Bravo to UK Vogue Editor, Alex Shulman for saying ENOUGH to size zero.
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This is Alexandra Shulman, the OTHER international editor of Vogue. You know, the one who isn't Anna Wintour. I don't know if Alex wears Prada but she's certainly not the devil. In fact, with her letter to international designers imploring them to stop making such stupidly sized clothes, Alex Shulman has shown herself to be an angel.
FINALLY someone with power and influence is saying what the rest of us have always known – that large parts of the fashion industry are out of touch with their customers…….
Whether it’s producing $20K handbags or $2K pairs of shoes or clothes for women that are small enough to fit a 9 year old child – it’s about time someone spoke out and said ENOUGH.
If even the top models can’t fit into these clothes, what hope is there for ordinary women like us?
Not only is it a terrible thing for women, it’s really bad business.
As The Times online reports today:
The editor of Vogue has accused some of the world’s leading catwalk
designers of pushing ever thinner models into fashion magazines despite
widespread public concern over “size-zero” models and rising teenage
anorexia.
Alexandra Shulman, one of the most important figures in the multi-billion-pound
fashion industry, has taken on all the largest fashion houses in a strongly
worded letter sent to scores of designers in Europe and America. In a letter
not intended for publication but seen by The Times, Shulman accuses
designers of making magazines hire models with “jutting bones and no breasts
or hips” by supplying them with “minuscule” garments for their photoshoots. Vogue
is now frequently “retouching” photographs to make models look larger, she
said.
Her intervention was hailed last night as a turning point in the debate over
model size that has raged after the deaths of three models from
complications relating to malnutrition, and the decision of leading fashion
shows to ban size-zero models.
Shulman claims that the clothes created by designers for catwalk shows and
subsequently sent to magazines for use in their photoshoots have become
“substantially smaller”.
The garments are typically sent to magazines six months before they appear in
the shops and editors have no choice but to hire models that fit the clothes
or fail to cover the latest collections from the leading designers.
“We have now reached the point where many of the sample sizes don’t
comfortably fit even the established star models,” Shulman writes, in a
letter sent to Karl Lagerfeld, John Galliano and fellow designers at Prada,
Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, Balen- ciaga and other top fashion houses.The
supermodel Erin O’Connor described the stand by the editor of Britain’s most
prominent fashion magazine as “a huge breakthrough”.
“The fact that Alexandra Shulman with her enormous influence has opened this
conversation means that it will have a huge impact,” she said. “It has . . .
made it compulsorily relevant that we address this now.”
Many times on shoots I would watch models or actresses burst into tears when they couldn't fit into the clothes that had been provided by the designers. Clothes that even Kate Moss and friends can't fit into? What bloody hope is there for the rest of us?
These international designers need to take a look out the window of their ridiculous ivory towers and see that women come in all shapes and sizes. Why on earth produce clothes that nobody can wear?
Talk about out of touch with reality……
Hey Lulu,
I wasn’t quoting Mia, I was being non-specific – it’s a shame that people are so quick to attack others on these forums without considering their arguments, isn’t that the point of such discussions? I’m not having a go at Mia at all (“I’m not angry, just disappointed” springs to mind haha)
I’m just saying that every woman should try to consider that many people are naturally thin and would do anything for curves, and that we shouldn’t make it an us vs them issue. The idea someone raised previously about having only size 10 and bigger in magazines is an example of this!
Jack
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An even sadder element is Country Road’s recent launch of their new Trenery Label for the over 40 crowd.
Their parade for the fashion people used models in their 20s.See the recent The Australian video.
CR do not believe it necessary to use models that fit the target age group of the label.
Please join me now in boycotting their clothing/homewares etc until they apologise to the public and correct this situation by showing over 40s models who are not airbrushed.
Please also send letters of complaint to them.
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The model they use is so drippy and unappealing. Their clothes don’t fit well either and look unattractive. Very disappointing collections!
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I think it’s hilarious that the designers push the tiny, tiny size zeros an assume that these are the average people that are buying their clothes.
Anyone see Real Housewives of Atlanta the other night?????
All are wives of NBA and NFL players and have WAAAAY too much money. They boast about wearing major designers head to toe (not to mention the 1/4 mill worth of diamonds) And all well over a size 0 – most at least a 16……
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Posted by: Jackie | Monday, June 15, 2009 at 04:34 PM
“I’m sick of reading how thin is unhealthy, ugly, abnormal, unsexy.”
Oh for pity’s sakes, Mia said no such thing.
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Hi Mia,
The first thing I thought when I read this was “NOOOOO, not you too!!” After previously writing a thought-provoking and balanced article on body image (if memory serves, I think it was titled “Skinny Girls are Liars” or something tongue-in-cheek to that effect. In the past fortnight there has been a barrage of one-sided, divisive “curvy-vs-thin” articles in the media, which has of course inspired those blessed with curves or “fuller-figures” to write bitchy comments about how men prefer big girls, how skinny is unattractive etc etc – I’ve been struggling to put on weight for as long as I can remember, and I’m sick of reading how thin is unhealthy, ugly, abnormal, unsexy. This is not a new trend, for the past couple of years, magazines have been bitching about thin celebrities; I can’t find decent affordable clothes in a size 6, unless I want to shop at Supre or pay for designer labels, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH – those in the fashion/media industry should be promoting the idea that positive self-image should apply to everyone, and is not subject to change with the latest trends!!! Enough of this “us vs. them” crap, good for you if you have curves, there’s no need to be nasty to those without.
