Is Size All That Really Matters? - The Fight Against What Fashion Deems as Beautiful

I’m pretty sure every woman has had a moment in their lives where they stood in front of a mirror and have quietly resorted to silent whispers of self – judgment. Most of us don’t have the perfect bikini body, nor do we possess that wretched thigh gap that every Victoria’s Secret Angel seems to naturally possess. Fashion has had a profound effect on women, beginning from a young age, taunting them into unhealthy diets that supposedly promise them a slim figure.

Fashion, for so many years, has dictated the idea of the perfect body image starting all the way back in history with corseted waists and what not. Then we had Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton in the 1960’s, who was known for their anorexic type bodies. It only got worse after that with the entry of the “heroin chic” that was glorified in the 1990’s by the likes of Kate Moss and Jaime King. Some say this is a reaction to the healthy look that Cindy Crawford was known for. Since when did looking healthy become out of fashion?

THINSPIRATION (from the top) 1960's model "Twiggy", Kate Moss for Calvin Klein, Gaultier's Fashion Advert

Vogue Italia Editor Franca Sozzani spoke at Harvard University in 2012 and told students that 'fashion becomes one of the causes' of anorexia. She discussed the industry's reliance on imagery that glorifies extreme thinness, to the point where we now accept such aesthetic standards as entirely normal, and something to aspire to.

Ms. Sozzani was widely accredited to the pro-anorexia “thinspiration” campaign that is fueled by the internet, now making fashion ads and images available quickly to the public. Globalization has played its part with technology in today’s scenario and has caused quite the uproar amongst the women of today. As one becomes more aware of their body, it’s only natural to wish to be accepted as beautiful and not be criticized for it.

In the recent past, fashion has seen the lingerie designers fight back against the notion of the slim body. Lingerie brands such as Lane Bryant and Ashley Graham have taken the fashion world by storm, fighting against “body shaming” with campaigns such as #ImNoAngel, #PlusIsEqual and #IAmSizeSexy, promoting lingerie for the plus size, curvaceous women of today.

Lane Bryant's #PlusIsEqual Campaign

Of course, this is a step down the right path. We now have people in the industry making a difference. Now, even models are working to curb the ideal that fashion has created over the years. With celebrities such as Lena Dunham, Zendaya Coleman and Gigi Hadid being constantly critiqued for their size to which they shoot them down with comments supporting how they love and appreciate their bodies. That’s great isn’t it? Even Demi Lovato is creating waves with her new “Confident” campaign, beckoning women to be comfortable in their own bodies. Charli Howard, a British Model of size 2, recently lashed out against modeling agencies stating "It's no longer an image I choose to represent. In case you hadn't realized, I am a woman. I am human. I cannot miraculously shave my hip bones down, just to fit into a sample size piece of clothing or to meet 'agency standards.”

(from the top) Zendaya's recent photoshopped editorial shoot and Demi Lovato for Vanity Fair on being "Confident"

With all the drama about what size is the right one in the fashion world, there also exists a group that surprisingly has a say on plus size fashion as well. “In comparison, the world of 'plus size' modeling looks like a utopia of acceptance, body confidence and a celebration of the natural forms of beautiful women. However, the revelation from size 16 model Naomi Shimada that 'plus size' models are routinely expected to buy body padding or fat suits to bring to shoots exposes a worrying trend in the curve division.” [1]

It’s amusing to watch how the ideal body image is played out in fashion. We have come a long way from advocating a free size that didn’t involve starving ourselves, but only to face a new realm of the right curves to have. Still, the fight has come to fruition. We now see people in every shape and size under a fashionable light. The shaming is always going to exist and it only leaves us to decide what really makes us comfortable. It’s always better to be a little thick skinned, I always say.

Sources -

[1] Charlotte Gush, "Does plus size modeling really celebrate women’s bodies?", 19 Oct 2015, Web, 25 Oct 2015, https://i-d.vice.com/en_us/article/does-plus-size-modeling-really-celebrate-womens-bodies

n.a, "Demi Lovato’s Spontaneous, Nude, Makeup-Free Photo Shoot", 2 Oct 2015, Vanityfair.com, Web, 25 Oct 2015, http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/10/demi-lovato-spontaneous-nude-makeup-free-photo-shoot

Olivia Fleming, "Vogue Italia editor admits 'fashion is one of the causes' of anorexia in Harvard speech about body image", 4 April 2012, Dailymail.co.uk, Web, 25 Oct 2015, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2125097/Vogue-Italia-editor-admits-fashion-causes-anorexia-Harvard-speech-body-image.html

Tina Amirtha, "HOW LINGERIE BRANDS ARE FIGHTING BACK AGAINST ONLINE BODY SHAMING", 20 Oct 2015, Web, 25 Oct 2015, http://www.fastcompany.com/3052402/innovation-agents/how-lingerie-brands-are-fighting-back-against-online-body-shaming

Jessica Andrews, "‘South Park’ Mocks Gigi Hadid and Lena Dunham in Body Shaming Episode", 23 Oct 2015, Web, 25 Oct 2015, http://www.thefashionspot.com/buzz-news/latest-news/654681-south-park-body-shaming-episode/

Alyssa Bailey, "MODEL PROTESTS BODY-SHAMING IN OPEN LETTER: "I CANNOT MIRACULOUSLY SHAVE MY HIP BONES DOWN", 19 Oct 2015, Elle.com, Web, 25 Oct 2015, http://www.elle.com/fashion/news/a31254/charli-howard-open-letter/