Plus Size Trend On The Up
An article by Sarah 
Posted December 23, 2009
The plus size fashion industry has seen a real change in direction in the past year, so much so that there are now glossy magazines using ‘realistic’ imagery to represent the fashion industry.
In recent months we have seen an uproar in the fashion world regarding the use of plus size models on the catwalk and in the glossies! It seems that the trend is also set to continue in the new year, does this imply that the industry has realised the potential of using ‘real’ women in advertising and that a large part of the population of women are a size 16 and above? And that in fact we do want to see and read about women who represent us?
These questions will surely be answered in the new year when we could potentially be seeing a change in direction on the representation of women in the fashion media.
My questions come after announcements made by the high end glossy magazines, namely Glamour and German’s best selling women’s magazine Brigitte who have both commented on the use of skinny models and their new found dedication to use women of a more ‘realistic size’ in their magazines.
We have covered many stories of this kind, including Mark Fast’s use of plus size models on the catwalk of his new knitwear collection. My true opinion would be that we cannot guarantee women of realistic size and shape to appear in our glossies if there is no overall agreement between the magazines and the designers that provide the clothing samples. This was the plea of Vogue’s editor who wrote to every fashion house begging for more realistic sample sizes, and that she was sick of editing the final imagery after having to use ill looking models;
“Alexandra Shulman, one of the most important figures in the multi-billion-pound fashion industry, has taken on all the largest fashion houses in a strongly worded letter sent to scores of designers in Europe and America. In a letter not intended for publication but seen by The Times, Shulman accuses designers of making magazines hire models with “jutting bones and no breasts or hips” by supplying them with “minuscule” garments for their photoshoots. Vogue is now frequently “retouching” photographs to make models look larger, she said.”
I think it will take a combined effort by all magazines and designers that feel the same way, like Mark Fast, to come together to form a petition against the use of size zero and to agree on the use of more realistic women in advertising and the fashion industry. It seems little persuasion is required for the photographers even after Karl Lagerfeld who famously stated “…the world of fashion is about “dreams and illusions,” and that “no one wants to see curvy women,” in that world.” who has now jumped on board the plus size revelation. He is one of the photographers for V magazines January issue that will feature famous plus size models.
Dove is one of the only brands that has built a successful campaign for the use of ‘Real Beauty’ and they continue to succeed in appealing to women all over the world with the use of women of all size, age and ethnicity.
The plus size community needs to come together to fight for the use of real women in magazines, it would reduce eating disorders, increase body confidence and demonstrate that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes!
If you think 100% People should start a campaign for the use of real beauty in magazines please leave your comments below.
Read related Stories:
V Magazine to feature plus size models
Lizzie Miller Glamour’s plus size model bares all
Help Get Body Diversity in the Fashion Industry