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Hiya, I can understand that if there’s been a few articles around lately you might feel attacked if you’re the slender type. Of the vast majority of us reading/writing here, especially Mia, none is saying that willowy shapes are ugly, in fact here’s her quote: “women come in all shapes and sizes”. We certainly need to embrace the beauty of diversity!
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Hooray! Something that so many of us have been banging on about for years has finally been taken up by someone who may actually be in a position to initiate some real change at the top end of the fashion tree.
I hope they listen to Alex and we start to see some beauty and body diversity on the catwalks and in high end fashion magazines (regularly, not just as a one-off yearly special!) all the time.
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I am glad that this issue is not going away and think it is wonderful that this conversation is taking place. Yes, it has been said before but apparently the designers aren’t listening.
Many people complain that the media depicts unrealistic images of women and often this is true. I am thankful that a woman who is in the position to make a difference to what we see in the media is trying to do something about this weighty situation.
I am an old has been model (read over 30) and “back in my day” size 10 was the ideal. I am 5’10″ and believe this to be a healthy size. American size 0 is our size 4 (I am a Aus10 and this equates to US6)! A lot of models are my height or taller, often around 6 foot and for these girls to be required to be an Aussie size 4 is not only unrealistic but also dangerously unattainable.
To those girls who are a size 6 or smaller it is unlikely that you are near 6 feet tall so I am quite tired of hearing you say that you are a healthy size which you probably are at around 160cm tall. What you neglect to understand that these models are very tall and size 6 or smaller is not ideal and looks sickly.
Let’s be honest here, magazines are very rarely going to have editorials featuring the average woman. A garment definitely looks better on a tall thin woman and hence designers want a tall thin model not the average Austraian woman who is a size 14. I hope designers do listen to Alexandra Shulman and make a bigger sample size. I believe we should go back to the Supermodel era of beautiful healthy models, think Cindy Crawford, Elle Macpherson etc.
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Melissa, Rebecca and Maddie, I don’t know what your heights are but I think the negativity regarding size zero/six is aimed at the industry glorifying women/girls that are not naturally a size zero. There is a big difference between somone being 158 cm and a size zero and someone being 180 cm and a size zero. Most models are over 170 cm. It’s all about proportions. I do have some understanding of where you are coming from, I’m 183 cm and up until I was 20 I was a size 8, people were not very kind and everyone assumed that I was sick, but the truth was I ate a ridiculous amount of food. I can remember being jealous of my more curvy friends as they were the ones that got the male attention!
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There was an article in the Sun Herald magazine a few Sundays ago about curves coming back into fashion. However, the model they featured who was admittedly gorgeous and definitely could be classed as “curvy” had the “perfect curvy figure”, ie, tiny waist, curved hips, flat tummy, heaving bosom.
Yup, curves might be “back” (just let me get my boobs out of storage!), but only if said curves are a fabulously in proportion hourglass.
I read the article with a sinking feeling. All the style tips were less than useful to me. I have curves, but on a boyish figure, and no matter how many belts I wear, I still have no waist! Pencil skirts are my worst fashion nightmare. If they fit in the hips, they’re too tight in the waist. Fit in the waist and I could fit another person in the hip section. It’s not that I don’t have a waist, I just don’t have any hips!
I’d like to see articles on “how to dress for your figure” that realise there are more shapes than “boyish / sporty”, “petite” and “hourglass”. Trinny and Susannah came up with 8 or 9 different shapes (I’m a Vase, I think).
I’m pleased that a “stand has been taken”, but am realistic enough to realise not much will happen from it. However, if models are collapsing in tears because they’re too big for sample size, then what hope is there for the rest of us!
I was also saddened to see that young, slim models were used for the launch of Country Road’s “40 plus” brand offshoot Trenery. What the?!
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Every time I open a magazine, or watch the shallow news pieces on television, I am told I am ugly, vulgar, passe, undesirable and no man will ever want me. Why? Because I am a size 6. I waited and waited when I hit puberty to get some lady lumps. They never came. Nor do I have much of a bottom. Often size 6 is too big in the chest. I can’t afford to buy designer clothes that actually make size for us runts, and all my jeans are too big because all though I buy them in the smallest size, they stretch within a few wears. If I had the time, inclination and money I would perhaps start a business where the biggest size was 8 because of the sheer frustration in shopping for clothes where I cannot find my size. Having said that, having eating should not be socially acceptable, be that thin or fat, because either way is not healthy.
