.
The main reason why high fashion models are tall and lean is to produce an idealistic image. Highly accredited fashion photographer, Mario Testino, states, “We are in the business to sell clothes. Clothes look better on a thinner person…. Our job is to make people want to by clothes. That’s what we do” (“Photographer…”). In the fashion industry, it is all about who the target market is. For high fashion, the customers want to be assured that the clothes they are buying are lavish and not fit for the average person. To make the ensembles appear this way, the designers have to appropriately advertise their products. This explains the must-have idealistic body builds of couture models. For example, Target models are not going to look the same as Gucci models. Target is marketing more towards the average person, whereas Gucci is marketing towards the posh. It is all about how the companies portray their merchandise towards their consumers.
The images that the designers and companies portray through their advertising may have people thinking that skinny is the only way to be. This however is not the case. Now more than ever, the American culture is trying to express that curves are more striking. To further prove this point, according to Curvy Fashionista, there is more than sixteen plus-size fashion magazines published. By having these publications, it is singling out bigger girls, and leaving the smaller girls by the wayside. It’s as if society has to ridicule the smaller physique in order for the larger figured to feel better about themselves. This exact situation is happening by the public being critical of high fashion models to make the “average” women feel better about themselves.
Another reason why the couture model image is acceptable is that their size makes the designer’s job easier. Nick Verreos said, “It’s a lot easier to have your models all be the same size 2 because then they can interchange outfits without me having to alter them.” In addition, a smaller size equals less fabric, and the type of fabric most designers use is very luxurious and expensive. One of the dresses that Mr. Verreos showed at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) San Diego campus, was completely covered with sequins and beads (see fig.1).
fig 1
Each one of them was hand sewn. He had to hire additional help because the work was so meticulous. Imagine him having to do all of that and more, just because the model was bigger than a size two. He would have lost time and MONEY. In addition to the models being thin, they also have to be tall. The regular fashion sketch consists of a seven-headed figure, whereas the high fashion figure is nine-headed (Verreos). Why is that? It is so the designers can show more detailing in their pieces.
Many would argue that there is no individualism when it comes to fashion models. That is actually a correct statement. However, by saying this, they are arguing against their point they are trying to make without even realizing it. When the designers dress the models with their exquisite garments, they don’t want the audience looking at the models. That would defeat the whole purpose of the show! The vocal point should be on the garments. Therefore, the designers do the models’ hair and makeup, as well as choose women that have the same body type (ex: tall and thin). This is to make the models all have relatively the same look throughout the designer’s collection.
The last and most important reason as to why high fashion models are not too thin is that’s just the way they are made. Just because not a lot of women have this body type, doesn’t give anybody the right to discriminate against them (“Should…”). The models who have an eating disorder are where the said problem lies. However, high-status fashion magazines such as Vogue are focused on keeping the image “Health is Beauty.” The 19 editors of Vogue magazine around the world made a pact to project the image of healthy models by only hiring those who are over the age of 16. Condé Nast says, “Vogue believes good health is beautiful. Vogue Editors around the world want the magazine to reflect their commitment to the health of the models who appear on the pages and the well-being of their readers” (Critchell). Condé Nast also recognized that fashion models serve as role models for “many women” and wants to ensure that the models on their pages are “well cared for and educated in ways that will encourage and help them take care of themselves.” Runway model Coco Rochan applauds the changes that Vogue has made. She said, “Not every model appears in Vogue, but every model in every magazine looks up to them as the standard. I can only imagine this will be a solid step in a direction that will benefit models for generations to come” (Critchell).
Therefore, when people say that models are “too skinny”, they might want to do some research before they jump to conclusions by saying that all fashion models have eating disorders. If a designer finds out that one of his/her models has an eating disorder, they will not let him/her model. Not only does it put the model at risk, but it also puts the designer at risk for bad publicity. Why would a designer risk their reputation for one model? According to Dr. Adrienne Key, 20% to 40% of models suffer from an eating disorder (“Eating…”). However, this could be considered a logical fallacy because this percentage is not just referring to “skinny” models. Many people forget that plus size models have eating disorders as well. Even people that aren’t in the fashion industry can easily suffer from eating ailments.
To wrap everything up, today’s high fashion models are not too skinny. Designers and editors should not have to compromise by using both thin and curvy models. They should be able to use whichever model type is going to bring in the most revenue for their business. If people were to step back and realize that everybody is beautiful in his or her own way, the problem at hand wouldn’t exist. Society shouldn’t be putting down thin girls just as much as they shouldn’t be putting down curvy girls. A person saying that all couture fashion models starve themselves is the same as saying that all curvy girls eat too much. The reason why models are looked up to isn’t just because of their height. It has to do with the way they carry themselves: with poise and confidence. If more people did that, and were confident, nobody would have the need to feel insecure about their physique.
