Vogue Editors Make a Stand

Two of Vogue magazine's leading ladies have hit out, becoming the latest big names in the war against overly skinny models. Actually, no. It's not a war against skinny models, it's against the culture that pressures otherwise larger figured girls into being unhealthy and skinny for the sake of preserving their careers.

UK and Australian Vogue editors, Alexandra Shulman and Kirstie Clements, both expressed their frustration with designers who send "dolls clothes" sized garments to fashion shoots, forcing the magazine to hire models with "jutting bones and no breasts or hips". Apparently, Vogue employees are tired of editing their fashion shoot photos to make models look bigger and healthier.

How ironic. With fashion magazines inspiring the western world's wardrobe choices and diet obsession and Vogue being one of the world's highest selling fashion magazines, there lands a certain amount of responsibility in Vogue's lap for leading trends encouraging women to be dangerously thin.

The world jolted to attention when two modelling sisters, Luisel Ramos 22 and Eliana Ramos 18, both died of malnutrition. Since then, fashion magazines and catwalk shows have slowly been changing the way we look at our weight.

Who exactly is it that catwalk designers and fashion magazines are trying to impress? Is it women? Let see. Designers who design for unhealthy, overly 'skinny' models, design clothes that don't flatter the female figure, infact they make it look ludicrous - a laughing stock. If we want to fit into these clothes we're told, "You need to lose weight and here's how; don't eat too much and exercise a lot. Sounds tough but if you want it bad enough and if you have enough self discipline you'll get there (and don't complain if you don't!)", not to mention that you'll be tired, irritable, lethargic and generally lose your zest for life. Also, the fact that over 143,000 facebook users have joined the group 'Curves Are Hotter' tells me that generally, the public don't enjoy being told they need to be unhealthy and overly skinny.

BUT .. Please don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about the gorgeous girls who don't need to worry about their weight and are blessed with a fast metabolism and lovely, long slender legs. These naturally slender women are, as I said, absolutely beautiful. But there's something that comes with a woman who is desperate to lose weight and isn't satisfied with herself and is willing to go to death's door in search of the 'perfect' weight. That's what most of the world finds unattractive and a turn-off.

Fashion shows in Madrid and Milan have both banned overly thin models from their catwalks and a model was controversially dismissed from participating in the Australian Fashion Show last year because she was 'too thin' (although it remains to be known whether her low weight level was due to her natural physique or extreme dieting). Perhaps more of this kind of cut throat action will postpone the inevitable return to unhealthy, skinny models - for a while at least.