I think extremely. Her name is Elizabeth Green and she is a model. A plus-size model. That term always sounds dishearteningly frumpy. But it shouldn’t.
Because when I first received this shot, as part of a press release, I registered the visual shock of seeing a beautiful, sexy, quite traditional fashion image that wasn’t of a size 8 girl. And NOT BECAUSE THERE’S ANYTHING WRONG WITH BEING A SIZE 8. Obviously, there’s not so if you are a size 8 or a size 6 or a size 0, please hold your fire. Because I am here to tell you that you are well represented in the media.
Some (me!) may say you are over-represented. Which is fine for you but not so fine for everyone who doesn’t look like you and who doesn’t get to see themselves or anything resembling themselves depicted anywhere in the mainstream media. Oh hang on just a sec, the altitude up here on my high horse is making me a wee bit dizzy….
Ok, the dizziness has passed and I’ll continue. Why did someone send me a picture of plus-size Elizabeth Green? Something about a ‘curvalicious’ *cringe* model contest being held by plus-size model agency BGM and ‘curvaceous’ fashion label City Chic (details about the label and the model contest are here). Whatever. I just like looking at the picture.
Meanwhile, Myer has announced it will use plus-sized models in its in-store parades but not the national launch event in Sydney. News Ltd reports..
PLUS-size models will share the catwalk with glamour girl Jennifer Hawkins when Myer launches its new season fashion ranges from this month.
Size 16-plus girls will appear in the retail giant’s in-store parades as it acknowledges the role fashion for fuller figures is taking in its business.
The larger models will be absent from the store’s separate national launch event in Sydney because the brands they are representing are not included.
Myer director of apparel Judy Coomber said it was the first time plus-size models had been included in the twice-yearly round of parades that traditionally start the retailer’s new season.She said plus-size brands were an increasingly important part of Myer’s offerings.
“This business is a growing business for us and it’s really important to us in terms of our complete offering to all of our customers,” she said. Myer has been building its plus-size fashion offerings which include Basque Woman, Jane Lamerton and Taking Shape with two new brands for younger women, Flirt and Monroe.
The decision to put plus-size collections on the catwalk is the latest in a string of wins for fuller figured fashionistas. In March Sportsgirl announced it would increase its range to include a size 16. Plus-size chain store City Chic will have its own parade at this month’s Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival.
Julie Parker, from eating disorder support organisation the Butterfly Foundation, said Myer’s support of plus-sized fashion would have a positive impact on the way larger women felt about themselves. “Knowing there are plus-size models on the catwalk and that the clothing is starting to get more public attention and advertising, they are going to feel more confident,” she said.
Ms Coomber said the department store had chosen to feature the plus-size models in the customer friendly in-store parades because the brands they were modelling were aimed directly at consumers. The collection launch, which alternates between Sydney and Melbourne and is a major media event, traditionally showcases the department store’s high-end designer fashion ranges.
“This is the first time we have put plus-size brands in our fashion launch, it’s a bit of a test,” Ms Coomber said. She said the store was reviewing its size ranges.
“We have some labels where there would be enough of a demand to say we should go up to another size,” she said. The plus-size models will join Hawkins on the catwalk at Myer Melbourne on September 1.
Look, bravo to Myer for doing something. This is better than doing nothing and they must be encouraged.
But with my cynical hat on – oh! dizzy again! – I’m going to say it seems suspciously like they are happy to use bigger models in the more private, low-key and media-free in-store parades but they don’t want to associate them with the high octane glamour of the media launch which will be attended by all the beautiful people. WHY NOT?
So it’s fine to take the money off customers who buy plus-size just so long as you don’t associate your brand with bigger girls publicly? I encountered this time and time again when I was at Cosmo. Companies who produced their clothes up to size 16 and sometimes beyond but who didn’t want to supply them for fashion shoots we were doing because they didn’t want to be associated with anything larger than – gasp – a size 10.
What do you think? Should we be grateful for baby steps or angry that so few people in the fashion industry and media seem to be taking body diversity seriously? On a positive note, who is getting it right? Which media? Which fashion labels? Which retailers?
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Comments
154 Comments so far
To be honest I do prefer the smaller models for fashion mags, so long as they look healthy. However I would very much like to see a shift towards using older models. Post puberty!
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Her body is nice, but her face is f**king scary!
