SHAPE ISSUES

Many mainstream magazines always feature a shape issue 1-2 times a year. They try to feature a range of body types from thin, tall, petitie, and of course, the curvy figure. Take V magazine for example. Gaborney Sidebe was the leading lady on the cover and they had a "one size fits all" editorial with two models wearing the same exact clothes styled the exact same way, with similar poses. View the rest of the editorial here: One Size Fits All. While not all of the editorials are spot on, this one does a good job of explaining that curvier women can wear styles that are made for models, and possibly pull them off even better. One other excellent editorial (with the exception of 1 or two unflattering outfits) from that issue was: Curves Ahead. 

 

 

In April 2010 Vogue had their shape issue featuring supermodel Gisele Budechen on the cover. Their curvy attribue to the magazine was model Kate Dillion, an image below: 

The difference between magazines is huge, as well as their attitude towards the real woman figure. V magazine had a revolutionary issue, while Vogue was just like any other issue, only with a couple of "fuller figure" models. While strides have been made we clearly still have a long way to go.

MISS DIRTY MARTINI COLABORATION WITH KARL LAGERFIELD

Last year one of the biggest names in the industry Karl Lagerfield, known for his personal and Chanel runway collections, collaborated with Miss Dirty Martini, a burlesque dame. She also happens to be very plus sized. The photo shoot was debuted in V magazine (the spring edition featuring Gabourey Sidibe on the cover) with a Chanel theme and Karl Lagerfield as the photographer. Karl Lagerfield is known to not be very favorable of the fuller figure, with quotes stating that "No one wants to see curvy women". But he seems to have a change of heart in the past year, with this collaboration as well as using 'previously' plus sized model Crystal Renn in Chanel ads. Chanel. The images in the V magazine photoshoot are lovely and with Chanel and the name Karl Lagerfield in the collaboration, it was a good step in the right direction for real women in the fashion industry. Curves are beautiful, no matter if they are on a size 20 or a size 8. You can view more photos from the shoot here: V Magazine

DOVE EVOLUTION

This commercial, another Dove creation, is one that we are all familiar with. It is striking how the woman in the video changes. They completely alter her appearance and turn her into something that is not real by natural standards. Her look is created by many makeup artists, Photoshop specialists, excellent lighting assistants and a good photographer. It is unattainable for the every day woman to attain this type of beauty without assistance....There are and always will be exceptionally beautiful women, but should we be forced to compare ourselves to these false images?

Dove Video, Refrence