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British Vogue Editor Fights Size Zero Clothing Samples

by Bee-Shyuan Chang (Subscribe to Bee-Shyuan Chang's posts)
Posted Jun 15th 2009 at 1:35PM  
4 Comments
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Too skinny? Too young? Or both? A model on the runway at Louis Vuitton's Fall/Winter 2009 show. Photo: Catwalking/Getty Images

Over the weekend, Telegraph UK reported that British Vogue's editor-in-chief Alexandra Schulman sent a letter to major international design houses including Prada, Versace and John Galliano denouncing the size zero sample dresses the designers have been sending to the Vogue office.

In the letter, Schulman blames the design houses for increasingly small clothing -- calling the garments "miniscule" -- and for forcing the magazine to hire models with "jutting bones with no breasts or hips." To compensate, the magazine is now reportedly retouching models so they actually appear larger.

Many fashion insiders have praised Schulman. Hilary Alexander, Telegraph UK's fashion director stated, "I totally support Alex and addressing this issue is long overdue. Her call now needs to be backed by all the other glossy magazine editors ... One lone voice will not be enough."

But the designers were quick to react. Guardian UK reported that leading designers have defended themselves by saying that it is all a vicious cycle and that agency models from which they have to choose are all about the same size.

Sarah Shotton, head designer at lingerie brand Agent Provocateur, tells Guardian UK that agencies send them "girls so thin that we have to ask them to leave."

So who's to blame? Sure, it's easier to point the finger at someone else, but the demand for smaller models is a complex issue that has been on and off the radar since the 90s.

During Fall/Winter 09/10 Paris Fashion Week, the models were so young that they still had the lanky proportions of youth.

While Schulman's letter is a huge step in the right direction, perhaps the issue is a combination of weight and age. After all, if the industry keeps hiring models that are too young to have developed hips or breasts, then it's definitely part of the problem. Tell us what you think.

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Filed under: News
Tags: Alexandra-Schulman, British-Vogue, editor, models, skinny-models, small-sample-sizes, thin-models, Vogue-UK, weight, young-models
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READER COMMENTS

(4)Add A Comment

Ali, 8-26-2009, 2:24PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Ali

KUDOS to her, I wish more editors would back her up. We need a healthy variety of women shown, not just size zero! Hope to see more of this in the future! THANK YOU!!

Reply »

Deenah, 8-27-2009, 2:04AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Deenah

Back to Nature...we want to preserve the earth and its resources, but don't support the natural shape of Women everywhere....Children die each day due to lack of food and the fashion world starves their models for what....?

Reply »

Sydney, 5-18-2010, 1:40PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Sydney

Double Kudos to this editor. These girls are WAY to thin and I'm sure equally unhealthy trying to STAY thin. All of this nonsense n eeds to stop. Thease girls and women are killing themselves trying to be models and ultra thin. It is the fault of the designers and the agencies. Moreso, the designers. I'm sure if they designers were "requesting" models that are not anorexic and the demand came from them, it would make a WORLD of difference.

Reply »

james roberts, 8-12-2010, 3:09PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
james roberts

"Models should reflect the majority of real women. Bring on the size 12+ set!"

1. Size twelve (12) isn't glamorous, therefore few would attend showing
2. Depending on women's' frame it could be considered obese
3. People suggesting larger sizes to avoid weight embarrassment; no different than cigarettes, alcohol, chocolate consumption or wider stadium seats and bus seats, etc.

Fashion sets the trend, not joins trend, or cater to any group. You can buy size 12 dress.


Reply »

 
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