Plus Size Model Measurements

[Obesity Discussion]

Plus Size Model Measurements
I've always been interested in what exactly constitutes a plus sized model. I used to assume it was just being a size 12 measurement or bigger. Now I'm hearing it's a size 10 measurement or bigger. But there has to be more than just a waist size? From what I've read so far, it appears that plus size models are still required to be tall. Take Tara Lynn for example.......

Slight not work safe image below

http://www.obesitydiscussion.com/images/Plus%20Size%20Model%20Measurements/Plus%20Size%20Model%20Measurements%204.jpg

She's 5'9".

Another very famous plus size model is 5'9" also, Ashley Graham. I think it's great that more plus size models are getting exposure, and I think many other people are glad to see more plus size models as well, in part to help break the stereotypical mold that super thin is beautiful. Some may think this levels the playing field.

I wonder, what about height measurements? Do you think that the modeling industry is still sending a message that you have tall to be considered beautiful in their world?

There has been a push for a while to see more realistic models and so I think that helped open the way for more plus sized models, but why isn't there a push for shorter models? Is that not reality? You have to be at least 5'9" to model, and the average woman in the United States anyway is 5'4".


I have not seen very revealing/racy pictures of plus size models in American magazines, though it seems that they're accepted in other parts of the world, like this French magazine below:







Do you think different Westernized countries around the world are more open to plus sized models than others? Is France more open than the U.S. or Canada? Are there other countries that don't focus on height as much as the United States?

What are your thoughts on modeling measurements and plus size models?

[Rue]

I don't know! I'm of two camps.

I am not a fan of anorexic models. It's gotten to the point where they all just look ill...I don't even look to see what they're wearing. By the same token...a plus size model just looks overweight to me - and I 'see' health concerns.

Why can't the industry use 'normal' weight models?

Not to mention...'normalizing' being overweight is supporting the notion that it's healthy...and it's not.

That doesn't mean there shouldn't be nice plus sized clothing...that goes without saying...but I think we need to have normal sized models as our visual standard...not extremes...

[MichaelB]

Ditto the above.

I'm all for using normal, healthy looking models. Look at the advertising for Athleta. (No idea how I got signed up to receive their catalogs, but I'm not complaining.)

Active!


Healthy!


Fit!


I *LOVE* Athleta's advertising because they don't use the stick thin waifs -- they use active, healthy women who really hike, bike, and enjoy yoga. Real women, with real bodies, and healthy active lives.

[Rue]

Perfect! That's what we should be seeing. Normal weight and fit. That's a great visual for women to have in the back of their minds...

[Obesity Discussion]

I don't know! I'm of two camps.

I am not a fan of anorexic models. It's gotten to the point where they all just look ill...I don't even look to see what they're wearing. By the same token...a plus size model just looks overweight to me - and I 'see' health concerns.

Why can't the industry use 'normal' weight models?

Not to mention...'normalizing' being overweight is supporting the notion that it's healthy...and it's not.

That doesn't mean there shouldn't be nice plus sized clothing...that goes without saying...but I think we need to have normal sized models as our visual standard...not extremes...

Of course the industry could use normal looking models, but what's normal? The average women in North America is what, 5'4" about 160lbs?

to me there should be models of all shapes and sizes meant to cater to the public in general.

I'm not involved in fashion enough to know this, but are women of certain body types more likely to buy more expesive types of fashion than others? Are people who aren't happy with how they look less likely to spend money on Prada, Gucci, etc?

[Obesity Discussion]

Look at the advertising for Athleta. (No idea how I got signed up to receive their catalogs, but I'm not complaining.)

Sure Michael.

[Rue]

Of course the industry could use normal looking models, but what's normal? The average women in North America is what, 5'4" about 160lbs?

to me there should be models of all shapes and sizes meant to cater to the public in general.

I'm not involved in fashion enough to know this, but are women of certain body types more likely to buy more expesive types of fashion than others? Are people who aren't happy with how they look less likely to spend money on Prada, Gucci, etc?

There's a difference between normal and average. By normal I meant a representative healthy weight for whatever height or body type that particular woman/model happens to have...not to present the 'average' for the country (especially if the average currently happens to be overweight).

I agree - that certain body types (with money) are more likely to buy certain designers' fashions (some clothes just don't work on the wrong body type...we've certainly witnessed that lately with the explosion of muffin tops resulting from the 'too-short' t-shirt look popular a few years ago, etc.). I also agree that other people will purchase expensive designer clothing just because they can afford to, and may not, at the heart of it, care if it looks good or not.

The whole fashion industry is odd...the women with the money are mostly a little older or middle-aged (the younger ones with money are children or trophy wives). Yet the models are all very young, ¬16-25. What looks good on a 16 year old does not necessarily look good on a 50 year old.

It's often very hard to find clothing for middle-aged women that isn't either cougarish or frumpy.

[Obesity Discussion]

There's a difference between normal and average. By normal I meant a representative healthy weight for whatever height or body type that particular woman/model happens to have...not to present the 'average' for the country (especially if the average currently happens to be overweight).

I agree - that certain body types (with money) are more likely to buy certain designers' fashions (some clothes just don't work on the wrong body type...we've certainly witnessed that lately with the explosion of muffin tops resulting from the 'too-short' t-shirt look popular a few years ago, etc.). I also agree that other people will purchase expensive designer clothing just because they can afford to, and may not, at the heart of it, care if it looks good or not.

