When you look at such a gorgeous face, you wonder how it is possible that she fits under the ‘plus-size’ model category.
Elizabeth Green. Source: BGM Models.
Is it just me or does that term carry a negative connotation? Meaning: yes she is a model, but a fat one. She looks radiant, healthy and well, she looks like a super model! It’s the ugly side of the fashion industry: young girls with eating disorders, living on orange-juice-dipped-cotton balls and lettuce to stay a size zero and sometimes fainting before fashion shows from malnutrition.
The death of Brazilian supermodel, Ana Carolina Reston (below), made international headlines three years ago, and initiated an inquiry into the problem of eating disorders in the fashion world.
Source: Fashion Model Directory.
At 172cm tall, she weighed just 40kg and reportedly lived on a diet of apples and tomatoes.
But Sydney’s glitziest fashion event, the Rosemount Fashion Festival, has stepped up. Each year, it showcases the colourful new Spring Summer collections of local and international fashion, and this year, there was one show that stood out from the rest.
In a brave move, City Chic kicked size zero models off the catwalk, and replaced them with curvy girls. Yes, beautiful big breasts and hips on the catwalk. The history-making parade proved that big is beautiful, not only being the first brand to present a voluptuous show at RSFF, but the first in Australia to feature size 14+ models on the catwalk.
Isn’t it about time, considering the average Australian woman is size 14 to 16? The gorgeous line-up of local and international models, including New York based Elizabeth Green (above), rocked the show wearing bold prints, sparkling cocktail dresses and mini skirts.
City Chic general manager Phil Ryan said: “We try to showcase that size 14-plus girls in Australia can have the latest fashion in the world, to wear anywhere.”
What do you think of the collection?
Want more? Follow these links:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/mar/24/health.fashion
http://www.sydneyeventphotography.com.au/events/rosemount-sydney-fashion-festival-2009/city-chic/
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25958713-662,00.html
LOVED the show!
For all the bad press on the use of normal sized women on the catwalk i would like to ask do you find any of these women promoting obesity?
Hardly.
Was impressed with the choice of models.
Elizabeth green who now resides in NY.
Natalie Wakeling one of Ausralias first plus models to gain international exposure through ford models.
Laura wells who is climbing the ranks in the plus modelling world.
And Holly who is also with BGM has made the event a pleasure to watch.
I want to see more.
You are exactly right! I do not think that these gorgeous women are promoting obesity at all. Yes they are promoting curvy figures, but most importantly, self confidence!
They are walking proof that great fashion doesn’t only come in a size two!! I find it empowering and a breath of fresh air…
Very much agree with you here Flo and would love to see much more of this kind of thing happening. It distresses me slightly that this is even news! I even saw the Sunrise gas baggers discussing it (only viewed in passing of course, I flicked over ASAP).
Why can’t everyone stop obsessing about size? Society needs to face up to the facts that normal people don’t look like supermodels and the world would not be a better place if they did.