Models and Body Image in the Fashion Industry

Hi all! Today my blog post is going to be discussing a fairly controversial topic and opinion of mine. If you disagree with what I have to say and offer, please let me know and we can discuss. But I at least want to offer my knowledge and viewpoint from someone with experience in the industry to educate further on this topic.

It has been of growing concern for the major populous about the exclusivity of size diversity in the fashion industry. Criticism regarding companies like Victoria’s Secret and their models have been abundant for many years, and the majority of the consumer market wants to see more “realistic” models wearing their lingerie to make shoppers feel more included. Hence, Savage x Fenty emerged to address this concern. ...But is size inclusivity on certain models appropriate for certain avenues of marketing in the industry?

Don’t get me wrong, I believe models should be of more diverse sizing to relate to target markets, but there are different times and places when diverse sizing is appropriate. Models of different shapes and sizes are totally acceptable, in the appropriate marketing environment. I absolutely believe companies should be inclusive to different walks of life for their audiences, but certain body types are needed for specific fashion marketing avenues.

Let’s talk runway models for a moment. The reason runway models are tall and thin is because they’re literal hangers for clothing to walk down the runway. If models were varying sizes the audiences would not focus on the garments. I understand Fenty and their goal towards inclusivity for their market, but diversely-sized models for runway shows are distracting because models are not uniform; when models do not look similar, the attention is driven away from the garments being showcased and more on the models themselves. Whenever I watch a Fenty runway show, I am never paying attention to the garments but more on how beautiful and differently-shaped each model is. The Fenty garments always come as an afterthought for me as a viewer, and that simply hurts business in the long run. Runway models should remain uniform in sizing to not distract from the garments being showcased and sold. And most runway models are tall and slender to best show off the assets of the garments without any distractions; runway models are literal walking hangers and nothing more, and should not be a standard for beauty of consumers. (However, if a clothing line was targeted at plus sizes models, then models on the runway would ALL be plus sized. Models would still be of uniform shape.)

Clothing is meant to be marketed, not attacking body image. The models and their bodies aren’t important, it is the clothing they are wearing and presenting.

As for PR marketing, television and print advertisements, and direct-contact of relating to consumers, companies should absolutely, 100% be using models to relate to the general populous. Clothing is easier to market and show off on various body shapes and sizes through other forms of advertising outside of runway models, and I firmly believe clothing advertisements, even visual displays within stores, should always be inclusive to sizing of everyone shopping those items. 

To address controversy regarding Victoria’s Secret and their bombshell models, their models are also uniform - tall, slender, and fit. That is their “fantasy” target market, and their runway models looking a certain uniform way is valid. What is not valid is the fact that they continue to use the same types of body shapes and models for their in-store advertising. The “fantasy” is okay to a point, but people of all body types want to feel sexy and good in their undergarments, and walking into a store with nothing but bombshell models wearing the lingerie is rather intimidating. I respect shops like Aerie that are more inclusive with their visual advertising and merchandising. 

I hope this topic was not too controversial to discuss in this post, but from a fashion insider, I can positively tell you that the fashion industry is not purposely trying to exclude certain shapes and sizes. Fashion is a business, and companies want everyone possible to shop what they have to offer. Runway models are not meant to belittle others’ body image or show what a person should look like, they are just hangers moving the clothing across the room. PR and advertising for clothing should be the more inclusive side of the industry where the models can relate more to shoppers. If a company is acting exclusive to shoppers and their size diversity, simply do not give them anymore business. 

Thanks for reading,

Lorraine