If you’re fed up of seeing skinny minnies model your favourite ladies fashion, then you’ll be delighted to hear that New York Fashion week has featured its first-ever catwalk show to feature only plus-size models.
Plus-size models are a UK size 16 (US size 12) and above, which certainly makes a change from the usual rake-thin size zeros that we see sashaying down the catwalk (although how anybody has the energy to sashay on less than 1000 calories a day, we’ll never know).
The catwalk show aims to promote the finest ladies’ fashion for plus-size women available this season and features a range of glamorous models in wonderful clothes.
This is a landmark moment for the fashion industry, which is often accused of promoting an unhealthy body image and eating disorders by using very thin models to showcase the latest in women’s clothing.
Last year’s London Fashion Week was couched in controversy over some designers’ continuing use of super-skinny catwalk models, making this decision by New York Fashion Week’s organisers a very interesting one.
Nancy Le Winter, a plus-size fashion specialist, is one of the organisers of the catwalk show. She says: “”This show is a validation of the 62% of American women who are plus size.
“It’s about empowerment. There has been a mistaken notion as to what inspires women – a size two woman may be inspired by a size zero model, but a size 12, 14, 18 woman won’t be. We would like to see something we can identify with on the runway.”
It’s not just about identifying with the fashion models – they may be bigger, but plus-size models are still beautiful and provide a point of aspiration for the larger lady. Who says you can’t look glam just because you’re bigger than the norm?
Interestingly, swanky New York department store Saks is also taking the plunge into plus-size ladies’ fashion – it’s to start making its own couture range for the curvier woman. It can’t be long before other department stores follow suit.
That’s something that many women are sure to applaud. Yes, ladies’ fashion does look great on slim women, but women’s clothing also looks wonderful on larger ladies as well. Many of us wonder why larger women don’t get to model clothes as well.
Of course, the counter argument is that putting plus-size models on the catwalk will help to prolong the obesity crisis. Robin Givhan, fashion editor of the Washington Post, says: “While I think it’s wonderful to celebrate the plus size, I think you also have to balance the fact that there’s a – pardon the pun – epidemic of obesity. So celebrate it, yet recognise that at some point those larger sizes are not healthy.”
However are those of us who would also question the industry’s decision to term size 16 women ‘plus-size’. The average size in the UK is a 14-16. ‘Normal-size’, surely – and not exactly obese? After all, we know that plenty of happy Kaleidoscope shoppers are a 14-16 and look fabulous in our range of women’s clothing.
What do you think? Let us know your thoughts!