Again, a sort of controversial, quite lengthy blog post today, but something very interesting, discussing the size zero debate and whether or not sizes matter in fashion. Fashion is something that covers such a large scale, whether you're a size 0 or size 20, there is always places where you will be able to find clothes that fit and flatter your body shapes, so why the huge debate?
My own opinion about this topic is that I believe size shouldn't matter, if you feel confident and comfortable in what you wear or how you present yourself, why should anyone else have something bad to say about you?, after all, the whole size issue is only a stupid little number in the tag! Many people find that sizes differ from shop to shop, and that shouldn't matter, as long as you think that something feels and looks good on, despise it being two sizes bigger or smaller than your normal size, what's the problem? You should just dress for how you want to, you shouldn't care about what size you are or how you think you look bad or fat compared to skinnier people, we are all the same and your body shape should be something you should be proud of! There are clothes out there that help flatter and accentuate parts of our bodies that we are happy about, as well as cheeky accessories that can help us to hide parts we are not! I also think that all shapes and sizes should be shown at catwalks and fashion shows, as this allows the public to see what clothing will look like on all sizes, as this will give the consumers a better idea of how it will look on them! There is the total misconception that a healthy body doesn't necessarily mean a small body, as long as we are healthy, then our body shapes shouldn't matter!
I took to twitter and enlisted the help from some fellow bloggers on what they think of the size debate in fashion and what it means to them. This allowed me to get a number of different or similar views from different bloggers and how they interpret this subject. This is what they said...
"Despite the fact I will be writing about size zero.. I don’t believe that it should be the focus in the fashion world. They are girls who are 5ft, that can be a size 0 because that’s their natural frame. The problem is those that try to maintain a dangerously low BMI. Size Zero is usually referred to as the American size, in the UK it is a size 4. Personally, I don’t have a problem with those that are healthy at this size, the ones who’s bodies are actually made up like that. What I disagree with is what models put themselves through to become this size. It is seriously dangerous & incredibly harmful. It is no secret as to what these girls put themselves through, you only have to Google ‘size zero’ and it comes up with some alarming things. I recently read this article from a former Vogue editor who stated that some models were covered in scabs, because they were starving themselves and then fainting. ‘Fit Models’ are girls who work with top designers; they are the models that clothes are designed on. A lot of these models, are hospitalized on a drip, it’s horrible that our clothes are designed on a ‘skeleton’. If a model does not fit into the clothes during a casting session then she is reprimanded by her agency. They then usually lose weight to ‘get back in the game’ and they are then praised for it. Most of the time, they continue to lose more weight. So many models substitute food for cigarettes & diet coke. They are anorexic, and in such a poor state that their bodies cannot even keep them warm. They have operations to remove their boobs if they cannot lose them via a diet. In extreme cases, girls have eaten tissues, to make their stomachs full, without calories! It is ridiculous and I can’t believe how naïve people in the fashion world are to believe that this is okay. Fashion is essentially popular trends within a mass, but designers do not cater for the mass. Collections are made for press and then fashion houses send the designs to magazines, but they send them in the skeleton sizes which means that all over our magazines are these size zero women. They choose these sizes because they want their clothes to fall correctly and look good. A good designer would be able to make their clothes fall, and look good on any size. It is everywhere we look. It seems that what size we are, determines our self worth. Designers are known to size their clothes differently, just because of this vanity. Over the years, sizes have decreased…In the UK what was considered a size 8 in the 1950’s, is now in fact a size 4(size0). I don’t believe that size in fashion matters, what matters is using healthy models, no matter what size. The majority of size 0 people are not healthy, neither is size 20. . Obviously, there is a need for these ‘plus size’ clothing companies, but I believe they are just as patronising as using skinny models. Fashion and clothing is all about confidence not how ‘skinny’ we are. Companies should not denigrate girls for being a size; they should promote healthy BMI’s. They have to take responsibility for what they are doing."
Amy Connolly – aaamylouxo.blogspot.co.uk
"Ah the whole size zero debate, basically I think it’s a load of rubbish! In my opinion I don’t think that fashion should have any boundaries. If you’re a size 20 or a size 0, you should dress for yourself and your size and not let your size dress you. Whose to say that a girl slightly bigger than a Topshop 12 can’t wear ‘Mom Jeans’ or a body con dress – as long as you dress for you shape and have the confidence to pull it off then I say go for it. We all have parts of our bodies we don’t like, mine is my legs and my stomach so I tend to stay away from bodycon tight dresses but I know some people who are several sizes bigger than me that can pull them off and look bloody good doing it! Also, sizes differ so much from shop to shop so don’t get down if your suddenly a size 12 in one shop when you’re normally a size 8. My advice is take a range of sizes into the changing room and pick the one that feels and looks the best regardless of the number on the label."
