Cracking The Whip on Fashion
I know I’m probably going to get quite a bit of flack for my upcoming thoughts, but I have to say it considering it does pertain not only to fashion, but to our society in general. So, here it comes, I’m very conflicted when it comes to all of this fashion encouraging eating disorders/”unhealthy eating habits” hullabaloo. To an extent I understand people’s concerns of sickly looking public figures including, but not limited to, models and most of Young Hollywood, influencing the impressionable youth and their not so impressionable elders, but in all honesty how many times does one have to see some waif’s sternum for us to say, “ew, that’s gross,” and move on with our lives?
Being able to count someones ribs doesn’t encourage me to stick my finger down my throat, it makes me want a cheeseburger because I’m afraid those ribs I see when I suck in might start to rear their ugly heads some other time. I do however realize my feelings aren’t the norm and that is disappointing to me.
I’m also slightly conflicted as to whether I think it is a good idea for the French national government or, any government for that matter, to be able to censure the fashion industry. I understand they are passing a bill to outlaw anything that encourages “excessive thinness,” but I thought that was more directed toward websites and other mediums that encourage eating disorders. I happen to think everyone should start doing their part to thwart all of the pro-eating disorder websites that have been popping up, but I think it might be a waste of time trying to prove the fashion industry actually encourages “excessive thinness.”
Though the fashion industry is quite obviously smitten with the very thin, very pale model, never have I heard a magazine, designer, publicist, or model blatantly say “to be fashionable, you need to starve yourself.” Actually, Janice Dickinson said she wishes some of her models would catch an eating disorder, and received loads of well-deserved flack for it. I know, by having very skinny models in ads, editorials, and on runways there is the subliminal element to the fashion industry, but not being an expert on the social effect the thin trend has had, makes me wonder if people are putting a little too much blame on the fashion industry. There are obviously going to be the casting agents/designers who favor thin models above “healthy looking” models, but will that ever change? Stealing is illegal, but people still do it (is this a cop out?).
Though I’m NOT, I REPEAT NOT, saying girls should aspire to look like the models in magazines, I do think the world should back off the fashion industry a bit. Saying a girl who willingly becomes a model, someone who uses their thin, hanger-like body for income, shouldn’t maintain a thin form is unreasonable— its like saying a politician shouldn’t lie, because the all do. On the other hand I think it was rude for the Parisian casting directors to shun Ail Michaels for normal weight gain. I think everyone should try as hard as possible to maintain a HEALTHY weight, but I realize there will always be people who are either simply not comfortable with the weight they are or have a psychologically skewed body image which hinders them from being comfortable with a healthy weight, and in that case making the fashion industry change won’t truly help much. There will always be a lower weight, and there will always be a fad diet, what we can do is try to instill and promote healthy eating habits and weight loss/gain at a young age for both boys and girls, whether it will help anything, I have no idea.
So, the weight debate rages on, not only in my head but around the world.
I truly want to hear what you guys think, even if you feel like ripping my head off. I started thinking about this after I read this article about the topic on NYMag.com. Though I pretty much agree with the fashion insiders, their nonchalance and insinuation that every single model maintains her waif-like form in a healthy manner does bother me.
Photo Credit: The Fashion Spot
