| 8217;t ask me how I missed this one but recently | | | | This is all hard to take in considering I just recently |
| Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman has been hailed as | | | | participated in the first ever Full Figured Fashion Week |
| "hugely brave" after calling out leading designers who | | | | in NYC where the women were encouraged to flaunt |
| force fashion magazines to have to use "size zero" | | | | their curves on the catwalk and the average model |
| models. She said that the clothes created by designers | | | | was a size 16/18. The fact is that in America alone, |
| for the catwalk which were then sent to magazines | | | | there are 40 million women over size 14, spending $25 |
| as samples for photo shoots had become | | | | billion a year on clothing, or a quarter of all clothing |
| “substantially smaller” and | | | | sales, according to American Demographics. So why |
| “minuscule” and that Vogue now had to | | | | is one of the top selling fashion magazines like Vogue |
| "retouch" photographs "to make the models appear | | | | still featuring clothing on models that are a size zero? |
| larger" and by larger I’m guessing she means | | | | I’d love someone to answer that for me. |
| more healthy looking. How ridiculous is that? I’m | | | | Another interesting fact is that many plus size clothing |
| calling her “my hero” because finally | | | | stores and websites still use models that are |
| someone actually working for an extremely well | | | | considered “straight size” rather than |
| known fashion magazine is speaking up and we are | | | | using “plus size” models. I searched the |
| not just hearing it from the public. | | | | web and retailers such as J.Jill, Jessica London, |
| In a letter sent to some main fashion houses including | | | | Roamans, OneStopPlus, and Silhouettes fall into this |
| Prada, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel, | | | | category while offering plus size clothing starting at |
| Shulman wrote: "We have now reached a point | | | | size 14W up to a 34W. How can a retailer offer plus |
| where many of the sample sizes don't comfortably fit | | | | size clothing to its customers effectively and not show |
| even the established star models. Instead, we have | | | | it on a plus size woman is beyond me. Are they falling |
| had to use girls with jutting bones and no breasts or | | | | into the same situation as Vogue, where like the |
| hips, to fit them." She added: "I am finding that the | | | | magazine, the retailers are receiving smaller samples |
| feedback from my readers and the general feeling in | | | | from their manufacturers so therefore they are having |
| the UK is that people don't really want to see such thin | | | | to use smaller models? I know for a fact that this is |
| girls.” | | | | not true since I have done fit modeling for numerous |
| Eleni Renton, a leading model agent who has | | | | plus size manufacturers and retailers in my career and |
| pioneered the use of healthy-looking girls, said: "It is | | | | the average plus size fit model is a size 18. |
| about time that somebody stood up to the designers, | | | | Needless-to-say the samples are made in a size 18, so |
| and it is hugely brave of Alexandra to come out and | | | | this cannot be possible. |
| say there is a problem. “I have had girls turn up | | | | What is going on world? Can we get this right? It |
| to shoots and not be able to fit into the samples and | | | | seems simple enough to me that as a retailer you |
| these are model-size, slim women. It has become | | | | should show your merchandise on “real |
| ridiculous and for too long, designers have been getting | | | | size” models that are the same size as the |
| away with making clothes that are simply not designed | | | | women you are targeting. So to those retailers J.Jill, |
| for normal women." | | | | Jessica London, Roamans, OneStopPlus, and |
| Hilary Alexander, the Telegraph’s fashion | | | | Silhouettes, my name is Danielle Line and I am a plus |
| director, said: “I totally support Alex and | | | | size model that is a “real size” 14/16. |
| addressing this issue is long overdue. Her call now | | | | Feel free to contact me or my agency if you would |
| needs to be backed by all the other glossy magazine | | | | like a “real size” model to work for you. |
| editors, who must join the chorus if they want to see a | | | | Until then, I will spend my money with the retailers that |
| change within the fashion industry. One lone voice will | | | | do use “real size” models like me such |
| not be enough.” | | | | as Lane Bryant, Torrid, Ashley Stewart, IGIGI, Hips |
| Emma Healey of Beat, the charity that supports | | | | & Curves, Kiyonna, Junonia, and SWAK Designs. |
| people affected by eating disorders, said: “This | | | | For these stores, keep doing what you’re doing |
| is very welcome. The whole controversy over size | | | | because you are definitely doing it right in the plus size |
| zero models has been a wake up call. It is very | | | | community. As for Vogue, let’s hope we see |
| encouraging to see Vogue taking a stance like | | | | some changes in the near future. I will keep my eyes |
| this.” Telegraph.co.uk, 2009 | | | | open. |