Megan Butler - http://student-stylexo.blogspot.co.uk/
"I think that if people are naturally slim fashion should represent that but I also think that if people are naturally bigger fashion should also represent that so I think that there should be a mix of sizes from zero upwards."
RosySparkles - www.sparklesoflight76.blogspot.co.uk
"Size zero. Ironically a big subject. In my opinion, I have no problem with thin models at fashion shows, but it gets so boring after a while. I understand that the clothes 'look better' on a smaller model, but in the end only about 4% of the people that buy them are actually that thin. I only ever see two arguments and they're about size zero and plus size women, It drives me up the wall! What about us 'plain, old, regular' people? Actually, what about just everyone in general? I literally don't understand why models and mannequins can't be all sizes? Some people struggle to put on weight and some people struggle to lose it, so I have no problem with any size woman being a model as long as they're HEALTHY. Being underweight and being overweight are both seriously dangerous so I wish people would stop promoting one or the other and start promoting normal healthy body types/shapes/colours.
....But, if you turn it around on the men, all male fashion models are pretty ripped and in shape, or pastey and thin right? You don't see men campaigning to get other body types on the runway. We should take a leaf out of the men's book. They don't care! They either like the clothes or they don't and THAT is what everyone should be doing. We're going to be dead for a long time, so why worry about other people when we could just carry on with our own lives? If you are happy and you are comfortable being who you are then go for it. hold your head up high and be who you are, whatever gender, whatever size, whatever shape, whatever colour! As long as you're as healthy as you can be, go for it. Fashion holds no limits!
(and hey, if you're a socks and sandals type of person, then good for you! I salute your unique ways. You keep being you!) "
Lilie - mintcandylilies.blogspot.co.uk
"Size in fashion does not matter as the people who are going to be buying these fashions are of all shapes and sizes, so actually, they should show fashions on a range of models so that you as the consumer should see how it will look on your individual body shape."
Em Sheldon - http://www.emtalks.co.uk/
"According to a New York Times article by journalist Stephanie Clifford, "a woman with a 32-inch bust would have worn a size 14 in Sears' 1937 catalogue. By 1967, she would have worn an 8... Today, she could wear a zero." In fact, Marilyn Monroe "was not a voluptuous size 16 – quite the opposite. While she was undeniably voluptuous – in possession of an ample bosom and a bottom that would look at home gyrating in a J-Lo video – for most of the early part of her career, she was a size 8 and even in her plumper stages, was no more than a 10." The sizing charts have changed over time to make women feel good about themselves in this appearance-obsessed world. I, myself, wear a size zero because I am naturally petite and have a metabolism which makes it difficult for me to gain weight, even though I'm a real foodie. Trust me, it is extremely difficult to live in a world where your own female friends pass snide remarks like, "Do you shop in the kids section?" to which I really wish I could say, "No, do you shop in the stupid section?" Why is it okay for people to say things like, "You're so skinny, go eat a sandwich," to a thin person, but it is a crime to tell someone who is overweight that they should control their diet? I hate it when people ask me if they've gained or lost weight. Honestly, I don't care - I never have and never will - and I would really appreciate if other people accepted the different shapes and sizes everyone comes in. Seriously, the world would be such a boring place if everyone looked the same. It would be great if the media stopped being so contradictory - on one hand, they say "Everyone is beautiful," and at the same time they endorse messages like "Real men like curves. Only dogs go for bones." I'm sorry, but real men go for real women with real personalities who are confident the way they are. Women with curves are gorgeous and I've always wished I could have an hourglass shaped body myself, but that doesn't mean women who have boxy or slender figures aren't "real women". In fact, many women who wear a larger size don't necessarily have perfect curves. Every body type is beautiful, every size is beautiful, and women everywhere need to stop falling prey to the images presented by the media. Sizing in fashion should serve functional purposes only, i.e. of helping us find the right fit that we would look good in. None of us are perfect, but we all get one life and one body and we should make the most of it - wear whatever you want, eat healthy, exercise, stay fit, love yourself, and don't let anyone ever tell you that you're not good enough!"
Roshni Chaudhari - http://addictedtolace.wordpress.com/
As you can see, we all have both similar and different ideas on the size zero debate and what we think about size is fashion, there is no right or wrong answer, and I believe every single opinion is something that shouldn't be considered wrong as we all think different things.
I would like to say a huge thank you to the bloggers who kindly helped out for this post, and sharing their thoughts on this topic for me. If there are bloggers mentioned in this post that you haven't came across yet, I would love you all to check out their blogs as they all are lovely people who's blogs I love reading!
What's your views on the size zero debate? Do you think size matters? Should all shapes and sizes be showcased in fashion?
*Images used in collage are from google images / not my own photography
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