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the model isn’t plus-size, as everyone has mentioned, she’s just normal sized! but the fashion industry doesn’t want to be using huge models either. Obesity is a huge problem in Australia, it causes a lot of diseases that can be otherwise avoided, and suggesting that much larger women are normal is NOT the right thing to be doing!
the fashion industry needs to find a perfect balance between the two!
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That “plus-size” model shown in the Myer article wouldn’t hurt to lose a few kilos. There I said it! “Blah blah models these days should be more real” “blah blah models these days are too skinny and sending out the wrong image to young girls” We have heard it all, but let us face it, that model is overweight. There is nothing sexy or healthy about being overweight. All these overweight women want the same size women plastered in magazines to show young girls it’s okay to accept your body for what it is. What it is actually showing is “it’s okay to be overweight and unhealthy” I believe the best models are professional sport athletes (free from drugs of course). They are in great shape, fit, and a lot are beautiful. Or we need to find a healthy medium from the twig-like models and the overweight models. Thing is, “plus-sizes” should not over run the cat walk because, same as the size 0 models, it is too sending out the wrong message to young girls
Yes I am a guy
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I agree with Lex, I wonder when we will get to see short models on the catwalk…probably never.
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At least you can roll up the legs or cut-and-hem, pretty hard to make too-short pants longer once you run out of extra cuff. I’m 6’00” with a 36″ inseam and can’t afford to routinely spend $70 per pair of “leggy” pants. Same problem from a different direction, i suppose.
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I’m going to take this in an entirely new direction and bring up under representation of short girls–plus sized or not! It seems most clothing is made for tall skinny girls, and of course EVERY model, regardless of dress size, is tall. I am five one and tired of my jeans being too long ):
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The top picture? She is considered to be “plus sized”??????
There is no hope for the “ordinary” woman any longer, let alone those who actually ARE plus sized like me.
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She’s a rather thick waisted girl, but by her measurements, a 12 in today’s currency, so to speak (a 16 in the pre-vanity days). Not huge, but hardly small either. I think some people have forgotten that a size 8 used to be genuinely tiny, it’s not so small now. Somebody below mentioned Witchery…. LOL Now there’s some vanity sizing for you! I thought Big W’s “8″ was silly, but that’s just offensive. Do manufacturers really think we consumers are that foolish?
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wait that girl in the black top is plus sized?? I thought they meant the girl in the pink dress! Ha what a joke she looks a size 10!
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I agree Sally! Aparently i jumped the gun and posted a similar post without reading the others first
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I used to get so annoyed at Cleo and Cosmo magazines, as they would use models who were size 14+ but have to label it and make a big deal out of it. Why cant magazines just use all size models and leave it at that. So when we turn over the page and see an advertisement for a clothing brand we see just that and not the whole ‘oh look shes a bigger girl.. and we’ve put her in as amodel..buy our clothes/ magazine’
If we really want to make some progress then sixe 14+ models would be used and that would be the end of it.
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Ok, I’m having trouble focussing on her body, my question is, why is her facial expression so vacant? She looks like she is about to pass out. Seriously, my daughter has temporal lobe epilepsy and when I look at this woman, it looks like she has the same problem and has “zoned out.” Why is it “sexy” for women to look ill, tired, or devoid of thought?
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not only should they have bigger girls, they should have girls who are small and have big bums for instance. not everyone is proportioned perfectly.
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I find it quite disappointing when a magazine will use a plus-size model maybe one time in a year, and make a big song and dance about it – “Look! We used a plus-size model for this one shoot this one time, because we want to represent you, the average girl. Aren’t we the most awesome of all the awesomes because we decided to use a plus-size model – look how we used that plus-size model… Did you see our plus-size model yet?” GROOOAAN
Uh, why don’t you just use her and shut the hell up about it?! By carrying on about it, all you are doing is drawing a line under the fact that it is still, ashamedly, very unusual to use a model above a size 8. It would be really nice if the plus-size models were used more frequently, and without bringing attention to the fact, as though it were the norm. Instead we are coerced to give snaps for a measly gesture, that’s clearly not even offered in good faith.
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plus sized MODEL not plus sized PERSON
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it costs a lot with the fabrics as well just so you know if they used a range of models
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you’re an idiot for thinking it’s an article about anorexia. she doesn’t look anorexic at all. you must think obese people are the starting point of being plus sized.
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agreed that clothes haven’t gotten expensive AND the materials used aren’t even of good quality! D:
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designers don’t want models to detract attention from their clothes. just because someone is beautiful doesn’t mean the clothes would look more beautiful. you would look at her instead of the clothes. psht. this is not a miss universe contest.
