I have been trying to develop a plus size fashion figure croquis to start sketching some designs. This morning I was doing some research online to look for pose inspiration and I was shocked at what some websites consider ‘Plus Size.’
When someone who looks to be about a size 8 is modeling plus size clothing–how does this make sense? How can someone who is actually plus size envision themselves in the clothing? How does this make us curvy girls feel?
Well, it bothers me. It’s not much better than looking at ‘normal’ sized clothing on super skinny models. It made me a little sick seeing it.
Some pictures from Asos Curve of “plus size” models:
I know that not all plus size clothing companies have this small of models for their plus size, but what if this eventually becomes the norm? Doesn’t this have the same affect on women, especially young girls, who will think that they still need to look like these thinner models to be beautiful and accepted by society? Doesn’t this just personify the bad self images the mass media puts into our heads?
So, tell me, what is ‘Plus Size’? If these girls are ‘plus size,’ then I must be giganto plus size.
To me, this is what a true ‘Plus Size’ model should look like:
Picture from Vogue.it.
Maybe I am going over board, or maybe not… Things change, they sneak up on us. Before we realize it something has been hijacked and is no longer what it started out being.
“Twenty years ago the average fashion model weighed 8% less than the average woman. Today, she weighs 23% less.”
(Source: Plus Size Model Magazine)
Will the same thing happen to Plus Size models? Will things change? Are they changing?
“Ten years ago plus-size models averaged between size 12 and 18. Today the need for size diversity within the plus-size modeling industry continues to be questioned. The majority of plus-size models on agency boards are between a size 6 and 14, while the customers continue to express their dissatisfaction.”
(Source: Plus Size Model Magazine)
