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| No | 4% | 61 votes | Total: 1741 votes | |
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Add to FavoritesShould plus size clothing be modeled by plus size models?
Women's clothing is already being modeled by plus size models. Women who are over a size ten are modeling plus size clothing. Are these women considered to be plus size models?
In the modeling world where size zero, two and four are the norm, plus size models wear larger sizes. Only those sizes don't even reach the average female size of 14. Women who are modeling larger women's clothing are still under the average female size in the United States.
Models are very thin, look very young, and for the most part their careers are over when they reach a certain age. If they gain weight, they are told to lose that weight. The models on catwalks are so thin; they could turn sideways and disappear. They do just about anything to keep their weight down, including starving themselves. Women who are six feet tall should not weight 120 pounds and be a size 2.
The creation of waif thin, twiggy-like models should be changed for the entire modeling world. Women looking at magazines should not get upset that they tell us to "lose ten pounds by swimsuit season". Many magazines are telling women we need to change- we need to lose weight. We should be proud of our bodies, and love ourselves for who we are.
Now here's why I'm on the no side of this debate. Yes, we should love ourselves for who we are. Here comes the but- do we really want to see grossly overweight women on the catwalk? We would be going to the opposite side of the spectrum, where there are super scrawny women out there now, to super overweight women.
Why can't the fashion industry start representing women who actually eat food? Why can't the norm on the runway be women who are pretty but are a size eight or a ten- not a size zero or a two. Why can't the plus size models be larger than they are now. They should be a size 12 or a size 14. There are so many pretty women that are a size 12, 14 or even a 16.
Let's get rid of the industry standard where unhealthy looking women, who have stick legs, and their ribs stick out are what we real women aspire to look like. It's not normal to be so thin that your health is in jeopardy. But on the other hand you don't want women in magazines and on the runway who are so unhealthy that their fat overlaps, and there's that cellulite thing happening.
I'd like to see the fashion industry evolve where the standard size of a model is an eight or a tennot a two. And conversely, plus size models that represent more of what a larger size of woman is, without being huge. So, I am not for super big women being models for plus size clothing. But I am for bringing the fashion industry more in line with what is a real size for women.
Wouldn't it be great to open a magazine and see a woman who actually looks like a womana woman that has curves. It's gross to see women who look like drugged out teenagers in gorgeous clothing that they alone can wear. It would be great for the fashion industry to start hiring models that represent women who have more curves and who look healthy and beautiful.
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Learn more about this author, Kate Johns.
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Yes
Plus size clothing modeled by anyone but plus size models is equivalent to false advertising. A duplicate of the plus sized item has to be created to fit the regular sized model. The actual item available for purchase is not the same as the item advertised. In retail circles this is referred to as "bait and switch," and manufacturers and retailers in other industries would be penalized for such practices.
A high percentage of our population is larger than average. The prejudice against our plus size population is rampant, and in most cases goes unnoticed, or uncared about. We think we've come a long way by having more fashionable styles in larger sizes. However, continuing to use smaller models to advertise and sell plus sizes negates the progress.
Perhaps the time has come to stand up for the rights of the plus size population. Everyone wearing larger sizes is not obesely overweight. Large boned individuals and very tall persons also encompass the plus size category. By using reed thin models to advertise their clothing choices we are sending the message thin is the only way
It is an insult to the intelligence of a large person to pretend an article of clothing displayed on a regular size model will look the same on them. They have mirrors; they know better. Perhaps if clothing designers used appropriate sized models, their creations would improve, and actually enhance the look of plus fashions, as they are applied in real life. Most clothing styles are designed for smaller individuals, and then just made bigger to accomodate the plus sized. This method does not always translate into "good fashion." This is keenly apparent in trendy clothing. Smaller individuals can "get away" with the more extreme designs, and larger persons can seldom find anything else in their retail stores.
In order to do justice to the fashion needs of larger persons, designers must:
* Enlist feedback from the plus sized population about their specific wants and needs
* Design styles intended exclusively for the plus size population
* Use fabrics and colors which enhance the plus size figure
* Use plus size models to display and advertise plus size creations
If clothing designers and manufacturers were to follow these suggestions catering to the larger segement of our society, they would quickly realize a successful bottom line profit. The plus sized population would benefit from the respect, and consideration of their needs, and derive confidence knowing their value in our society is notable enough to warrant equal treatment in the fashion industry.
The impact on all of society could be immeasurable, as the entertainment, media and business industries would soon follow suit and put their prejudice aside in an effort to compete in the arena of political correctness. Soon we would see plus sized persons represented equally, not merely in a token capacity, in all segments of society, and we could safely say one more minority issue of discrimination was put to rest.
Learn more about this author, Carol Gioia.
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