Jessie’s Closet: Why Every Woman Should Embrace Her Body!

What would be a better way to start off my column than by talking about the sexy, and awesome-sauce female body? : D  A topic that plays a huge part, not only in the fashion industry, but in our everyday lives as well. I mean, walk down the street or turn on your TV, and count how many times you encounter an ad that talks about weight loss programs and diet pills, or the number of times you flip through a magazine and have ever envied the body of a model you see on there (most likely photoshopped)… then you will see what I mean.

The pressure that society places on being thin is enormous, and reflected in the ever-growing statistics of eating disorders, especially in North America. Even in other parts of the world, like Fiji, the prevalence of eating disorders increased tremendously after their culture was introduced to television, which exposed them to American programs and thus American beauty ideals. Before the introduction of TV in Fiji, however, a curvier female physique was considered the most beautiful.

A quote from London Fashion Week designer Caroline Castigliano;

“Just three weeks earlier, I had held my first casting session – and almost every girl who attended was devastatingly thin and looked severely malnourished. It was the first time in my 22 years as a fashion designer that I had struggled to find just eight models who looked healthy and shapely enough to appear in my annual catwalk show.”

Julius and James Photography
Nicole Ostonal Makeup
Model Jessie Yang

This quote summarizes much of the current trend right now in runway fashion, and the saddening reality that most models are simply too thin to live a balanced and healthy life!

In this article, I will not attempt to bore you with the mundane details, history, and statistics of eating disorders or the thin ideal (you can leave that to scientific researchers or Google). Rather, I’d like to shed light on a recent positive shift in the fashion industry towards more curvy and healthier models.

There is definitely a gradual change now in the fashion world, as designers, like Clements Ribeiro, are collaborating with plus-sized high street brand, Evans, plus sized Australian model, Robyn Lawley, are fronting major campaigns, and singer Adele is being approached by Burberry for a plus-size collaboration… Even designers as influential as Nicholas Ghesquière publicly spoke about how the fashion industry and its size issue is changing for the positive. I think that it’s safe to say that curvy women are gaining back their strength in the market, and making their way to mainstream media!

I wonder what the runway will look like 20 years from now? Will it go completely the other way, and consist of all plus sized models? My personal opinion on this issue is that, fashion goes in cycles and your health is way more important than any “trend” at the moment. I mean, look at how vintage styles are now rocking the runway, and how a lot of stylists/designers nowadays look back to the 50s or 60s for artistic inspirations. In my opinion, it would be equally as bad if the industry went to the other end of the spectrum, and excludes all thinner girls from walking the runway a few decades from today, so I’m hoping that moderation can be achieved.

Some girls are naturally born to a bigger frame, and some are naturally more petite, but all of these are just different body shapes (just like how we all have different shaped eyes or faces) and they are all beautiful in their own way. I think that as long as you stays active and lives a healthy lifestyle, it really doesn’t matter if you are a size 0 or size 8! So, what I’d like to see on the runway 20 years from today is not a stage full of curvaceous girls with boobs and butts, but rather, a mix of a variety of body shapes that are all HEALTHY. After all, fashion should not be about deprivation or feeling inadequate about yourself; it should be about embracing your individual and unique style; and it should be about bringing a positive change and vibe to our society. After all, fashion should be something to be celebrated by everyone, and not remain exclusive to a small group of people that fit under a certain “number”.

Love your bodies ladies, curvy or thin, and embrace them with all your hearts! Lastly, remember that “sexy” is a FEELING, not a SIZE!

 ♥

Altovenue Photography
Makeup by Charlotte Lang
Models (L->R):
Kelly Taylor, Kassi Sheppard, Holly Wolf

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And Also, My Original LDU Monday Morning Mistress Feature HERE!!