by dancinglotus

Created on: January 18, 2007   Last Updated: May 02, 2007

Historically, fashion has always been strange to some degree because it is a form of artistic expression. And artistic expression is always controversial to someone. But "Fashion" isn't just clothing, it both represents as well as creates trends in culture and society, shaping and influencing the people as much as it is shaped and influenced by them.

That is why it is so critical that all clothing and fashion not be given over to just one ideal of a "perfect body." A Perfect Body should be a healthy body no matter what size it is, and all people-women and men-should be made to feel like they can look attractive in fashionable and well-constructed clothing.

If you don't have an ideal figure, a person's self-esteem shouldn't be made to suffer more because they don't have the ability to dress themselves. Couture will always have its place as an art form, but the state of what calls itself "High Fashion" these days is both ignorant in its business sense and harmful to individuals and society as a whole. To only use models of one particular body type causes women to feel they need to go to extremes to make themselves look like whatever "the ideal" is at this moment, which may not be compatible with their own body type. And we all want to look like "the ideal." And we all want to be perfect. At least, most of us do.

Perfection is a goal to strive for in all things, but when we make it a societal mandate to be absolutely perfect in everything, especially our appearance, we open up the door for shame and self-doubt. And if a person is feeling shame or self-doubt, it is difficult if not impossible for them to create positive things in the Universe.

It is my belief that we need a lot more beauty and positive energy in this world. But if we don't feel beautiful about ourselves, how can we create beauty in the world? "Fashion" is not frivolous. Beauty is a noble ideal. But the average person should be able to afford quality apparel, the workers should get paid a living wage to create and provide it, and neither models nor ordinary citizens should have to starve themselves to wear it, or be constrained from purchasing it due to size unavailability.

I recently went to my local Macy's-a brand new store in a beautiful, well-trafficked location in California. And I was unable to purchase a coat there, because they didn't have a Macy Woman department in that store. Apparently, there are no large women in Southern California and none of them spend money on quality fashion or shop

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