GlitchGiraffe
Well-known member
Industry insiders sound the alarm that efforts towards size inclusivity have been rolled back in recent fashion shows, leaving many to wonder if a '360 turn' has occurred.
According to a report by Vogue Business, out of 9,038 looks presented across 198 women'swear collections earlier this month, an astonishing 97.1% were shown on straight-size models who measured between a US size 0-4 (the equivalent of a UK 4-8). Meanwhile, only 0.9% of models were plus-size, while 2% fell into the mid-size category.
Experts say that this decline in representation is largely due to the widespread use of GLP-1 weight loss drugs among celebrities and thinness now being normalized beyond the catwalks. Susie Orbach, a psychotherapist and writer, describes this trend as "the latest commercialization of the body," where manufacturers are creating bodies as if they're products rather than living beings.
The demand for body modification procedures like "Barbie waist" surgery is also on the rise, with many people opting for procedures to reduce their size. Orbach points to reality TV shows like The Kardashians, which promote an unrealistic beauty standard that's now being mass-produced.
While there has been a slight shift towards more inclusive casting in recent years, the trend seems to have reversed itself recently. In 2023, British Vogue featured plus-size models Paloma Elsesser, Precious Lee, and Jill Kortleve on its cover, describing them as "the new Supers." However, this season, only one of these models walked in the shows.
Felicity Hayward, a plus-size model and writer, says she's concerned that plus-size models are being used as tokenism to make headlines. "If you're going to be progressive, you need to continue with progression," she emphasizes.
The decline in size inclusivity has also taken its toll on brands like H&M and River Island, which have removed dedicated plus-size sections from their stores. In fact, some brands are now only offering plus-size ranges online.
As the industry swings back towards skinny, it's having a knock-on effect on consumers. The UK Advertising Standards Authority is urging advertisers to avoid using "irresponsible" images of unhealthily thin-looking models in ads.
According to a report by Vogue Business, out of 9,038 looks presented across 198 women'swear collections earlier this month, an astonishing 97.1% were shown on straight-size models who measured between a US size 0-4 (the equivalent of a UK 4-8). Meanwhile, only 0.9% of models were plus-size, while 2% fell into the mid-size category.
Experts say that this decline in representation is largely due to the widespread use of GLP-1 weight loss drugs among celebrities and thinness now being normalized beyond the catwalks. Susie Orbach, a psychotherapist and writer, describes this trend as "the latest commercialization of the body," where manufacturers are creating bodies as if they're products rather than living beings.
The demand for body modification procedures like "Barbie waist" surgery is also on the rise, with many people opting for procedures to reduce their size. Orbach points to reality TV shows like The Kardashians, which promote an unrealistic beauty standard that's now being mass-produced.
While there has been a slight shift towards more inclusive casting in recent years, the trend seems to have reversed itself recently. In 2023, British Vogue featured plus-size models Paloma Elsesser, Precious Lee, and Jill Kortleve on its cover, describing them as "the new Supers." However, this season, only one of these models walked in the shows.
Felicity Hayward, a plus-size model and writer, says she's concerned that plus-size models are being used as tokenism to make headlines. "If you're going to be progressive, you need to continue with progression," she emphasizes.
The decline in size inclusivity has also taken its toll on brands like H&M and River Island, which have removed dedicated plus-size sections from their stores. In fact, some brands are now only offering plus-size ranges online.
As the industry swings back towards skinny, it's having a knock-on effect on consumers. The UK Advertising Standards Authority is urging advertisers to avoid using "irresponsible" images of unhealthily thin-looking models in ads.
I'm so done with this cycle of body shaming and sizeism. It's like, we're supposed to be living in a world where everyone deserves to feel beautiful and confident in their own skin, but instead we're still being bombarded with unrealistic beauty standards that are literally killing people 
.
. Like, what's next? Surgery to make your eyes bigger? It's just so... messed up. We need to stop fetishizing our bodies and start treating ourselves with respect and care instead of trying to change who we are to fit some arbitrary beauty standard. 
. Maybe that's a good starting point? At least people can choose their own level of inclusivity? But overall, I'm just so over this body shaming nonsense and I think we need to do better than this 
. it's like, we thought we were making progress with plus-size models on the catwalks 
, but it seems like thinness is still being pushed as the norm 
. this isn't just about aesthetics, it's also a matter of representation and how our bodies are perceived 
. it's time for the industry to rethink its approach and prioritize diversity and body positivity 
plus-size reps were supposed to be the new norm, but it looks like that's not happening anymore 
just got an ad for a fashion brand and the model looked so thin it was like she had a wire hanger in her waist 
what's next? are we gonna start seeing ads for " skinny" jeans too? 
. We need to focus on promoting self-acceptance and body positivity, not trying to fit into some unrealistic beauty standard. The rise of plus-size models in 2023 was a game-changer, but now it feels like we're going back to the old days 
.
. It's like, we're living in a world where fashion is supposed to be inclusive, but the reality is far from it 
.
. We need to stop normalizing thinness and start embracing diversity in all its forms 
!
. It's like we've taken a step back into the 90s, where being thin was the ultimate beauty standard. I mean, what's next? Are we gonna start selling plus-size models as 'token' inclusivity measures just to placate social media outrage? 
I think brands like H&M and River Island are trying to make some headway by keeping their plus-size sections online, but it's not enough. We need to see REAL representation on the runway and in our stores.
. We need to hold brands accountable for perpetuating negative body image and instead promote a more inclusive, diverse definition of beauty 
. if you show only skinny models on the runway, what does that say about the value of plus-size people? 
. We need to create a new narrative, one that values diversity and inclusivity over profit 
.
thats just messed up 
and its not just the models its the brands too like h&m and river island just removed their plus size sections from stores and now ppl are being told to only shop online if they wanna see more diverse sizes 
it feels like we took a step back in terms of body positivity and acceptance 
!
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But seriously, it's like the industry has learned nothing from the past... those reality TV shows are literally creating a generation of people with unrealistic expectations about their bodies 
. And now we're seeing brands removing plus-size sections because they can't compete with the 'cool kids'... meanwhile, H&M and River Island are basically saying "we don't want to sell to fat people"... what's next? 
... it's time for a 360 turn, but in the opposite direction. We should be promoting body positivity, self-love, and acceptance. Anything less is just a cop-out 