Catwalk Models VS Plus Size Models

In England the average weight and height for males and females are:

Male:
5ft 9in (175.3cm) tall and weighed 13.16 stone (83.6kg)

Female:
weighed 11 stone (70.2kg) and was 5ft 3in tall (161.6cm).

However In society today even though the majority of women are size 10 and above, there are still strict weight regulations for catwalk models to conform too.
 
Male:
Between 5'11" and 6'2" tall, and weigh under 80kg

Female:
weigh between 7 stone (48.9kg) to 9 stone, (58.9kg) and be around 5’9” to 5”11 inches tall

This is a huge difference between sizes of catwalk models, compared to the average size person. This is important to me as a consumer because depending on who is modelling the clothes, depends on me choosing to buy the outfit. If I see a skinny model modelling the clothes I am less likely to buy it. This is because I believe it will not look as good on me, as it would on that model. This is the disadvantage of getting people to buy clothes fashioned by 'skinny' models, because this kind of advertising affects me as the consumer.

Life of a Catwalk Model

The main aim of catwalk models used in fashion magazines is to sell the clothes they are wearing, to us consumers.

These models are a new breed of women with near impossible measurements. They must be extremely thin, with waists between a 22-26inch range, and be extremely tall. For women to achieve this look they are kept on strict diets. These diets consist of extreme calorie restriction, and rigorous exercise.

This is not healthy and is definitely not normal! But why then do magazines publish these thin women on the front pages of Vogue magazine? This is because they believe that clothes fit thinner models better. That if the clothes were modeled by plus size models, people would focus on that persons weight, not the clothes. This is of course not true!

We may associate catwalk models as being rich, and having a glamorous lifestyle. When in fact they are made to feel more 'degraded' and 'dehumanized,' than consumers. They are treated as a 'prop,' you never learn about the girls personalities, just their appearance.

Post modernist concept 'style over substance' can explain that the models surface appearance (make up and clothing), is masking their true identity. And that their surface appearance in magazines, is becoming their identity. These woman are being dehumanized and exploited, by the big fashion manufacturers and companies. Also known in Marxism, as the bourgeoisie.

The public now days are so used to women being exploited by the fashion industry. That magazines can get away with airbrushing models, making them appear thinner and more beautiful. We are once again reminded that we should look like this 'ideal woman'.

This creates a hyperreality for consumers. This is explained by Jean Baudrillard, who says hyperreality occurs in 3 steps. He suggests that our lives are dominated by the media (magazines), this is the simulation. Then we begin to make no distinction between reality we experience first hand (average size women), and simulated experience offered by the media (thin, airbrushed models). This is the implosion. The the final stage hyperreality occurs, when our actual reality (average woman) has become distorted. And that our reality is now being mediated for us, by the media. We now see the average women as needing to be thinner and more beautiful, like the models in the magazines. 

As a consumer when I see thin catwalk models wearing designer clothes, it makes me think I should also be 'thin'. And this image created by the media of the perfect woman above, as the dominant ideology is superficial. However in complete contrast is the new range of models the...

Plus Size Model

In the fight against size 0 models, the rise of the 'fuller' woman has begun. More magazines and TV advertisements are starting to use 'plus size models' to model their clothing range, and banning models who are too skinny.

Plus size models shape requirements are that they must be at least a UK size 12 to qualify. And ideally be a dress size 12,14, or 16. Although like catwalk models they must still be tall, at around 5'8," to 6'0". This is a much healthier shape, and is much more representative of the society we live in.

A poll was done on the British public, during London Fashion Week. It found that the public voted fashion designers should not be allowed to use, size 'zero' models. With 79% of the public voting, that if fashion designers were to use more average-shaped women in their catwalk shows, it would help them sell more clothes!

Therefore if the public are saying they want to see more average sized women modelling the clothes, then why is this taking such a long time to happen?

Even though there are more plus size models than ever before, and there has been success rates.Such as Vogue who have pledged to ban underweight models, and models under the age of 16. We are still however exposed to lots of skinny models on the catwalk, and in magazines. 

One of the first 'plus size' models is a woman called Sophie Dahl, who made her debut in London fashion week in 1997. She was known as a 'big girl' in the modelling world, because she was overweight in modelling standards. However she was still ranked no.10 in Chanel "worlds greatest supermodel'. Her picture is shown below...

She used to be in the news constantly, and the topic for the media was about her weight. She was overly criticized by everyone in the fashion industry for her size, which they made sure she didn't forget. Thankfully this didn't affect her love for food, and her confidence with her body.

Even though she was heavily criticized by the fashion industry, and the media. It was great to see she was still successful with her modelling career. And that her confidence in her size, has aspire others to be more confident with their bodies. She would be happy to know that 'plus size' models are breaking into the industry, and are being praised now, instead of criticized.

As a consumer I am happy, knowing that the average size woman is being recognized. Also that there are more 'plus size' models being used to advertise clothes. This makes me feel more confident. As I will be far more likely to buy the clothes from these retailers, using plus size models. Instead of being made to feel self conscious and insecure, seeing 'stick thin' models in the clothes I want.