I was recently a two-page advertorial spread in Marie Claire magazine. When being fitted for my photo shoot, I was the largest girl by far. I didn’t fit many of the beautiful sample-sized clothes on the racks that the other girls could wear. I wasn’t frustrated by this. I didn’t feel like the fashion world owed me anything; I’ve stood in the fashion closets of multiple highly-regarded fashion editorials and haven’t felt slighted or like I have something to prove. I realize, and accept that as a fashion writer and fashion lover, that I’m considered a big girl in a skinny world. I’m fine with that, but don’t call me fat. I don’t want your label as crutch for talent, thank you.
In response to advertisers embracing curves, Larry D. Woodward, President and CEO of New York City’s Graham Stanley Advertising had this to say about the future of fashion:
ABC News: I predict that nothing that has gone on in the past matters. I can’t prove it but I believe the die is cast. Gen-Xers accepted body art, Millennials embrace it. More women behind the camera and in executive positions will result in a more accurate representation of the product and the buyer. Function and common sense will ultimately temper vanity enough to usher in a new standard for advertising. Models will still be beautiful and idealized but closer to the reality.
The bottom line: You can keep your fat; the rest of us, the real fashionistas, will take the fabulous and run with it. The fashion industry has enough negative stereotypes without throwing “fat” into the mix now, as well. Real, healthy-sized girls are a welcome change from the stick-thin is beautiful mentality. But don’t pollute the water with “fat is fabulous,” because you’d rather pick up a sleeve of Oreos than brush up on writing skills.
We’re entering a new consciousness in the fashion world; think of Steven Meisel’s recent Oil and Water photoshoot for Vogue Italia, Lea T, French Vogue’s transgendered model. Think Jean Paul Gaultier using Crystal Renn instead of an Abbey Lee Kershaw in his recent advertising campaign. We’re coming to a good place; a crossroads. And within this changing atmosphere, it will be incredibly insightful and telling to see what the Mercedes Benz runways will have to offer us this fall.
The fashion world is making strides; and embracing all different types of beauty. Let’s, for once, not exploit this.
I’m really not sure, after reading this article, what exactly the writer’s point is. She criticizes the writing skills of blogger yet her own skills are so marginal as to make the essay incoherent. Perhaps a few lessons in how to write clearly would help her get her point across.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I don’t understand how the author of this blog/article is any different than the “Fat and Fabulous Bloggers” who are described as:
“the thorn in the side of real fashion editorial; plus sized fashionistas, complete with size sixteen jeans and grade school grammar, ready to gobble you up if you don’t buy into their “fat is fabulous” philosophy.” It seems like the author of this blog is just trying to get us to buy into the “fat is NOT fabulous philosophy.”
Of course there are lots of negative connotations with the word “fat,” as the author states, but by using the word in this new way – related to being fabulous and fashionable – women are taking the word back and giving it a new and different power. It is people like the author of this blog who keep the term “fat” in the realm of negativity.
FAT CAN BE FABULOUS AND IT CAN BE HEALTHY! Not everyone who is fat is lazy or gluttonous. Being fat doesn’t mean you sit around and eat junk all day. You can be fat and exercise and healthy. We should be promoting health at every size, not just health at thin and “regular size.”
Don’t buy into the propaganda and this blogger’s opinion that fat has no place in fashion.