As a general rule, I don't enter into stupid debates about things that are out of my control, can't won't be fixed, and/or are because people just want to complain about something and waste time.
But then I saw this article and the resulting heated debate about who is to blame for the fashion industry's use of skinny models, and felt like weighing in (pun intended).
Basically what happened was, Kelly Cutrone, from America's Next Top Model, said "Society has a hyper emphasis on thin and that trend comes from the consumers — it does not come from the fashion industry," she said. "The fashion industry needs to make money, that’s what we do. If people said, ‘We want a 300-pound purple person,’ the first industry to do it would be fashion." And then, everyone got all offended that Cutrone was essentially dodging the blame on behalf of the fashion industry.
Well here's the thing ... everyone is to blame in some way. Yet nobody wants to accept their share of the responsibility. It's the models' choice to starve themselves, or eat wet paper towels or take drugs; they could always go out and try to find some other job like the rest of the world. It's the choice of the magazine editors to generally always use one size model (while they say they are being 'different' and 'breaking down barriers'). It is the choice of the public, the viewers, the consumers, to enjoy looking at skinnier models and prettier people on television, and creating an alternate dream reality for themselves - a sort of escape from their current 9-to-5 life with too much hard work, too many cookies at lunch, and 'too little time' to do any exercise during the day.
I actually have spent several years in the fashion industry, and hundreds upon hundreds of hours with skinny models, skinny editors, skinny coworkers, skinny bosses, skinny clients...you get the idea. And to be honest, some of them choose to be skinny through hard work, exercise, and a good diet, and some of them choose to skip meals every day, live on coffee, and then go spend hours at the gym overworking their bodies. Additionally, living in NYC is different than living anywhere else. You walk everywhere, you take stairs because the elevators are broken or too crowded, you ride a bike because you can't afford a car, you eat small meals because you don't have time to cook or eat large meals, and you pick healthy foods because your body and lifestyle requires that you have a lot of energy.
So, where does the finger-pointing, cloaked in superiority and self-righteous hypocrisy, end?
For those people who do eat well, exercise, stay busy + moving, and try to maintain a healthy weight for their height, genetics, body type, etc. that's great. I have no more to say to them than 'keep up the good work'.
Sure, the fashion industry is at the forefront of promoting images of skinny people. And so is the entertainment industry, and every other industry out there from automobiles to consumer products to food (through their advertisements). But, common' people. Be a little responsible for your own lifestyle and your own choices.
... what do you think? Are you against the fashion industry for using skinny models? Do you think everyone is to blame? Let me know below!
x
RH
But then I saw this article and the resulting heated debate about who is to blame for the fashion industry's use of skinny models, and felt like weighing in (pun intended).
Basically what happened was, Kelly Cutrone, from America's Next Top Model, said "Society has a hyper emphasis on thin and that trend comes from the consumers — it does not come from the fashion industry," she said. "The fashion industry needs to make money, that’s what we do. If people said, ‘We want a 300-pound purple person,’ the first industry to do it would be fashion." And then, everyone got all offended that Cutrone was essentially dodging the blame on behalf of the fashion industry.
Well here's the thing ... everyone is to blame in some way. Yet nobody wants to accept their share of the responsibility. It's the models' choice to starve themselves, or eat wet paper towels or take drugs; they could always go out and try to find some other job like the rest of the world. It's the choice of the magazine editors to generally always use one size model (while they say they are being 'different' and 'breaking down barriers'). It is the choice of the public, the viewers, the consumers, to enjoy looking at skinnier models and prettier people on television, and creating an alternate dream reality for themselves - a sort of escape from their current 9-to-5 life with too much hard work, too many cookies at lunch, and 'too little time' to do any exercise during the day.
I actually have spent several years in the fashion industry, and hundreds upon hundreds of hours with skinny models, skinny editors, skinny coworkers, skinny bosses, skinny clients...you get the idea. And to be honest, some of them choose to be skinny through hard work, exercise, and a good diet, and some of them choose to skip meals every day, live on coffee, and then go spend hours at the gym overworking their bodies. Additionally, living in NYC is different than living anywhere else. You walk everywhere, you take stairs because the elevators are broken or too crowded, you ride a bike because you can't afford a car, you eat small meals because you don't have time to cook or eat large meals, and you pick healthy foods because your body and lifestyle requires that you have a lot of energy.
So, where does the finger-pointing, cloaked in superiority and self-righteous hypocrisy, end?
- What technically is too skinny?
- What technically is too fat?
- Why is it even considered un-PC to say the word 'fat' and not 'skinny'? Or considered mean to point out to someone that they are 'overweight', but it's okay to point out that they are 'underweight'?
For those people who do eat well, exercise, stay busy + moving, and try to maintain a healthy weight for their height, genetics, body type, etc. that's great. I have no more to say to them than 'keep up the good work'.
Sure, the fashion industry is at the forefront of promoting images of skinny people. And so is the entertainment industry, and every other industry out there from automobiles to consumer products to food (through their advertisements). But, common' people. Be a little responsible for your own lifestyle and your own choices.
... what do you think? Are you against the fashion industry for using skinny models? Do you think everyone is to blame? Let me know below!
x
RH
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