Spain rejects 'too skinny' models..

[Foxglove]

My problem is more the photoshopped images that are used to make models and acrtresses appear to be a different shape than they are. Anyone who is naturally slim is not an issue for me but there should be diversity in modelling showing the models as they are and not the manipulated parodies that are so often seen in our media. Is an enhanced photo showing perfection? No - it is showing what the photographer wants to morph the image into showing. Women are all shapes and sizes so why should models not reflect this?

[bikuki]

I think that a blanket ban on all underweight models is not the way to go - a little more effort is all it takes to differentiate the 'unhealthy' ones from the 'healthy' ones, and promoting diversity and acceptance in the fashion industry (as opposed to the current attitude of 'skinny=sexy, chubby=ugly') will go a long way to reduce the numbers of girls forcing themselves to fit the 'ideal' shape. If natural shapes are encouraged then maybe unhealthy weights (either end of the spectrum) would eventaully be seen as unattractive and therefore not get work.
I suppose this, in theory, would eventually make weeding out 'unhealthy' ones obsolete, as if models are chosen not just because they are thin then maybe girls wouldn't starve themselves in the attept to get work.

[endless psych]

Originally Posted by bikuki

I think that a blanket ban on all underweight models is not the way to go - a little more effort is all it takes to differentiate the 'unhealthy' ones from the 'healthy' ones, and promoting diversity and acceptance in the fashion industry (as opposed to the current attitude of 'skinny=sexy, chubby=ugly') will go a long way to reduce the numbers of girls forcing themselves to fit the 'ideal' shape. I suppose this, in theory, would eventually make weeding out 'unhealthy' ones obsolete, as if models are chosen not just because they are thin then maybe girls wouldn't starve themselves in the attept to get work.

The attitude is not just one thats held by the fashion industry though it is widely held across the western world... In the eyes of the media and the masses skinny = sexy.

[bikuki]

Oh, I am well aware of that. But I was being specific to the fashion industry - I suppose an industry with so much sway when it comes to young women (and men) has enough power and influence that it should attempt to 'lead the way' with regards to promoting a healthy image.

[Foxglove]

Was Botticelli so wrong?

[endless psych]

The interesting thing about the Fashion industry is that in a lot of cases it imposes the stereotype of thin=sexy on itself. I don't know if its true for women but for men the hip to waist ratio is generally whats important not the overall body shape. (Although obviously someone who is overweight is likely to have a pretty poor hip to waist ratio but conversly so is someone who is too thin...)

[bikuki]

When it comes to high fashion then I can sort of understand the 'skinny is best' attitude, as models (in the original sense) were simply there to carry clothes and designs without disrupting lines and bulging in the wrong places - they're almost simply displaying works of art rather than functional clothing.

However the problems occur when
a) the models become famous and looked upon as ideal and perfect not as simple 'clothes horses' but as beautiful and attractive bodies/women; and
b) when these ideals travel down the 'food chain' (so to speak) into high street and funtional fashion. Obviously in an attempt to follow in the footsteps of high fashion, the models for high street lines have to be thin and 'perfect'; however these ladies are not modelling 'art' but rather 'functional clothing', so instead of the clothes being fitted to natural bodies, it is implied that for the clothing to look good you must not have bulges or the 'wrong' shape. This then travels down into the public prerception of 'beauty'.

Sorry if that seems garbled - it's just my theory on it. (Plus I can't be bothered proof reading it )

[JennyPiccolo]

Aye, i agree with bikuki there,models are there to wear clothes, not be role models. And i accept the fact that they are often photoshopped, because essentially they are appearing as part of an artistic image. I.E., an advert featuring Kate Moss doesn't depict what Kate Moss is thinking, it depicts the image that Roberto Cavalli (or whoever)wants to sell that season.

But to look at either ends of the spectrum here, Kate Moss was originally thought to be too skinny and too short to be a model, and she's probably the most famous of this generation. Sophie Dahl was way over the ideal model weight when she started out, and folk still crashed their cars driving past the Yves Saint Laurent billboards. So I don't think it should matter either way.

Also, magazines get a lot of slack for obsessing over weight in the fashion industry, but i reckon these tend to be your Heat-style pseudo lifestyle magazines, rather than actual fashion magazines like Vogue and such.

[Jaemi]

Originally Posted by MichaelSCollins

This is great news.

For fat burds, aye.

[Bunnylingus]

Originally Posted by Jaemi

For fat burds, aye.

Aye, Ive seen loads of fat burds on catwalks

Seriously though, Mhairis hit it on the head right there.

[System_Star]

Jean Paul Gaultier sent this model down the runway yesterday.



Some sort of protest I believe.

[Devastator]

Yus! When he stops making clothes out of dead animals I like him most.

[JennyPiccolo]

Does she not go to the cathouse?

[Rowsbette]

Sophie Dahl was sexy as fuck when she was overweight and rocking the catwalk, but that's just plain bizarre.

[bikuki]

Am I missing something - what model?