Why do models have to be skinny?

[Anonymous]

OK, why is it that besides fitting into anything and saving money on fabric, do they only use skinny girls in modeling? I mean, their are a lot of beautiful girls who are not extremely skinny or tall and who wouldn't fit "model" standards but are way more appealing than most models like for example: Kim Kardashian, Marilyn Monroe(if she were alive today), and Jessica Alba, to name a few. I have also read somewhere that people are more likely to buy from a store that uses "attractive" models and I think women who are more on the hourglass side rather than lanky, perhaps the too skinny side, are a much more attractive demographic to the general public. Also, I know they say that the camera adds ten pounds and such but I don't think a camera could take a nice body and hideously deform it. I mean, they photoshop models so much anyways why don't they just save money and hire a model who is already closer to the attractive standard instead? BY NO MEANS am I saying skinny girls are ugly or not beautiful but I think as a whole the population gravitates more towards those with an hour glass shape who are curvy yet not overweight or pudgy rather than the extreme sides of either being very skinny or plus size.

[Little-Hippie]

Runway models have to be skinny because they need to be versatile enough to fit into all of the clothes. If you can fit into a size 00, you can fit loosely into a size 6 as well.

Additionally runway models make up the bulk of the modelling industry because they're needed in such bulk. Catalog models number fewer and the needs are more specific.

Ad campaign models nurture even more specific needs. Certain clothes require more curvy models. Anything that promotes sex appeal, such as perfume ads will require girls whose bust if far too large to be considered for runway modeling.

[KarKingJack]

I was gonna say "'Cos its about the clothes, not the model", but I don't know about that. To be honest I don't know. Maybe Corporate Fetishism is as unexplainable as Paraphillic Fetishism?

[KarKingJack]

Oh wait you weren't just talking about shop advertisements. Sorry, I just skimmed it and assumed it was that way in America. In that case, nowdays there are plenty of outlets for bigger models, just not on the runway, and the reason for that's already been explained. Its probably just a trend - like when Twiggy came along, it was huge that she was so skinny, right? Then all models were skinny, then that died down, then Kate Moss and the like happened, and Cocaine. Ahaha.

[KarKingJack]

A lot of American corporations are f***ing ridiculous with their specifications though, seriously

[Asker]

Yeah, it gets to the point where it defeats the original purpose of emphasizing the clothes. Last time I watched a fashion show I got distracted by counting the number of bones I saw rather than watching the trends.

[KarKingJack]

You sound bitterrrrr now

[KarKingJack]

But I do see what you mean. The extreme reputation of models and stuff has overtaken clothing. Models have overtaken modelling. People think it attests to how pretty and thin they are, now, not how good at modelling they are, too. Which annoys me a lot

[Asker]

Yeah, the industry has changed so much. I am not bitter, but I do notice things that may not need to be noticed.

[peace-love-couture]

Curves and fat take away from the clothing. The point of high end fashion models is to sell the clothing, not appeal to the population because of what the models represent.

Curvy is preferable in the real world, not in the fashion world. Get over it.

Clearly skinny is working because LV, Valentino, Gucci, Prada and Dior are billion dollar companies, so the models are attractive enough.

I'm an hourglass but I don't care and I'm not gonna complain.Curvy doesn't look good in the fashion industry.

[Asker]

Um, I am not complaining? I asked an objective question and this answer was way over dramatic. Wow. By the way the models aren't the ones making the money for the companies it's the people buying them (primarily women) for whatever reasons. It makes sense that models wouldn't be as beautiful as they could be since they're are selling to women but seriously, I don't think women would be as petty enough to not buy something because the woman in the ad was prettier than them. This answer sounds like it

[Asker]

came out of a crappy soap opera. I am curvy too, almost the same measurements as Marilyn Monroe, and I'm not complaining. The reasoning behind this question was how attractive people sell and if that statement is true, why wouldn't the people who are considered the most attractive be the ones selling the clothes and the best reason that came from other answers was that you aren't supposed to look at the models but the clothes alone and hot people would be too distracting.

[peace-love-couture]

People who buy high end clothing are not looking at the models, they are looking at the clothing and quality and brand. They aren't the same as people who buy from American Eagle or Banana Republic

[Asker]

As was already stated. You could find the same "quality" clothes for less, it's for style and simple for the fact that they can afford such items when most can't and won't.

[xzinax2]

it's not so much about their beauty,most of those girls don't fit the regular standards for beauty,models are there to present the clothes,not themselves,they're all skinny,cause that's the easiest way to dress them,if one model gets sick,she's easily replaced,and that's important since you can't make new clothes in the last minute cause the other model is a bit fatter,and if those models had huge boobs and asses,people would notice them,not the clothes,which is a bad thing

[Asker]

I agree with your points but It's interesting now too because for some models, it gets to the point where an eating disorder is actually prevelant and the runway directors don't think that unhealthy models detract from their clothes as well? Last time I saw a Fashion show, I was distracted by some of the models bones and I completely forgot what they were wearing. It gets to a point where it almost defeats the purpose.

[xzinax2]

well there's a law against models being too skinny now,but they should still be the same size,doesn't matter what size,but the same size,cause even tho in real life people being different is good,in the model world,it's about clothes,and most clothes aren't one-size-fits-all

[Corset]

They have to be twig like, so no matter how small, what shape and or size the fashion designer makes his/her clothes they knows a model can fit into them. They look gross in my opinion, I love having curves. Marilyn Monroe great example, she was gorgeous.

[Asker]

Yeah too bad right? They need girls who don't take away from the clothes.

[Corset]

Yea really eh..

[naturally]

The norm will always be for models to be skinny unless designers create and promote their originals at bigger sizes.

People underestimate how responsible designers are for this 'skinny' trend

[c7777]

You may not think those anorexic poles are ugos but il say it for you..they are

[Asker]

I don't want to hurt anyones feelings...some girls can't help being skinny...I just don't think either extreme side of the weight scale is deemed as attractive as a whole as much as the middle of the scale would be. Anorexia and eating disorders are never beautiful though, and sadly a lot of models do fall into that catagory.

[KarKingJack]

Why can't they be beautiful? Is beauty on in health? Are films with sad endings less films?

[KarKingJack]

*only in health

[Asker]

Skinny girls can be beautiful, I never said they weren't. Yes, healthy is beautiful at all sizes. Unless you have a mental disorder, someone who is near death should never be attractive to you. The whole point of attraction is to mate with a healthy individual to pass on our genes, therefore attraction leads us to those who are healthy. Films are no where near comparable to attraction.

[smexiliciousss]

In the high end designer industry of haute couture, anorexic looking models with broad shoulders are easily fit into their clothes:)

[KrystalMeth]

because most of the time, skinny girls look good in all clothes, they would waste money having all shapes and sizes cos some clothes didn't look good on other people.

Plus if you notice models never smile on the runway, that's so that people don't get distracted by the smile and just concentrate on the clothes.

[Asker]

I would disagree that skinny girls look good in all clothes, most would agree that in the middle women would be the most attractive in clothes. Another user brought up a good point, that they want people to notice the clothes and not the models so they use people who you wouldn't notice over the clothes.

[Neyila]

yeah i don't think there should be a criteria or standard for what is beautiful. it's an unhealthy way of thinking and only encourages us to be more judgmental.

[Longshot]

They are skinny so they fit into all the different types of clothes they have to wear. I think they look gross. I'll take the curvy, not overweight girl any day.

[StormChaser21]

It is mostly for looks and visuals. It is also just standards nowadays.

[Shadoww]

they are stupid.