Plus-Size Models

Continuing on from my earlier blog, I had a Loooooong think about the plus-size predicament and what it meant for models and the fashion industry.  I promise after this I'll shut-up about this...for a while ;P

 What immediately comes to mind when you think of 'plus size model'? 

fat? ugly? I certainly hope not.

Wikipedia states:- 

 'The plus size modelling industry has received general criticism on the premise that acceptance of plus-size models sets a poor health example regarding weight management. ( you have to be kidding. Normal sized models at a size 0-4 aren't exactly setting healthy example in most BMI cases.) Consumer-based criticism regarding the lower sizes of plus-size models is also becoming commonplace and wide-spread. While the reputed 'average' dress size of an American women is size 14, the majority of models represented as plus size are between a US size 6-12; therefore the models do not reflect the average consumer size ( Where exactly is the sense is that ?). Critics have also mentioned the widespread use of padding used to make smaller models appear larger and help smaller models fit the clothing ( Yes, you read correctly! Curves are WANTED!). German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld and other fashion designers have deferred on the use of plus-size models through a lack of interest in the consumers associated with the term plus size. Lagerfeld in particular has been vocal on the matter of his preferred clientele ""What I designed was fashion for slender and slim people" and received criticism for demanding that mass retailer H&M not produce their collaboration designs to size 16. ( Well.... Karl Lagerfield isn't exactly known for his love of the larger sized lady. Just look at the 2012 scandal involving him and Adele)'

The most interesting part of the above, to me, is obviously the fact that the plus size does NOT reflect the average consumer size, or to put it simply, MY SIZE! Not that I think in any universe that I'd ever be a model :P Throughout the years as I've hoped of being in the fashion industry I've often pondered making the use of plus-sized models one of my trade-marks. Plus-sized models are gorgeous women with gorgeous bodies and if a size UK 12 is considered plus size although in stores plus-sizes start at 14 then why exactly does plus-size modelling start lower then that? and in-fact many models get TURNED DOWN for being a plus sized model even though their sizes are perfectly plus-sized and still not considered obese ( which I understand would cause a huge influential health debate).

In my opinion, plus size models ARE the models who's sizes that normal, average sized woman can look up to. Gorgeous women with gorgeous curves :) Although, even being plus-sized you still need to have your curves in all the right places. hour-glass figures are best, nice bust and waist with orange-peel free thighs and skinny army and shoulder frame.

Take Robyn Lawley for instance; She told Fabulous magazine in 2011 about her struggle to be thinner- ‘I stumbled across pro-anorexia websites and scoured them for tips,' 'I began starving myself and making myself sick after meals' yet now she's embraced her curves and is absolutely gorgeous, the new face of Theo Paphitis's Lingerie line for Curvy Girls and is a role model for curvy women everywhere.

These first three Images were taken for French Elle in 2011 By the photographer Lee Bromfield and the last monochrome image is photographed by Max Doyle for Australia Vogue

In contrast many professional models are extremely tall, smaller busted and with certain very strong features such as bone structure or large eyes etc that, without make-up seem far from what many would consider traditionally beautiful yet their fatures allow them to be moulded and shaped into a strange, alluring piece of art.

It's sad and annoying that designers keep trying to push their clothing off to UK 4-8 sizes when it is FAR more common to see a size 14/16 then a 4/6! Look, excuse-me but if I have to spend another ten minutes struggling to pull a dress off that REFUSES to come over my ample-sized cleavage in a changing room, taking 2 minute breaks to get my breath back. Or try squeeze my bum into a skirt that really would be more comfortable on ONE of my legs then I might start taking scissors with me on my shopping trips. I could, perhaps, be over exaggerating the difficulties I go through when shopping but I DID spend rather a long time trying to pull a bodycon dress off again after accidentally putting it on the wrong way round ( whoops!).

These days, what is even more important is that even plus-sized clothing seems to be designed wrongly for the larger shape. For one thing , high collared dresses, blouses etc seem to be on trend this year yet for a fuller bust these really aren't flattering in the slightest. If I wear a dress which starts at almost-just-below my neck then it cuts off my whole body and makes me seem even shorter then I already am at a 5"2. Not good! There's a line between dinky, adorable and cuddly and short&fat and I very much would prefer to stay on the dinky side of the line!

I certainly understand why, in modelling terms, a size US 12 would be considered plus-size though. A 'sample size' collection of clothing is a US 0-4 to fit the average model build and with the 0-4 being the 'norm' for model sizes it means that you only have to make 1 piece for the collection and know that it will fit a large collection of models and the models' who only-just don't fit that size often have to work HARD to get down to the right size or has to choose different modelling paths to take ( which is, of course, completely unfair).

Even more horribly is the fact that the poor women inbetween the norm for models and plus-sized are in a bit of a sticky-situation then as they're told to either bulk up or slim down. Which to do? starve yourself thin or eat yourself fat? I know which choice sounds more appealing but becoming BIGGER isn't a thing that you hear coming from most women's' mouths.

The even stranger thing is that, in the debate of plus-sized modelling, males never come in to it. What would we say if suddenly males were pushing for 'plus-sized' males to be used in ad campaigns etc?

basically to sum it up brands really need to be directing their attentions to what the average consumer wants, not the models' needs. We are an average size 16 in the uk and we need the brands and clothing to understand this and addess this and make us more clothes  too, or at least let us in on the clothes that our 'skinny' friends squeeze themselves in to!

Love Always,

Luciie Panda

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