Heathy Curves Back On The Runway

The decrease of "beanpoles" on the latest runway shows was noticeable. New York and London Fashion Weeks have featured more normal-sized women catwalking this year.


Though IMG vice-president Fern Mallis did not attend the CFDA's panel discussion on fashion industry and body image the day before New York Fashion Week, she was glad to notice healthier models on the runway.

"I was here at the Tents, but I haven't seen so many scary-looking girls this time," she commented during the Naeem Khan show.

"I was just at a show sitting with the husband of a designer who said a girl came in for a fitting and her legs looked like poles, and they said, 'No.' It was great at Calvin's show to see some of the old girls back, like Stella Tennant and Kristen McMenamy, and Michael Kors had Frankie Rayder. They're gorgeous girls. They weren't beanpoles, they're still gorgeous."

The same trend was also noticeable at the London Fashion Week. Even Kate Moss walked the Fashion for Relief runway with more body fats. Supermodel Naomi Campbell also welcomed the arrival of many normal-sized women on the catwalks, as well as the plus-size models. She was quoted as saying:

"I think the bigger the better. I don't comment on size, I think if someone is beautiful then they should do what they want to do."

Fashion designer Borun Aksu also noted after his show that larger, healthier models appear to have made a breakthrough on the catwalks:

"Over the last couple of seasons they have become more noticeable. You also notice that these are girls who look healthy and happy."

Mark Fast's runway show has featured four plus-size models led by Crystal Renn, size-16 and one of the most famous plus-size models today.

Meanwhile, giant high street retail store Debenhams has started replacing some of its size ten mannequins with plus size models more suited to the average British woman's size 14-16.

"The average British woman is a size 14 to 16 and it's important that the woman on the street is able to walk into a shop and feel comfortable with the choice available," said Sarah Travers who runs Europe's largest plus-size modeling agency.

London Fashion Week Embraces Diversity

The London Fashion Week this year is getting high praise and publicity for embracing diversity on the runway with an array of models who are plus-size, black, and around 70 years old.


PPQ clothing line presented its spring 2010 collection in a line-up of exclusively black girls while Sykes collection used models with wide range of ages up to 70. Fashion designer Mark Fast, on the other hand, had three size 14 models in his show.

While London Fashion Week successfully showed diversity, it did not end without controversy especially on having the plus-size models share the runway with the typical slim and pale-looking girls.

Intent to prove that his designs are not only for skinny girls, Mark Fast decided to include three bigger models on the last minute. This decision prompted his casting director to walk out. The show's stylist was also rude to the models so that the team was forced to fire her. Stylist Daniela Agnelli stepped up to save the day, including finding solution to the need of larger models for supportive underwear beneath the tight dresses. The show was overall a success, although there have been complaints about the nude thongs cutting into the plus-size model's skin and ruining the lines of the clothes.

This diversity on the catwalk is influenced by the launch of new fashion initiative, "All Walks Beyond The Catwalk", by Caryn Franklin. The British fashion expert and TV presenter believes that in order to change the shape of fashion, young designers have to be encouraged to have an inclusive attitude early in their careers.

Hopefully, this diversity on the catwalk will move towards an attitude that speaks of diversity and individuality.

London Fashion Week Celebrates 25th Year

London Fashion Week is coming to town on September 18 and to prepare for its 25th anniversary celebration, the city's hottest fashion designers, models, and artists are coming up with bright ideas to mark the occasion.


Elle UK has asked 25 of the most beautiful people of London to design a poster for the London Fashion Week and contributors include Naomi Campbell, Pat McGrath, Matthew Williamson, Rupert Sanderson, and Rob Ryan (pictured here). The 25 poster designs are featured on Elle UK's website and will be on display across the London Underground network.

Meanwhile, stunning waxworks of Kate Moss and Tyra Banks have been unveiled at the London Fashion Week area at Madame Tussauds London. The seated wax replica of Kate Moss looks innocent and youthful in an elegant dress of opulent gold full-length gown while the waxed Tyra Banks, on loan from Madame Tussauds in New York, is shown in all her signature fierceness in a black gown with a plunging neckline.

"We wanted to do something special to celebrate London Fashion Week's 25th anniversary and Kate is undoubtedly one of our most popular figures. We have created a totally different look moving away from understated chic to a really high glamour feel.

"Tyra's guest appearance ups the glam factor even more and visitors will be able to imagine they are working the catwalk themselves when they meet the Madame Tussauds stylist and can get up close and pose alongside two of the world's most famous models."


The London Fashion Week will open on September 18 with Paul Costelloe and offerings will feature spring/summer 2010 fashion collections from Matthew Williamson, Maria Grachvogel, Charles Anastase, Clements Ribeiro, and Christopher Kane.

Though the public is not invited to hang with the big names in fashion during the trade event in Somerset House, the London Fashion Weekend is opened from September 24 to 27. Various collections from autumn/winter 2009 to spring/summer 2010 lines will be seen during the designer shopping event (ticket price starts at £12.50).

Health Test For London Fashion Week Drops, Eating-Disorder Charity Dismays

As the health test for London Fashion Week was dropped, the Eating Disorder Charity “Beat” was dismayed.

Just recently, the plan to require models to secure a health certificate before joining the London Fashion Week have been dropped by the British Fashion Council (BFC), which runs the highly-profiled fashion event.

The heath certification was deemed unworkable by the council. Chief Executive Hilary Riva has said in an open letter that there are impracticalities in implementing the annual checks. The BFC also mentioned that when the plan is pursued, models will feel discriminated and feel a lack of support from industry bodies in other fashion capitals.

Beat – an eating disorder charity, on the other hand, expressed dismay for the abandonment of the health certificate requirement plan. Beat's chief executive was quoted as saying "I am disappointed that they have stepped away from this. I know that there are practical difficulties and that there were matters of principle that the fashion industry found difficult but I feel the BFC should show leadership on this issue."

The idea to require health certificates to prove that models do not have anorexia have been proposed by the Model Health Inquiry, a British independent organization composed of model managers, designers, and supermodels. The health certificate plan was set up by BFC in March 2007 to investigate health problems suffered by models in the British fashion industry, especially during the hype of death reports from "size zero" super-skinny models.

Now that the models' health test requirement for London Fashion Week was dropped and the Eating Disorder Charity “Beat” was dismayed, let's hear it from the fashion models' side: "I feel that to ask all models to produce a mandatory certificate of health compromises their dignity and potentially infringes their human rights. Furthermore, the logistical constraints involved with ensuring all models are medically checked in good time to fulfill work engagements represent an ongoing obstacle," supermodel Erin O'Connor said.