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Runway Model or a Real Girl? |
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'Thicker' models are walking the runway. How do people really want to see the latest looks presented?
A runway model or a real girl? How do people really want to see the latest looks presented on the runway?
The look of the runway used to be real women with real curves depicting the latest designers’ fashionable looks. Today, we have very thin girls stomping down the runway with their clothes practically hanging off of them, and it seems the clothes are wearing the girl, not the girl wearing the clothes.
Don’t get me wrong, the clothes are still beautiful. However, we need to get the curvy women back on the runway. There was a lot of discussion this runway season, during the debut of Spring/Summer 2010, about “thicker girls” walking the runway for certain designers. You should note that these so called “thicker girls” are only approximately 110 pounds vs. the expected 90-95-pound women we have been seeing for years. Some of you may think that's a significant leap in weight gain for runway models. What will they do next, make the models look like everyday woman and sell more clothes?
It’s a breath of fresh air that some designers are using models with a little — and I mean a little — meat on their bones. Of course, not enough designers are using these so-called “thicker girls” in their shows. So here’s to the designers for taking a risk and showing us how women are more sexy and fashionable with realistic curves on their bodies. I believe it sends out a strong, positive message to women when they see more curvy models on the runway, This will allow them to believe they too can look good in those clothes. I think it’s important to let women everywhere know that their own bodies are more realistic, not the models. So, it should begin with the types of models we see on the runways.
When fashion first took to the runway, models who were considered “thin” were a size 6-8, not a size 0 and down (A normal sample for a runway today is made for a juniors size 14 or a 0 in ready-to-wear.) So, when these “thin” models walked the runways, women could relate to their looks and envision themselves wearing the particular outfits. Now we have to try to picture ourselves in the looks five sizes bigger and hope it still looks chic.
I understand that having ultra thin models at times helps bring out the look of the outfits, but I don’t believe it’s necessary to have the clothes practically hanging off the models either. A little curve on the models would actually enhance and bring out the look much more. I hope that we’re finally getting back to seeing real figures for many seasons to come!
What do you think? Should we see curvy or thin models walk the runway?
Elizabeth Leffler-Agia is a personal stylist and owner of Christie's Boutique in Mission Hills. She has been a stylist for seven years, and studied fashion at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago and the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in San Diego.
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Reader Comments:
While I realize fashion week sets the tone and new styles for the upcoming season, I have never understood runway modeling. We've all seen Project Runway and know the clothes are designed for an extremely skinny, and extremely tall model and fit to her before the show. At the same time clothing stores sell clothes for the estimated "average" woman. Try sending that model to any department store for pants and the pants wont be long enough. Clothes shopping for most women is extremely frustrating and many suffer from anxieties and self esteem issues that stem from looking to models and actresses as the "ideal" body examples. Parents should be taking the time to talk to their children about looking towards real role models. History is filled with pages of real life heroes and exemplary role models for kids. Don't let Hollywood skew your child's idea of healthy or successful women. It is worth discussing!