I love and dwell in the fashion realm~
Runway shows play a major part in promoting designers creations and helping consumers make up their own minds on what will be hot for the upcoming season.
But, besides the clothing, there is another major factor in promoting clothing, and that would be the models you see strutting down 'The Walk of Dreams'.
This brings me to the term 'plus size model'.
I truly feel this word is harsh and I dislike it.
I've always wondered "Why can't the fashion industry see models as models and not put a label to them"?
Then, to make it worse fashion heads say women who wear size 10 and 12 are plus size. "Yes, you can laugh with me".
The first thing anyone thinks about when they hear 'plus' in terms of fashion is 'fat', which, by the way, is truly ridiculous.
I won't mention any celebrity names, but I know a few, and some women outside the entertainment world who wear size 10 and up. They are curvaceous but in ‘my hips are wider than my waist’ kind of way :-).
We shouldn't make women who wear 'double digit sizes' feel like they can't be glamorous. It should really be about the models that fit the criteria you want to bring to your collection and serving the many different silhouettes that walk amongst us.
A clothing collection can still be viewed as a High-End line with tags reading size 10, 12, 14 etc. People need to start realizing that this world is filled with women that are various shapes and sizes.
Sometimes I view it like politics, meaning Democrats and Republicans. Money over here and the rest over there. It's the same in the fashion world. The 0-4's are over here, and the rest of the sizes, over there.
How about we view them all as models that represent the different structures of the female body? If they fit the mold you are looking for, then great. If not, so be it.
I’m not trying to put down the size 8 and below women of the world, but is it fair how females who wear size 10 and up are labeled ‘plus size’, but yet there isn’t a label for the 0-2 or 4's? Ok, sure there is petite but that mainly represents a little or small body frame. But ask yourself, does it sound as harsh as 'plus size'?
How about I hold a go-see that caters to plus size models as well as models who have a daily intake of 800 calories? Is that better? Hopefully you get the picture.
After asking models of all shapes and sizes, I found the term 'plus size' still bares a
problem for most, but that they feel it just comes with the realm of fashion.
For the fashion industry to grow, this is something that has to change. I've seen beauty in the size 4's as well as the 14's, but I don't put one ahead of the other.
The truth is whether you like or dislike the term 'plus size' it comes down to labeling. If you’re going to label, label them all.
The fashion industry is into selling an image and that's fine, but it needs to rethink how it portrays the various sizes of women throughout the world.
Just a man’s point of view...
P.S. You see, beauty does come in different shapes and sizes...
Photos: From Google