Kennedy Deshawn wrote:
why would they do all of that? the people who are in it could care less that some 5'5 135lb model feels left out....they aren't trying to cater to the masses, they want to do what works best for their runway show.

there are standards in every field, yet everyone seems to think everyone should be entitled to be a fashion model. 

they don't make fat jockeys for some races, thin for another, etc.....so why should this be any different?

Not left out..Im not saying because they feel left out. I was thinking aloud since they recognize either heavier models, or really thin models...why not inbetween?

And I mentioned, of course height is important. Not everyone should walk down the runway...

I am not really debating this, I am just curious as to what others think

And as usual.. anything different then the norm will ruffle feathers. It would be a smart business move, since most of America cannot relate to the sizes they market on the runway. Women can picture themselves in something, they would probably be more likely to buy it.

Charlene M wrote:
Not left out..Im not saying because they feel left out. I was thinking aloud since they recognize either heavier models, or really thin models...why not inbetween?

Because fashion agencies don't get requests for those sorts of models. There's a demand for straight-size fashion girls, and plus-size fashion girls.

Dave Wright Photo SF wrote:
It all comes down to money. That's why things are the way they are.

If you were running a modeling agency, and people repeatedly ask for 5'9 girls with 33" hips, would you represent a 5'6 girl with a 38" hip? No. That wouldn't put any money in your pocket.

If you were a designer, and you got the most positive feedback and sales of your work when you put your designs on a 5'9 girl with a 34" hip - would you use a 5'5 girl with a 39" hip, just to "be fair?" No. That wouldn't put any money in your pocket. Not to mention you already built your samples to the standard sample size, so it wouldn't fit a girl with a 39" hip.

If you were running an advertising agency, would you risk your job on a campaign that featured models who were shorter and wider than the models your company had always used?

Etc!

I get that. I know...It would have to start with the fashion companies. There are a few designers that use mid sized girls, or so I have heard.. Shoshanna being one. But I guess I was wondering why the designers wouldn't want to market their clothing to diff sizes..I know WHAT they request, I was saying why hasn't anyone thought of requesting mid size.

JakeStewartPhotography wrote:
I dont see why they have to be so scronny anyway. I think, and the everyday population would agree I believe, that you are the perfect size and everything.

Use caution when speaking for those other than yourself.

Charlene M wrote:
I get that. I know...It would have to start with the fashion companies. There are a few designers that use mid sized girls, or so I have heard.. Shoshanna being one. But I guess I was wondering why the designers wouldn't want to market their clothing to diff sizes..I know WHAT they request, I was saying why hasn't anyone thought of requesting mid size.

They do market to girls of all sizes. The people buying stuff from Abercrombie and Fitch in the mall don't look like the models on the posters in the store... but they'll look at those images and then buy the clothes.

MelissaLynnette LaDiva wrote:
Why do people still think that modeling has shit all to do with the general public?

You all think you're the first one to say "Hey.  I bet Americans want to relate to the people in their fantasies!"  Pshhhh!!!  Not.

Why so defensive? I'm not arguing the point

Charlene M wrote:

Why so defensive? I'm not arguing the point

I'm not being defensive.  I'm asking a question.

Why do people still think that modeling has shit all to do with the general public?

JakeStewartPhotography wrote:
I dont see why they have to be so scronny anyway. I think, and the everyday population would agree I believe, that you are the perfect size and everything.

Versace doesn't cater to the everyday population.

E Johnson wrote:
Seriously, who would buy a garment if the model advertising the item was "average"?  A buyer has more confidence in a article of clothing if it's advertised in a "realistically impossible" manner instead of "average".  Who would sell more bras, Adriana Lima or America Ferrara?

GOOD POINT.

Shon D Photography wrote:

Versace doesn't cater to the everyday population.

True. I know. I guess...I should reword, why do they represent plus sized at all? and then just really thin?

One extreme or the other..that is the point I was trying to make.

E Johnson wrote:
Seriously, who would buy a garment if the model advertising the item was "average"?  A buyer has more confidence in a article of clothing if it's advertised in a "realistically impossible" manner instead of "average".  Who would sell more bras, Adriana Lima or America Ferrara?

