Are Plus-Size Models The New Heroin Chic Models of the 90's?
Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 8:00AM The Brits fancy themselves a curvier model these days. The British newspaper the Independent is reporting plus-size models are more sought after because there is simply a high demand for them right now. Designers, retailers and the public in general want to see a fuller figure, one that looks like real women in everyday life. Here is an excerpt from the article of what the Independent claims is clear evidence.
• Mark Fast used size 12 and 14 models in his runway show in September. He says he will use models of similar sizes again next month.
• Marks & Spencer will reportedly use a plus-size model in its lingerie campaign.
• Asos recently used a plus-size model in some ads.
• Catalogue company Boden is reportedly "thinking about using bigger models."
• The head booker at Hughes Models, a plus-size agency in the U.K., says she added twenty girls to her roster last year, "which is a lot."
My question then is this, is the plus-size fashion model a trend like the Kate Moss heroin chic look of the 90's or is this model body type here to stay? American V- Magazine just dedicated an issue to the fuller figure model trend just last week, previewing teaser images of top plus-size model Crystal Renn and other plus-size spreads of the issue on line weeks before. It looks like even Karl Lagerfield is backpedaling from an earlier statement he made to
Do you think Karl Lagerfeld is mocking the plus-size trend or is he really embracing it with this Coco A Go Go photo spread? the U.K.'s Guardian last year, regarding German magazine Brigette's use of heavier women models by photographing a spread for the size issue himself. (click on pic to the right to see all the pics from V-Mag) Excerpt from the Guardian interview below.
These are fat mummies sitting with their bags of crisps in front of the television, saying that thin models are ugly," the Chanel designer tells Focus, going on to say that the fashion industry supports "dreams and illusions, and no one wants to see round women."
Tyra Banks is also holding a plus-size model search for teens on her website. Always one to confront women's body and beauty issues on her show, I'm sure she's happy to see the fashion world embrace curvier women. Apparently, Australia's Next Top Model Judge, Charlotte Dawson doesn't feel all gooey inside when it comes the plus-size cat walkers. According to her they are only going to end up doing catalog work if a plus-size girl was to win the show. Tyra is not smiling with her eyes right now.
Like it or not plus-size models like Crystal Renn are the toast of the fashion world right now, the question is for how long?
Do you think the the plus-size model is here to stay? Please post your comments below.
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Reader Comments (5)
I'm plus sized, I'd like to see women that look like "women" not skinny boys, we all know models are too thin, and trendy clothes didn't exist if you were size 18 and over. I hate the bad attitude of some designers,but hey we do want to look good too, i think the picture makes a joke out of the plus model, like she's a clown, the skinny model does dress like Mrs. Reagan, but she's better dressed. total double standard
I agree with what Mary said above. I'm plus sized too but that one picture kinda scared me. I would love to look fashionable & chic & trendy. I want to see real women not sticks that I can point my finger at and they fall over. However let's go for trendy not that scary photo up above. Almost looks like a preview to a burlesque show rather than a fashion magazine. I'm not going to be begging to get on the cat-walk any time soon *giggles*. When I can see clothes that look right for a woman my size, then I'll be a lot happier & probably look awesome. I hope they stay. I've said it in the past but I hope they show a model like Emme (that's all she went by) because she was full figured & beautiful. I don't sit on my couch eating junk food, I just happen to be a woman wanting to make a change but wanting to look good in the process, especially if I'm unable to lose a lot of weight.
Thanks Johanna for posting this!
I'm not a plus size, but I think models like Crystal Renn look much better than the skinny ones and I hope they stay.
Hopefully this trend will also keep teenage girls from refusing to eat.
I think it is a bad idea that people who always used to worship thin bodies and always will should take photos of plus sized beauties. It just won't work, and there's no problem with that, but it just won't, and there's not much point in that I guess, except maybe for a scientific research sort of thing, but that would only point out the obvious - an awkward, mismanaged treatment of the plus size thing. Those, maybe up and coming professionals should do it who have the same respect and excitement about a curvatious plus sized girl or woman as a lot of ordinary people do. With all due respect, all these recent photo series simply just s-u-c-k.
This is just my opinion, but with the abundance of style and fashion being at your finger tips (Style Network, What Not to Wear and Project Runway, etc) today’s average woman is seeing that high fashion is attainable more than ever. I do believe the average woman now wants more than ever to see models that reflect ‘themselves’ on the catwalks & the magazine pages (I know I do).
We’re seeing the tall & thin, the plus-sized and the under 5’9 models now and I think it’s wonderful! There’s room for everybody. I also think that people are beginning to realize that “plus-size” doesn’t mean sloth-like. That some women eat healthy, exercise regularly and have a curvy frame. Just as some women are naturally very thin and actually eat (btw, I can’t stand those women. Haha! Hell yeah, I’m jealous!)
It also occurred to me that there was a time when you really didn’t see models “of color” on the catwalks and magazine pages. Thankfully, that is no longer true. I hope that fate will be true for the “plus-size” and the “short” models too.
PS: I like your blog a lot