As soon as the idea of this blog was presented to me, that little line from the extremely campy movie, Mommie Dearest, came to mind. And I think it is the most appropriate title for this blog.
I was asked the other day my opinion as a "fashionista" on the super skinny model phenomenon. Why do designers want such emaciated women walking down the runway in their clothes? Why is walking death so chic? In a word? Hangers ... that's the key.
There are a few out there who would suggest that it is more cost effective to have slender models because you would use a lot less fabric to make the sample garment, thereby cutting down the cost of making the initial outfit for the fashion show. Granted, that is true. But, in the long run, when you are creating a gown that you plan to price at thousands of dollars above it's actual production costs, an extra square inch of fabric will not matter so much that the entire industry has to embrace the concept.
No, what we are talking about with this trend is simply a presentation of the clothes. Models are supposed to be hangers. Put this image in your mind: clothes shopping in a department store. What do you do when you see a dress you like. You take it in front of a mirror, on its hanger, and you put it up against your body. Then you visualize what it would look like on your body. That's the model's job. She is supposed to walk down the runway as if a walking hanger with a dress on it. You visualize yourself in the outfit. That's why the clothes on the runway tend to drape on the model's body. When it's on a hanger, there's no form to it. You, as the buyer, are the form. You have to want to be in the clothes. Sometimes when you see a model filling out an outfit, you start telling yourself that you can't wear it. It's couture ladies! It is meant to be made to fit.
Many designers, former model Iman as well, have stated that models are simply human
hangers. They are not supposed to stand out at all. They are meaningless. Fashion is about the clothes, and the model's job is to do all that is possible to make the clothes the centerpiece. What do you notice when Beyonce wears a gown? You notice Beyonce, right? You also notice her gown, but you are focused on her hourglass figure in that gown. When you see a skinny model on the runway, what do you notice? You notice her clothes, then you notice she's a skinny ass model. See the difference? A model with a body makes you notice her first, clothes second. A skinny model makes you notice the clothes first, then maybe her ... maybe. What do you think a clothing designer wants to get the first notice? Enough said.
Having explained that, I do want to make mention that this bone-thin look is not a fashion look. While there is a reason for emaciated models to become the "it" item for designers, it should not be the body type of all women. Somehow this look has infected the conscious of all women. No no no! You are not a hanger women. Get that out of your mind. Models need to be skinny because they need to be invisible. Clothing stands out the best when the body is a blank.
Do you want to be invisible in haute couture? Hell no! You want to be seen everywhere. You are the star attraction everyday. On the runway, only, is where the star must be the clothes. So, push that spotlight -hogging bitch out of your light, and eat something. John Mayer referred to Jenner Love Hewitt's body as a Wonderland. You've seen her body....it is not catwalk worthy. So if her body is wonderland with curves, why are you all aspiring to look like the ticket stub that men hold onto until they get into that park? Think about it ...
And as always: here's to style. Cheers!
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