I think the average american looks more like Roseanne Barr or Rosie O'Donnell. they're still bad examples, though, because they're celebrities, so they'd move product better than a non-celebrity.

Bella-M wrote:
Commercial models aren't really thin!
I'm not an extreme - there is modeling for allllllll types of people.
The piss off is that everyone thinks they can do it.

I know that about commercial models. Actually High fashion is a small piece of the whole modeling pie. I was talking about that piece, I need to clarify that. There are mid sized models represented....I was thinking aloud really

Charlene M wrote:
True. I know. I guess...I should reword, why do they represent plus sized at all? and then just really thin?

One extreme or the other..that is the point I was trying to make.

If the fashion industry opened its doors and let EVERYONE model, then our magazines would look like...

Modelmayhem.

Is that what you want?

Charlene M wrote:
True. I know. I guess...I should reword, why do they represent plus sized at all? and then just really thin?

One extreme or the other..that is the point I was trying to make.

Again, economics.

Someone at some point tried a different marketing approach - they said, hey, let's use bigger girls to sell to people who are bigger. Obviously the response was good, so they kept doing it, because it put money in their pockets.

As I said before, the people shopping at Abercrombie don't have bodies like the Abercrombie models. Do you think that people with average builds would be more likely to purchase products if they used models who just looked normal? Rather than models who most of those average customers WISH they looked like?

That's the general idea of marketing - showing you how much better your life would be, if only you bought the product they're selling.

They don't show a dirty BMW with a dented fender filling up at the gas station in the commercials, with the tagline, "This could be your life!" They show everything sleek, perfect, desireable - and that makes you want to buy the product, live that fantasy lifestyle.

Showing an average model is not presenting a fantasy, so there's no push to buy.

Shon D Photography wrote:

If the fashino industry opened its doors and let EVERYONE model, then our magazines would look like...

Modelmayhem.

Is that what you want?

You're right. Point taken from everyone at this point.

Dave Wright Photo SF wrote:

Again, economics.

Someone at some point tried a different marketing approach - they said, hey, let's use bigger girls to sell to people who are bigger. Obviously the response was good, so they kept doing it, because it put money in their pockets.

As I said before, the people shopping at Abercrombie don't have bodies like the Abercrombie models. Do you think that people with average builds would be more likely to purchase products if they used models who just looked normal? Rather than models who most of those average customers WISH they looked like?

That's the general idea of marketing - showing you how much better your life would be, if only you bought the product they're selling.

They don't show a dirty BMW with a dented fender filling up at the gas station in the commercials, with the tagline, "This could be your life!" They show everything sleek, perfect, desireable - and that makes you want to buy the product, live that fantasy lifestyle.

Showing an average model is not presenting a fantasy, so there's no push to buy.

Thank you for explaining, that is what I was trying to see...what people thought..and info as to why.

Charlene M wrote:
Just curious, we have thin models, and plus size...but why don't they have a mid sized section to represent the general population? I do agree height and high fashion look is necessary, I'm not saying I should be a fashion model or anything...but I think it would be interesting if they had a Small/mid/plus size models represented in fashion.

Maybe just separate them so it looks good...for the fashion show a clothing company could choose small models, another choose mid...not necessarily intermix during their runway show. Sample sizes could be offered in other sizes so that models don't feel pressured to always be the size 2.

Just a thought...

ETA: Don't burn me at the stake please...What I really mean is..why represent fashion as either extreme: Really small, or plus. I am not saying that they SHOULD, or Would..I am just curious as to why they go from a from a 0/2 to a 12/14 for models with most agencies.

Also, I realize that high fashion is a small piece of the modeling pie. There is definitely other modeling styles out there, and fashion without being linked to a major brand...I get that.

There are mid sized models. The Victoria's Secret models are not stick thin. They have curves. I have seen a lot more models with curves. Plus Cindy Crawford was never a stick, she always had curves.

Charlene M wrote:
Not left out..Im not saying because they feel left out. I was thinking aloud since they recognize either heavier models, or really thin models...why not inbetween?

The "heavier" models are the actual regular size people. Plus size is 10-16, Straight size is 0-4, sometimes a 6.

There isn't really any inbetween there.