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agreed. i am over everyone saying “REAL women have curves!!!!” and putting down people who can’t help it that they are skinny. if you don’t like being put down and being called “plus sized” then don’t put down girls who are skinny. you’re just being low and hypocrital. just accept that everyone is different ffs
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So if we can have larger models – thanks Myer – can we have models over 22? Could we also have different body shapes as well please ????
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I just asked my husband if he found the girl in the picture attractive without telling him what the article is about, and he said “No, she’s too skinny”. Interesting. I think she’s absolutely gorgeous though.
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she’s considered plus size?!?! seriously, she looks hot to me, and not fat at all
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I actually went to the BGM site who manages Elizabeth and there are some STUNNING women on there who range from size 12 up…SIZE 12 ….Sigh. But, now I have better images to think about while battling my ED than the latest very tiny, very thin model from a magazine.
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She is stunning ! I would love to know why her photo was sent to you… if it was mentioned that she was plus size etc etc ??
This topic should also (theoretically) translate to shoes….. no-one markets size 11 Manolos… and we all dont seem to mind… yet body size… look out !! its a hotly debated topic…and tends to be so emotionally charged, I understand why.. I think, but (sorry sorry sorry) I like the visual sometimes of a size 10/8 does that make me bad >> ?
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Haven’t and need all the help I can get so thank you very much J
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It is a beginning, better then nothing, hopefylly in the future we will celebrate womens, and no sizes, love to all ooxx
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Have you been on “lands end” they have great swimmer for all body shape, love ooxx
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Go girl! thumps up! love ooxx
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Wait. She’s plus size? Since when did normal / average become plus size?
The modelling industry has some serious issues.
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She is a very gorgeous and sexy woman. I guess she is plus sized compared to “normal” models. All I saw first was her eyes, and then I registered that her stomach was convex, not concave and that she was slightly bigger from the waist down than the waist up.
I didn’t realise that the average Australian woman was a size 14, however. I wouldn’t want to be either personally – couldn’t stand to be a size 4 nor a size 14. Happily in the middle!
The pretty girl in the pink dress further down is equally gorgeous, but more what I would have thought of as a “plus size” model. However, I have no idea what size she is. A 16?
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Actually, sizes back then were smaller. I have tried on some vintage dresses from that era, and size 10 from the 50s is really like size 12-14 now.
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I think that this model is stunning, and certainly wouldn’t call her plus size. I agree that fashion designers, magazines, stores etc should value diversity. I would much rather see a healthy model, at any size, wearing clothes that ‘really’ fit, both the model wearing them, and the target market of the brand. As mentioned above, country road doesn’t aim its target market at late teenagers, so why are they used to market their clothes? And why do the high end fashion designers only make clothes up to a size 14 or a size 12 in some cases? Are they saying that anyone over that size doesn’t have the right to be fashionable or can’t look good in their clothes?
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My ‘plus size’ friend believes in many cases (not all!) it’s the bigger women who have the money to spend on fashion. They are the ones in demanding careers that don’t have the time to exercise. She’s not suggesting necessarily that the fatter you are, the richer you are, but I think she does have a point. Some of the designers are realising this.
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There is an enormous difference between the two women. Certain shapes and lines suit “curves” more than others, and I’m not sure why the consumer is presumed not to love the look of a dress on meatier bones. I think the girl in the pink dress looks fantastic and, while I’m not ‘plus-sized’ I am far more inspired to try that cute summer frock on my bod, than I am to go for that sparkly t-shirt because I already KNOW I won’t look like her (she may be considered plus-size in the unbearably unhealthy world of fashion but she’s still glamazonianly beautiful with great proportions.) I want to see fleshy arms and bellies look good in ads!
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Hold up…. she’s considered ‘plus sized’?! ….ok.
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I love that there is slowly more diversity, as someone who was always way way way underweight growing up and who now fits into the overweight category it’s weird. I used to be so smug that i was too small for most shops. Now if i can find anything to fit i jump for joy. Added to this i have a small waist big bum and big boobs, lucky for me i can sew and knit my own stuff. As long as you are healthy and happy then ruddy well enjoy your life!!
