This week on Facebook a certain picture caught my eye, and
millions of other people's eyes.
The picture is taken from a store, originally thought to be
H&M, but not. This picture was actually shot in 2010 and the mannequins are
used by a department store in Sweden. The reaction has been incredible. Over
the years there have been plenty of complaints about size zero, designers who
only make clothes for stick people and an all round media obsession with
'perfect image'. If only this picture had gone completely viral 3 years ago, we
might have been looking at these mannequins for years!
Some fashion magazines have pledged to support healthy image
by only using models of a certain minimum age and not displaying what some
might term as 'anorexic' images. This is, of course, fantastic. There are also
plenty of models who are clearly not a size zero, look fantastically sexy and
beautiful, and are great advocates of the healthy diet-exercise combination. I'll
give you the stunning Kate Upton (who graced January Vogue) as an example:
The article that follows Kate in Vogue even mentions how the
dresses used in the shoot are those with a bit of give and in her UK size 12. It's
a very interesting read, and she seems like a down to earth girl - look her up.
I'm definitely a little jealous of her boobs!
The writer also makes the statement that people in fashion
are not used to working with breasts. Unsurprising really when you cast an eye
over the catwalks from the fashion weeks; lots of leg, not much breast. Fashion
houses create their art for the catwalk; the catwalk is their gallery. High
fashion is quite uncompromising, but that's exactly as it should be. The
clothes created for show are one of a kind and not meant to be worn by
everyone; the same way that there is only one Mona Lisa and people just have a
copy of her hanging in their houses. I don't complain when the clothes shown in
a fashion magazine are tiny and only for girls over 5'8 because they're made to
be viewed as works of art; they aren't made to make people feel insignificant
or ugly. If stores such as H&M, Topshop, New Look, Zara and Burton starting
only stocking clothing in slim sizes - then we would have cause to complain a
lot more!
The fact is that they don't. Granted, some stores like to
make up their sizing sometimes, and some definitely design for a taller girl.
But in the same way that I, as a petite one, have to sometimes venture into the
children's section or ignore a shop altogether (New Look tops just don't fit)
tall girls have to find that section and curvier girls have to find theirs. I
quite like the teen section (VAT free - total bonus). Apparently the mannequins
we see in the shops can really affect our self-esteem and opinion of the
clothes. I know that if I see a lovely item of clothing on a mannequin and
can't find it I get a bit irate. Especially when told that they haven't stocked
in ages and/or it's just sold out.
Having mannequins of varying sizes is a great idea! How else
are people meant to see how the clothes look on someone of their size or shape
or skin tone? Some shoppers (myself included) can be quite lazy and not bother
waiting for a changing room queue to go down. Also, sometimes, those really
thin mannequins are just a bit creepy.
No person deserves to be told how they 'should' look. After
all, that's just someone else's opinion and your own opinion is what counts. If
I feel unhealthy then I cut the crappy food, swim lots and do some weights -
then I feel good and I can wear what I want. The fashion industry is in the
process of changing years of habit; maybe one day the great houses will use
gorgeous curvy models on their catwalks, but maybe not - that's up to them.
Curvy models can still model, and some I've seen model a hell of a lot better
than those who are closer to a size zero. The high street does okay catering
for everyone and anyone; it's up to you to find the styles that make you look
amazing! :) x