“Be your own kind of beautiful.” Does that phrase sound familiar? That’s because it is donned on various items all for the same reason: To make everybody own their beauty, regardless of how curvy, thin, or mediocre they might be. Up until recently, the media has been hounding society with what is considered “beautiful” by trying to persuade people on what they should or should not look like. It all started in the mid-60’s when a fashion model by the name of Lesley Lawson (aka Twiggy), stepped into the limelight. Lesley is a British model who is known for her thin build and her androgynous look consisting of large eyes, long eyelashes, and short hair. She was named “The Face of 1966” and landed on the covers of highly esteemed magazines such as Vogue and The Tatler (“Twiggy”). She was the start to the new look of high fashion. Because of models such as Lesley Lawson, society feels the need to look like those on the covers of magazines. However, society’s viewpoint on beauty nowadays is starting to turn around. Besides haute couture, the women that grace the covers of magazines today are curvier; which in turn, is sending the message that curves are more desirable. Just because couture models are thin and lanky, the media and public should not be making stereotypical assumptions based on what meets the eye. In other words, fashion models are just fine the way they are.The main reason why high fashion models are tall and lean is to produce an idealistic image. Highly accredited fashion photographer, Mario Testino, states, “We are in the business to sell clothes. Clothes look better on a thinner person…. Our job is to make people want to by clothes. That’s what we do” (“Photographer…”). In the fashion industry, it is all about who the target market is. For high fashion, the customers want to be assured that the clothes they are buying are lavish and not fit for the average person. To make the ensembles appear this way, the designers have to appropriately advertise their products. This explains the must-have idealistic body builds of couture models. For example, Target models are not going to look the same as Gucci models. Target is marketing more towards the average person, whereas Gucci is marketing towards the posh. It is all about how the companies portray their merchandise towards their consumers.The images that the designers and companies portray through their advertising may have people thinking that skinny is the only way to be. This however is not the case. Now more than ever, the American culture is trying to express that curves are more striking. To further prove this point, according to Curvy Fashionista, there is more than sixteen plus-size fashion magazines published. By having these publications, it is singling out bigger girls, and leaving the smaller girls by the wayside. It’s as if society has to ridicule the smaller physique in order for the larger figured to feel better about themselves. This exact situation is happening by the public being critical of high fashion models to make the “average” women feel better about themselves.
Another reason why the couture model image is acceptable is that their size makes the designer’s job easier. Nick Verreos said, “It’s a lot easier to have your models all be the same size 2 because then they can interchange outfits without me having to alter them.” In addition, a smaller size equals less fabric, and the type of fabric most designers use is very luxurious and expensive. One of the dresses that Mr. Verreos showed at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) San Diego campus, was completely covered with sequins and beads (see fig.1).
fig 1
Each one of them was hand sewn. He had to hire additional help because the work was so meticulous. Imagine him having to do all of that and more, just because the model was bigger than a size two. He would have lost time and MONEY. In addition to the models being thin, they also have to be tall. The regular fashion sketch consists of a seven-headed figure, whereas the high fashion figure is nine-headed (Verreos). Why is that? It is so the designers can show more detailing in their pieces.
Many would argue that there is no individualism when it comes to fashion models. That is actually a correct statement. However, by saying this, they are arguing against their point they are trying to make without even realizing it. When the designers dress the models with their exquisite garments, they don’t want the audience looking at the models. That would defeat the whole purpose of the show! The vocal point should be on the garments. Therefore, the designers do the models’ hair and makeup, as well as choose women that have the same body type (ex: tall and thin). This is to make the models all have relatively the same look throughout the designer’s collection.
The last and most important reason as to why high fashion models are not too thin is that’s just the way they are made. Just because not a lot of women have this body type, doesn’t give anybody the right to discriminate against them (“Should…”). The models who have an eating disorder are where the said problem lies. However, high-status fashion magazines such as Vogue are focused on keeping the image “Health is Beauty.” The 19 editors of Vogue magazine around the world made a pact to project the image of healthy models by only hiring those who are over the age of 16. Condé Nast says, “Vogue believes good health is beautiful. Vogue Editors around the world want the magazine to reflect their commitment to the health of the models who appear on the pages and the well-being of their readers” (Critchell). Condé Nast also recognized that fashion models serve as role models for “many women” and wants to ensure that the models on their pages are “well cared for and educated in ways that will encourage and help them take care of themselves.” Runway model Coco Rochan applauds the changes that Vogue has made. She said, “Not every model appears in Vogue, but every model in every magazine looks up to them as the standard. I can only imagine this will be a solid step in a direction that will benefit models for generations to come” (Critchell).
Therefore, when people say that models are “too skinny”, they might want to do some research before they jump to conclusions by saying that all fashion models have eating disorders. If a designer finds out that one of his/her models has an eating disorder, they will not let him/her model. Not only does it put the model at risk, but it also puts the designer at risk for bad publicity. Why would a designer risk their reputation for one model? According to Dr. Adrienne Key, 20% to 40% of models suffer from an eating disorder (“Eating…”). However, this could be considered a logical fallacy because this percentage is not just referring to “skinny” models. Many people forget that plus size models have eating disorders as well. Even people that aren’t in the fashion industry can easily suffer from eating ailments.
To wrap everything up, today’s high fashion models are not too skinny. Designers and editors should not have to compromise by using both thin and curvy models. They should be able to use whichever model type is going to bring in the most revenue for their business. If people were to step back and realize that everybody is beautiful in his or her own way, the problem at hand wouldn’t exist. Society shouldn’t be putting down thin girls just as much as they shouldn’t be putting down curvy girls. A person saying that all couture fashion models starve themselves is the same as saying that all curvy girls eat too much. The reason why models are looked up to isn’t just because of their height. It has to do with the way they carry themselves: with poise and confidence. If more people did that, and were confident, nobody would have the need to feel insecure about their physique.
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