Jean Paul Gaultier - Plus Size Runway Debacle?
I’m trying really hard to be happy about this.
Honest. Really hard, trying happy to be I am.
This is one of Jean Paul Gaultier’s models from Fashion Week in Paris. Reports claim her to be a size 20. Note that she’s wearing control top pantyhose AND stockings, and that the “robe” on her doesn’t appear to be able to close around her even if her hands weren’t holding it aside.
Let me show you a confirmed size 20:
Please don’t get me wrong. I would love to think that this was Jean Paul’s way of saying, “THIS is what we need to all work for in addition to everything else.” But am I to believe that I’ll ever be able to buy anything but his perfume or handbags? I really can’t do that.
Part of me wants to say that this was a step in the right direction, albeit an extreme one. But there’s this nagging little cynic inside me who says that he’s done this to make a mockery of the whole “models are too skinny” thing that’s come up lately.
I couldn’t find the video of this yet, but you all know that models typically walk the runway without expression, perhaps a wink or a smirk on the turn, but other than that, nothing. This girl was flailing her arms around in a failed attempt at looking seductive, and making all sorts of facial expressions - full out twisting of her face, not just a wink or a lick lip or something. It’s almost as if she didn’t take this as a serious opportunity either. Neil Kramer agrees sort of…
Now, all this said, JPG’s used other “normal” models before, one of which (whose photo I can’t find) is actually a size 16, and he’s put up size 12’s a lot. But this is almost like a slap in the face.
This girl’s photo isn’t even up on his website, and it’s been a long standing fact that Karl Lagerfield supports his toothpicks, as well as the fact that JPG and Karl aren’t exactly best friends.
I just don’t know what to think or feel about this. I do know that she’s nowhere near a size 20 with that butt and those thighs, so I don’t appreciate the lie, but part of me would so want to be happy about this whole thing. Maybe if he’d used more than just one? They show off say, 20 new designs - maybe if they had an equal balance of sizes across the board, I’d be a lot happier about the whole thing.
To me, throwing one, very plus size girl in with a bunch of size two’s just doesn’t cut it.
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Categories: Modeling & Acting
She is a 3X/4X (I think that is a size 26/28, but I’m not sure).
Read this very interesting interview with her:
http://blogs.smh.com.au/entertainment/archives/fashion_season/006613.html
That is a good point. One larger than size 2 model seems like a token effort. Having several more would have been more solid.
Hey..I agree with you on this. On one hand, I want to be happy that he is showing even larger plus-sized ladies other than 12,14, or 16s…but just her with a bunch of little toothpick sized ones? That just doesnt’ make too much sense to me either.
I agree that this model was probably NOT chosen out of sincerity.
But that aside, you are beautiful! Don’t get too skinny!
I believe you missed his message….JPG was not promoting Plus size but was instead using this one to make a statement he was asking without publicly asking if that was the type of models people would rather see on the runway instead of the skinny models. He used her after skinny models were banned from a fashion show for being too skinny.
I disagree… He’s used “overweight” models in the past. Granted, none of them were this overweight - but sizes 12, 14, and 16.
I know about the skinny models being banned - but what you have to know is that the BMI requirement means literally jack when it comes to determining if they’re “too skinny” for fashion shows. Most runway models are very tall, which throws off their BMI a lot. The only models that didn’t get to walk were the ones with the most bones sticking out. However if you looked at the show, there were STILL models with bones sticking out - just not so many bones.
It’s a touchy industry - and the ban on skinny models seems “so great” to people who don’t know much about BMI and just want to hear that the fashion industry is taking a stand. But a 5′10″ model with a BMI of 25 and a 5′6″ woman with a BMI of 25 are most likely at least 3 or 4 dress sizes apart.
I agree. More ordinary sizes should be used. I dont believe its enough to have lots of tiny model sizes and one big one. What about all the sizes inbetween too? Its a start but will designers continue to use these models, or will it just gain them more media coverage?
we shall see.
x
that is disgusting, I can Understand 12, 14, but that, don’t even get me started
how can you say that, she is beautiful!!!!! there should be more models out there like her!!!!!
So sam - are you saying that I’m disgusting too? Because I’m a size 20/22, and you can see my photo right up there next to hers… did you seriously come to MY site and call ME disgusting?
Please sam - get started. I’d love to hear what you have to say. Could you post a link to your own photo too? You know, so we can see how “hot” you are yourself? Yes, dearest sam - it needs to be a real photo of yourself. In fact - take a photo of yourself with your face next to the computer screen, with this website up on it. Then pass us the link. We want to see if YOU’RE disgusting… c’mon… you can judge others - step up.
Actually, she probably is a size 20 from the waist on up, yet bigger when you get to the hips and thighs. It is a good strategy, because he is promoting a plus-size model alongside the “big butt” craze that has strengthened in the USA, much thanks to black Americans and Puerto Ricans. Remember that plus-size enthusiasts (c’est moi!) like to point out that Marylin Monroe was a size 14, yet I think that was mainly in her thighs.
All that said, if Marylin Monroe was a “size 14″ due to her thighs, why can’t the sexy model above (that is, the one on the right) be higher than a size 20 for the same reason? I was happy to see this news back when it came out. But if JPG stops here and others don’t follow suit, then what was the point besides just gaining some media attention? at any rate, I think London is more “avant-garde” in concepts of beauty than Paris.
Hi Ben,
I agree, that maybe she’s in a 20 top. And I can see your point about catering to the “chubby chasers” out there, and I also like to point out that Marilyn was a 14. ;)
However, I’m wondering why you think that she’s the “sexy model above” and I’m not? LOL Just kidding!!
But you hit the nail on the head - he’s stopped there. No one else is following suit. It was a media grab, and nothing more, as you can tell by the date of my post here was a year and a half ago, and it hasn’t happened again since.