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Australian Designers should also be included in this. My mother had a boutique for years and I would go do the buying with her. Most of the range on display was a size 8, so being a size 12 (and most of the clients were 10 and up) you couldn’t even try on the clothes to see whether a client bigger than a size 8 would look and feel fantastic in the garment. I sense they are either saving on material, don’t want the so called “bigger” ladies wearing their clothes or have no idea how to design for a more shapely body. These days you can’t afford to design for the minority. Designers must start to be more realistic otherwise they are the ones that will lose sales. Us as buyers will just drop your label and move on to a different designer, there’s plenty to choose from.
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Honestly – big deal – this has NOTHING to do with real women or the real world. Vogue is not the real world – Haute Couture is not the real world.
So what if Karl Lagerfeld, John Galliano and fellow designers at Prada, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent & Balenciaga start providing Vogue with bigger sample sizes.
99% of the female population can’t afford these designers anyway. This is about the sizes of the models, and even if the designers make bigger samples and the models put on a few kg’s – the cost of the clothing and the size of the models is still unrealistic and unattainable for most.
Mia – why don’t you post, asking where the majority of your readers shop for clothing, who actually owns a ‘designer’ item? … how much they would spend on an item etc, that could be interesting.
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Conversation won’t change anything. Letters won’t change anything. Pronouncing that ‘curvy is the new thin’ won’t change anything.
The ONLY thing that will help stop this fixation on size is to feature women of ALL sizes in magazines – thin, curvy, tall, short, square, triangle (okay, so maybe not the last two).
One size is not ‘better’ than another, no matter what it is. If it’s healthy and happy, it’s beautiful.
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But after all the hoopla … The real problem is not about the designers or mag editors…. It’s that everyone out there ( yes including all you women) are so obsessed with size full stop. Women are ridiculed for being a size 16… They are ridiculed for being a size 6. They problem can’t be fixed with a letter to Parisian Couturiers….. The solution lies within each of us…. We must believe that we are good enough just as we are…. Whatever number is written on the tag of out jeans.
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I agree with Jaz and get very cynical when I hear someone from the industry ‘speak out’. This debate has been raging on for so many years and nothing ever changes.
Don’t forget there’s also a billion dollar weight loss industry depending on women’s body image/ weight insecurities for its survival.
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Am I the only one not that excited about this?
Hasnt this been going on for years? Every now and then, a courageous woman in the industry “speaks out”..but does it make a difference, really?
And this whole “curvy” business. Even if that becomes the in-thing…the fashion industry will place impossible standards on that. You will need big round boobs, a very small waist, hips equal measurements to your chest… a round pert bottom, skinny arms, skinny ankles….
Its just more impossible standards.
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I wish women would stop starving themselves to try and attain an unrealistically small size. What a dream, huh? This spotlight on size 0 does no one any favors – not the natural size 0s or the bigger girls like me.
PS – love the new picture, Mia! So cute!
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Hopefully Mia will actively lobby Cosmo,Cleo,Vogue,Marie Claire,etc to only use at least size 10 ( would prefer size 12)unairbrushed women allowing slight bellies, cellite, lines to show…would be the thing to do…
over to you Mia …your mission starts now…publish the email/letter you send to the editors on this site for all to see.
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I find it horrible that people always make such negative comments about size zero. I never make awful comments about the fact that larger and larger sized clothes are being manufactured.
My weight falls within the healthy range for my height (158cm). Often, the smallest sized clothes in stores are too big for me. Size zero (not always a size 6 in Australia as people say, a 6 is often too big) means I do have more choice in clothes.
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its great but i feel like we’ve already been here and we’ll just keep going around in circles argh
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About time somebody with influence spoke out!
Maybe the tide is turning?
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I absolutely LOVE your new pic Mia!!
…Don’t have anything to say on this topic though, am usually super interested and passionate on this issue – but tonight I just feel very defeated. Do I think her stance will change anything? No. Is it ridiculously depressing that I honestly believe that anorexic looking women will be held up as the ideal for many decades to come? Yes.
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About time! I find it completely bizarre how out of touch designers seem to be. Anyone else involved in running a business works out who their target customers are and caters to them. I guess they think they are setting the fashion and so the crowds will follow (this sadly seems to be the case).. Finally someone with some power has the guts to try and make a change. It will be interesting so see if anything changes.
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About time they started realizing that most women can be and are gorgeous with lovely curves. Having said that though, I am a petite, healthy Mum and also a size 6 (basically the size zero equivalant). Please don’t forget that some people just have very slim builds but it doesn’t mean we’re all unhealthy and anorexic.
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Does this mean I can eat again?
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so much more refreshing and in touch than her colleague across the pond too!! Bravo Alex!
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Sarah-Jane and Heidi – this means you too.
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lets just hope this actually happens!
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Away with the stick insects ! I don’t know a single male, who doesn’t like a woman with curves. If I wanted to look at skeletons, I’d become a medical intern.Give me Jennifer Lopez or Beyonce, any day.I’d be so happy…….
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I was hoping with the GFC designers wanting to stay in business would make their clothes a little more reaslitcally sized
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