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Okay, just putting it out there- the second model is way hotter, really hot in fact. I love seeing chicks of her size in catalogs, they are more likely smiling in shots than ‘skinny’ models, who seem to prefer a more serious expression. The second model seems happy, wears the outfit well, and generally is a babe. I like the first models body but yeah weird facial expression going on. I like to see a range of sizes advertised, when I see a size 8 or 10 I can relate, but often find that the clothes at stores like City Chic are way more fashionable. Does anyone else find this?
Sad story to share- I was shopping with a friend a while ago who would be labelled as a ‘curvy’ girl, and we happened to go into City Chic. I was walking around (as you do when shopping) and said “wow thats really nice” as I picked up a dress. Sales assistant, lovely lass *cough* abruptly tells me in a patronizing tone “im sorry, we don’t stock that in your size”.
What a bitch!!
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I think the term “plus-size model” itself is damaging, because it divides regular (i.e. skinny) models and other models. Girls can interpret “plus-size” as “fat”, because they’re not in the same category as skinny models who are as portrayed by the media generally much more glamorous and attractive.
They should just call all of them “models”.
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What size is considered plus size? is it 14, 16??? I think she looks fab too, but being tall is a bonus.
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thats very true, after googling her i found this picture is very flattering some others show she is quite bigger than she appears here
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She is stunning. I am going to go running tomorrow. Inspired.
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i dont mind about showing all different sizes, and its true we are trained to like the look of things better on a slimmer model because of how we have been trained, i just wish we were back in the late 50′s early 60′s when the average size model was mode a 10-12, it just is more neutral. Anyone watch Mad Men? its this show set in that time and they have a swimwear show and all the models look beautiful but big compared to the models today, looking at them made me realise how much we all see of these tiny girls and how it does really effect us.
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i’m going to agree with all the comments that say “how on earth is she a plus size……?” but maybe i was even more shocked than others, because before opening the post, i saw the picture and mentally answered the question: “how sexy is this girl?” with this thought: “hell, not much, of course, poor thing….but i think if she eats a bit she could be quite passable…” and i was expecting an article about anorexia or something. I swear.So imagine my surprise
i’m 1m72 for 55kilos. i don’t see myself as fat, AT ALL.I have been pestered into eating more by friends for all my life….so now, you’re saying i just have to go to america, and suddently i would fit in the “plus size” category? interesting….
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I am five foot nine and a size 14 and I dont look like this … she is a stunner!!!! All power to her!
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– and yes, BTW, I do think she’s gorgeous!
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What I find really interesting is how many people have said that the model doesn’t look “plus-sized”. If you look at her photo, she’s dressed in dark colours, her arms are behind her body, and everything about her is poised to make her look thinner. Just makes me realise that we can demand that all shapes and sizes be represented in magazines, but they’ll still be styled to within an inch of their life, with an insane amount of makeup on, and posed in a way that is most flattering. Unfortunately, the whole point of using models in advertising is to make products more appealing, and they’ll therefore always be styled to look unrealistically perfect, no matter their size. So what can you do?
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I really dislike the term “plus sized”. Do we call the size 6-8 girls “pint sized” or “mini”? How about we just call them all “models”. I too would like to see a range of girls represented on the catwalks from size 6 to size 18. Ladies of any size can be beautiful.
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I think the whole debate is flawed.
If certain designers only want to make clothes up to size 10 because that’s the market they want to appeal to, they have every right to do that. It’s their company.
The problem comes actually lies in the fashion media and our consumption of it, not the designers. It’s, afterall, the media that perpetuates this branding of a size 4 as “perfection”. If the fashion media stopped pandering to the big labels (r.e., rich and powerful ones, not plus sized) and actually ran an equal amount of editorial with plus sized models, then girls might grow up with different ideas about what is a ‘normal’ body. Another plus is that the labels that chose to supply this market would get extra exposure, would grow, and have more investment to make more ranges. Of course, this will NEVER happen because magazines, as we all know, are run on advertising dollars.
1) The labels with the big $ only make up to size 10. If you piss them off, they will pull their ads out. Mags fold. Hell, it’s a tough life out there in print… trust me.
2) Magazines are selling a dream, not a reality. Who wants to pay $10 to be shown reality? It’s a fantasy escape… a life you could have, if only you had millions of dollars and were siz 0. A magazine filled with plus size models is really just a catalogue of mediocrity. Does anyone want to fantasise about being average!
I guess if the government was serious they might consider making it manditory for all fashion magazines to have at least 40% of content made up by “plus size” models. At least then we might start chipping away at the idea that a size 6 is ‘normal’.
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