Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Italian Vogue's voluptuous issue or Curvy vs.Skinny

First of all I'd like to say that I'm glad to finally see some properly gorgeous plus size models inVOGUE. I remember a "plus-size" photo-shoot in Russian Vogue (I always found it ridiculously pretentious) starring a lady that was barely size 38 (US 6 or UK 10), in other words simply not a skeleton - which most of regular models are. On the other hand, there was that editorial in V featuring some real big gals, and while I'm nobody to judge, I found their photos in lingerie not so appealing. The "Belle Vere" editorial by Steven Meisel in ITALIAN VOGUE June 2011issue, on the other hand, is steaming hot - sexy, sensual and feminine. In fact, the bigger half of the shoot is topless, so I've posted only the more "decent" half - lest someone decides to report me for "inappropriate" content. On the other hand, the fashion world in general, and Vogue in particular, don't exactly embrace the plus-size models, featuring them quite reluctantly, as if only to keep the public from raising the topic of omnipresent anorexic models yet again. But is this the right attitude? Which kind of models do we really need more?

Curvy models, apart from showcasing feminine beauty as it was for centuries before cinema, pop music and fashion instituted new ideals, represent a realistic body image. They basically say to all women, who are unhappy with their figures, to stop hating their bodies and celebrate them instead. Of course in real life not all ladies over size S are busty and sexily curved in the right places - body weight works in mysterious ways... Also, in general, the tendency to glorify the big dames to help them feel comfy in their own skin - there are even special fashion magazines tailored to them - seems to ignore the thin line between just shapely and obese. If a person's weight is getting in the way of them having a normal healthy lifestyle and creates actual health problems - it really must be dealt with.
As for skinny models, I do understand why fashion industry likes them that way - it's more than convenient for catwalk shows to have ladies of all the same size, with no humps anywhere. Also when such a model needs to present an outfit that reveals one or both of her breasts, she can easily do so without fear of resembling a stripper - most models are conveniently flat-chested. Just the other day I had a shock when viewing photos from a lookbook featuring topless Irina Lazareanu. She's one of my favourite models, I love her rock'n'roll edge, but when a grown woman has a chest like she's 12, it's just not normal or healthy... And while I'm aware that we are all differently sized in that department, only a dramatic weight loss or constant self-starvation can produce such a scary result. She still looks awesome in clothes - but after that preview I really don't want to see her naked. Makes me think of starving children in poor countries...
Myself I do prefer seeing women with naturally toned bodies achieved simply by healthy eating, active lifestyle and workouts. But of course, we all judge by what's natural for us, and while I fit into my skinny jeans all year long even if I really let myself go (I do gain some extra but not too much), I realize that for some people staying skinny means going against their own nature, and that will never do. In that case being curvy is the best choice - but still keeping shape! Luckily nowadays there are plenty of curvy celebs such as Beyonce, Christina Hendricks or a few Kardashian women (promoting the curvy body image is probably the most useful thing they ever did) which prove that not being model skinny is no reason to hide in the closet - come out and have the world worship you instead!

6 comments:

  1. it is nice to see more realistic looking women in magazines! i am old enough to know that the tooth pick models that grace most of the pages magazines are unrealistic and airbrushed but teens dont! glad to see healthier role models out there :)

    brittany

    http://prettylittlevintage.blogspot.com

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  2. i was so happy to see that photoshoot!finally some real women!!they look so hot,sexy healthy!!
    lovw all photos!!

    we should support and show all bodytypes that are healthy super skinny is dangerous ..


    great post Alex!!
    kisses <3

    caramellitsa

    http://caramellitsa.blogspot.com

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  3. I am gonna get me the Italian Vogue tomorrow. :)
    I totally agree with you. Why can't there be more "normal", real women? Why do there have to be the skinny ones and the voluptuous ones? Aren't there any normal sized women out there? I mean, wearing Medium I consider a normal size...anyway. And looking good has nothing to do with being skinny.

    P.S. Thank you for stopping by and following :)

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  4. I thought it was a wonderful editorial! I especially loved their big vavavoom hair!

    x
    www.lostinthehaze.com

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  5. Very sexy photo shoot....I love the styling and photography. Beautiful shoot. Thanks for the post, can always count on you to make my day!
    xo
    Sada
    http://dressologyhq.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I always like those ‘Big is beautiful’ editorials, because they’re different and refreshing. However, I can’t help but notice that a lot of the times the ladies are naked, or just wearing lingerie.
    Why is that? Isn’t the whole point of this is that readers can see that big girls can enjoy fabulous fashion just like anyone else?
    To me it just screams “We couldn’t find any high fashion that would fit you, so you’ll just have to pose naked, sorry”.
    Fashion houses usually have a a couple of complete sets of the collection after the runway show.
    These sets are shown to big retail/wholesale clients (sacks, Neiman Marcus…etc) in the show room and used afterwards to send to fashion magazines for editorials.
    The fashion mag sents a request with the piece they need and when they need it.
    Of course these sets are all in models sizes (the same ones they used for the runwa).
    The actual product that goes into the stores (which has more size choice) is still not ready at that point because editorial shooting happens way before the merch hits the stores.
    I think the most important thing though is that all designers don’t want their clothes associated with big size women.
    They sell the fantasy of perfection, tall, super thin young girls with perfect hair and skin..
    This is definitely very different than what real women look like…
    However, is it that crazy to find some less known designers who wouldn’t mind making a bigger size and get some recognition?
    As much as I ‘love’ seeing the very same dress in 15 editorials, I always wonder why everyone goes for the same design by the same designer, instead of giving a chance to someone new and exciting.
    Fashion is a huge business and there are very strict rules if you want to survive (as a magazine, brand, model, photographer…). Fashion magazines put mainly oufits by the few famous and big names on their pages.
    Because at the end of the day these are the only designers who could afford to buy ads pages in the magazines.
    These ads are the most important income for the magazine to survive as the sales of the hard copies is always down..
    So it’s all about returning favours and working together for the interest of both the big names and the magazines themselves.
    Meanwhile there are thousands of talentive designers who never get any opportunity to appear anywhere..

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