"It's theatrical catwalk"

So, while taking a well deserved coffee break, a friend, and fellow creative (@LuluLadd), began flicking through my Company magazine (www.company.co.uk) and stopped at this. She started talking about the page, that's when I halted her and grabbed my notebook! "Imagine how silly we'd look if we did our eyeliner like that? Or went out with eyebrows like that!?" My only answer was "It's theatrical catwalk."

A few minutes later she returned with "I know the catwalk is meant to be over the top and a bit weird... but why?" This got me thinking about the cloning aspect of catwalk shows and general fashion. Why should we do our eyeliner like that? Or sculpt our eyebrows? Do we wear make up because we want to or because photos of genuinely "natural" faces are never published anywhere?

There is an obvious tick list for the "perfect" catwalk model. 

1. Tall, very tall.
2. Slim, very slim.
3. No facial expression.
4. and, as long as you look exactly the same as the other people on the runway you're perfect.  

 
  

However, the sad reality is that most of the models we see in a trance drifting down the runways have dedicated their lives so much to their job that they are ill. It was reported on www.dailymail.co.uk that plans to ban underweight models from London Fashion Week had been scrapped. Pro-Healthy-Models, nutritionist, Carina Norris said  "This looks like they have something to hide. It suggests a significant number of girls might not be able to pass the health test. They are putting out a negative message that the health of the girls doesn't matter that much to them, which is not good."

Read the full report here: 

London Fashion Week scraps plans to ban underweight models

The reality of the tick list is this...

1. Minimum height of 5' 9
2. Clear perfect skin
3. Straight nose
4. Symmetrical features
5. Thick, dark eyebrows
6. Bra size A-C. bust size no bigger than 34
7. Preferred waist 22-27"
8. Preferred bust 30-34"
9. Preferred hips 32-36"
10. Clean hair in good condition, as natural as possible (not chemically processed) 
11. Bone structure - high cheekbones, a defined jawline
12. Overall, a striking look.

Now, is this the kind of message we want to be bombarded with? That we should be forming ourselves into ill clones just to be allowed into the world of fashion? It's utterly ridiculous! These women throwing their bodies to fashion to do with as it pleases are not to blame, it's the designers who refuse to make clothing bigger than a US size 0. But, hey, "it's theatrical catwalk".

Peace out xo