One of the most talked about shows at London Fashion Week was the Erdem Show. But it wasn't the clothes people were talking about. Nope, it was the painfully skinny models.
Chloe Memisevic, the hot model of the moment, looking particularly emaciated. Her cheeks were concave, her shoulders jutted out at sharp angles and the clothes hung off her. I very much doubt this is a natural slimness. It's much more famine victim than fashion model.
Antonio Berardi also featured very slim models, including the girl on the right with the visible chest bones.
To be clear, I'm not saying that all size zeros are unhealthy. Some women are naturally slim, and it's wrong to criticise them, in the same way it's wrong to criticise those slightly over a healthy BMI. But these models are shockingly thin.
So, why do designers insist on hiring these models? Some claim the models act purely as hangers, so they shouldn't distract from the actual outfit (er..well that failed then.) Others give the somewhat lazy reason that there's a lack of 'normal sized' models.
In fairness, designers can't win. The use of plus-size models often ends up as a bit gimmicky.
So what's the answer? I'd like to see more designers using a variety of shapes and sizes on the catwalks. It's a win/win situation, as the designers can showcase how adaptable their fashion is, and shoppers can see how an outfit might actually look on someone with boobs.
What would you like to see happen on the catwalks?