The whole fashion industry is odd...the women with the money are mostly a little older or middle-aged (the younger ones with money are children or trophy wives). Yet the models are all very young, ¬16-25. What looks good on a 16 year old does not necessarily look good on a 50 year old.

It's often very hard to find clothing for middle-aged women that isn't either cougarish or frumpy.

I see what you mean by normal.

I've always wondered if part of the appeal of using younger models was to give people the impression they were dressing young/hip. There needs to be more variety.

In many places like Eastern Europe, people spend every penny they have to wear in style expensive clothes, so there tends to be more young people that wear the fashionable stuff....people are also much thinner there so they actually relate a bit more physically to the models we see.

Maybe it's different where you are, but at least where I live the age range of those who wear hip clothes tends to vary from early twenties to even some in their 60s. There are a lot of trendy areas near me, which probably makes a difference.

[Rue]

...we live in Fashion-Frumpland...it's sad...

Blue jeans are acceptable everywhere...and if I were to wear a skirt to work (even a blue jean skirt), people would ask me why I was all dressed up...

[Obesity Discussion]

...we live in Fashion-Frumpland...it's sad...

Blue jeans are acceptable everywhere...and if I were to wear a skirt to work (even a blue jean skirt), people would ask me why I was all dressed up...

Things aren't as dressy in general work wise in North American anymore.....My consulting firm went from requiring suits to business casual, and the only people I see in suits/ties every day are high end business bankers and lawyers.

I can't say I don't like wearing jeans everywhere, fairly comfortable and easy to deal with. Though the $200-$400 jeans are out of control.

[Rue]

I'd like to see it get a little more formal again frankly. I think we've reached a 'casual' low.

My jeans were $19.99...

[Obesity Discussion]

I'd like to see it get a little more formal again frankly. I think we've reached a 'casual' low.

My jeans were $19.99...

I'm sure it will. Fashion seems to do nothing more than recycle itself anyway. In the mean time there are a few TV shows out there which can make you feel formal for an hour.....if you get them in your neck of the woods. ..... like Pan Am or on HBO there's Boardwalk Empire, which is an AMAZING show.

[Rue]

I haven't heard of them...

We have 300 channels...yet are missing on the ones that carry the new shows...go figure...

[Bren]

I used to assume it was just being a size 12 measurement or bigger. Now I'm hearing it's a size 10 measurement or bigger.

Size 10 as plus sized is just bizarre. Where do these people come up with this stuff? I was just reading in Fitness magazine about a lady that "went from a size 14 to a size 10". She's 5'7" and weighs 175, and is a size 10? I don't know, I'm 5'5" and weigh 135 and I'm a size 8-10, so I'm a little skeptical. If they consider me a "plus size", they have a screw loose somewhere! Lol!

I'm adding a photo of me taken in early September, as a referrence. I was 132 that day, and my clothes are bagging. The pants are size 8-10, and the top is a large, so I knew it would be too big.

[Obesity Discussion]

Size 10 as plus sized is just bizarre. Where do these people come up with this stuff? I was just reading in Fitness magazine about a lady that "went from a size 14 to a size 10". She's 5'7" and weighs 175, and is a size 10? I don't know, I'm 5'5" and weigh 135 and I'm a size 8-10, so I'm a little skeptical. If they consider me a "plus size", they have a screw loose somewhere! Lol!

I'm adding a photo of me taken in early September, as a referrence. I was 132 that day, and my clothes are bagging. The pants are size 8-10, and the top is a large, so I knew it would be too big.

Hmmm, that seems like more than a size 10 to me but then again, I haven't worn women's clothes more than once.

[Rue]

So you say!

I have always wished that they'd standardize clothing sizes and be done with it. I can't see how that would hurt any manufacturer...

[Bren]

I just got an email from Biggest Loser. This week's contestant that got sent home, says she's 185 and wears a size 10. Lol.. I'd love to know where they get their clothes. I must wear a size minus 0, at that store! Really, more power to them, but again, I have to be skeptical about the sizing in that store!

[Rue]

I still think something is up with sizes too...I'm in an 8 (at pretty much all stores now) and I even have a couple of size 6 bottoms. I'm 160. I didn't think I was that small either...

I could have sworn I was a size 11 when I was young and weighed 140...

[hollee]

I am only 4ft 9 so I think I would need to weigh even less than 120 to be a size 8 to 10.

Never going to even think about getting that low.

[Obesity Discussion]

So you say!

I have always wished that they'd standardize clothing sizes and be done with it. I can't see how that would hurt any manufacturer...

I know right! Even in the same country a size 10 for example from one manufacturer might be bigger than a size 10 from another manufacturer.

Small, medium, large, XL, XXL, then you've got the 0-1-2-4-6-8-10-12-14-16-18 etc. measurements in this part of the world, then in Spain I went shopping and guys clothes were listed as size 1-2-3-4-5 etc.....

Very confusing. Thank the stars I don't have to deal with bra sizes.

I just got an email from Biggest Loser. This week's contestant that got sent home, says she's 185 and wears a size 10. Lol.. I'd love to know where they get their clothes. I must wear a size minus 0, at that store! Really, more power to them, but again, I have to be skeptical about the sizing in that store!

Pfffft......yeah right!

I am only 4ft 9 so I think I would need to weigh even less than 120 to be a size 8 to 10.

Never going to even think about getting that low.

That sounds about right.