Plus Size Models

Today I have spent my Sunday back at home from uni and researching into plus size models and how and why this influences the fashion catwalks. This is all research for my Design Culture and Context presentation a week on Monday. 

We all know that fashion doesn't promote a bigger sized women. But why may this be? 

According to a recent survey by the London College of Fashion, the average British woman is size 14-16.

As all may be aware this year was a revelation in the fashion world as there was a catwalk for plus size models at London Fashion week. There has been debates brewing for years discussing the unhealthy thin models strutting there stuff down the catwalk and how they are not true representatives of today's 'real' women. Plus size may be the wrong word to describe these women as girls from the sizes of 14 are being labelled as bigger women. Maybe the term curvy women could be used as an alternative to the insulting phrase of being plus size! 

Simplybe - London Fashion Week 2013

But why has it taken this long for the bigger models to make it finally onto the catwalk at London fashion week. Some may say that the bigger size just isn't beautiful and isn't attractive but you have to accept the reality of today. We are living in a bigger society but that doesn't make somebody unattractive. People are born with bigger bones and different lifestyles so why should we watch models walk down the catwalk who simply aren't the representative of women. These size zero models may be a blank canvas for the designers and may mean they don’t have to use so much fabric but are they selling themselves short come the time for women to buy the clothes?

I went onto model management to read the article – ‘can I be a model?’ The High Fashion model states –‘ They are generally required to be between 172cm to 180cm (5”8 to 5”11), with a dress size of 4-6 US (6-8 UK), with a typical bust size of 34.’ I then read the plus size model to read – ‘If you’re confident, with great attributes and you are between the sizes of 12-16 US (14-18 UK) then this could be for you.’  A size 12 has no scale on either being a plus size or a high fashion model. The average sample size for the catwalk model is 34-24-34. Why can we not just have the average between all women or maybe a range of sizes on the catwalk?