Comments on: Is the Fashion Press to Blame? http://shoeblogs.com/2008/05/08/is-the-fashion-press-to-blame/ Manolo Loves the Shoes! Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:33:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Christine http://shoeblogs.com/2008/05/08/is-the-fashion-press-to-blame/comment-page-1/#comment-570494 Christine Tue, 13 May 2008 18:46:10 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/?p=4057#comment-570494 Although I agree with the majority of what you write here, Manolo, I'd like to dispute your analogy between the publishing of anorexic 14-year olds in fashion magazines and of expensive cars in car magazines. For a car buff, the specs of the latest sports car can be both entertaining and motivating - even if said car buff never buys said car, he or she can always aspire to it, and there's nothing wrong with that. On the other hand, it is healthy for women to aspire to look like anorexic 14 year old? It doesn't entertain me to see emaciated children modelling designer clothing... and if it motivates, is that a good thing? Most women do not have the natural body type to look like a fashion model, and to say that it's motivation is only forcing women who are beautiful as they naturally are to think that the only way a woman can be fashionable is if she looks like an Auschwitz survivor. Although I agree with the majority of what you write here, Manolo, I’d like to dispute your analogy between the publishing of anorexic 14-year olds in fashion magazines and of expensive cars in car magazines. For a car buff, the specs of the latest sports car can be both entertaining and motivating – even if said car buff never buys said car, he or she can always aspire to it, and there’s nothing wrong with that. On the other hand, it is healthy for women to aspire to look like anorexic 14 year old? It doesn’t entertain me to see emaciated children modelling designer clothing… and if it motivates, is that a good thing? Most women do not have the natural body type to look like a fashion model, and to say that it’s motivation is only forcing women who are beautiful as they naturally are to think that the only way a woman can be fashionable is if she looks like an Auschwitz survivor.

]]> By: C http://shoeblogs.com/2008/05/08/is-the-fashion-press-to-blame/comment-page-1/#comment-570393 C Sat, 10 May 2008 10:24:30 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/?p=4057#comment-570393 I just want to weigh in regarding super skinny girls. Some of us are just built like that. I'm a size 8 (uk) but for ten years I was a size 6 despite eating more food than the average person. Some of us skinny people have fast metabolisms and there's not a whole lot we can do about it. It's only since becoming a size 8 that I've felt like I can wear more revealing clothing. As a size 6 i never wore anything that'd display my arms/legs because I hated the cruel insults about how I had an eating disorder, when in fact I didn't. I'd like to see other people wearing long sleeves and trousers in the height of summer to see how it feels. Or how about the fact that it's hard as hell to find clothes that fit properly? If you're not petite in height as well as size it's a real pain shopping for clothes. Trousers are never long enough and tops ride up the stomach. For the normal people being skinny is a thoroughly miserable ezperience. I just want to weigh in regarding super skinny girls. Some of us are just built like that. I’m a size 8 (uk) but for ten years I was a size 6 despite eating more food than the average person. Some of us skinny people have fast metabolisms and there’s not a whole lot we can do about it.

It’s only since becoming a size 8 that I’ve felt like I can wear more revealing clothing. As a size 6 i never wore anything that’d display my arms/legs because I hated the cruel insults about how I had an eating disorder, when in fact I didn’t.

I’d like to see other people wearing long sleeves and trousers in the height of summer to see how it feels. Or how about the fact that it’s hard as hell to find clothes that fit properly? If you’re not petite in height as well as size it’s a real pain shopping for clothes. Trousers are never long enough and tops ride up the stomach. For the normal people being skinny is a thoroughly miserable ezperience.

]]> By: Ellie http://shoeblogs.com/2008/05/08/is-the-fashion-press-to-blame/comment-page-1/#comment-570204 Ellie Fri, 09 May 2008 23:26:42 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/?p=4057#comment-570204 Many poorly-thought-out clothes look gorgeous on the hanger and horrible on the body. A girl such as you describe (skinny, tall, no personality) is as close as possible to a clotheshanger. Thus, perfect for displaying the poorly-thought-out clothing. I have no objection, but if a designer fears showing clothes on a woman-shaped woman I generally assume that is because they look horrible on real people. The last McQueen show was perfection from beginning to end in my opinion, and I would hate to ask him to be more realistic. It is art and entertainment as much as anything, and very valuable for that. Same goes for certain Vogue editorials. If the market can support that kind of art I am all for it. I can't afford the clothes, but then I can't afford my own Gerhard Richter painting either, and that doesn't mean I resent him for selling them. Or that I wouldn't go see them in a museum. Many poorly-thought-out clothes look gorgeous on the hanger and horrible on the body. A girl such as you describe (skinny, tall, no personality) is as close as possible to a clotheshanger. Thus, perfect for displaying the poorly-thought-out clothing. I have no objection, but if a designer fears showing clothes on a woman-shaped woman I generally assume that is because they look horrible on real people.
The last McQueen show was perfection from beginning to end in my opinion, and I would hate to ask him to be more realistic. It is art and entertainment as much as anything, and very valuable for that. Same goes for certain Vogue editorials. If the market can support that kind of art I am all for it. I can’t afford the clothes, but then I can’t afford my own Gerhard Richter painting either, and that doesn’t mean I resent him for selling them. Or that I wouldn’t go see them in a museum.

]]> By: Dani http://shoeblogs.com/2008/05/08/is-the-fashion-press-to-blame/comment-page-1/#comment-570147 Dani Fri, 09 May 2008 18:17:22 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/?p=4057#comment-570147 I have nothing against the fashion magazines and designers showcasing fanciful, artistic clothing on Belorussian schoolgirls. After all, it is art. No one aspires to wear those clothes or look that way. No, the perception problem Jennie mentions is not perpetrated by high fashion, distant as it is from the real world. The problem comes from mundane magazines such as Redbook, Glamour and Cosmo. It is when they push the rail-thin model in affordable clothing that reality becomes skewed. Because these magazines aim to speak to the masses. Few aspire to look as if she stepped out of the pages of Vogue, but many want to be the Cosmo Girl. I have nothing against the fashion magazines and designers showcasing fanciful, artistic clothing on Belorussian schoolgirls. After all, it is art. No one aspires to wear those clothes or look that way. No, the perception problem Jennie mentions is not perpetrated by high fashion, distant as it is from the real world. The problem comes from mundane magazines such as Redbook, Glamour and Cosmo. It is when they push the rail-thin model in affordable clothing that reality becomes skewed. Because these magazines aim to speak to the masses.

Few aspire to look as if she stepped out of the pages of Vogue, but many want to be the Cosmo Girl.

]]> By: Jan http://shoeblogs.com/2008/05/08/is-the-fashion-press-to-blame/comment-page-1/#comment-570134 Jan Fri, 09 May 2008 12:26:57 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/?p=4057#comment-570134 Manolo is entertaining and informative. You frequently make me laugh. I'll never pay $400 for a pair of shoes, but I do love shoes and coming to your blog is like visiting an "in the know" friend. Keep it up! Manolo is entertaining and informative. You frequently make me laugh. I’ll never pay $400 for a pair of shoes, but I do love shoes and coming to your blog is like visiting an “in the know” friend. Keep it up!

]]> By: Jennie http://shoeblogs.com/2008/05/08/is-the-fashion-press-to-blame/comment-page-1/#comment-570125 Jennie Fri, 09 May 2008 01:30:51 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/?p=4057#comment-570125 One question I must ask. Does one need to have an eating disorder to show the beautiful, impossible shoes? Non, non, non!!! Would the fanciful, unwearable clothes look any worse on a size 6 or forfend! a size 8? I think not! I really don't expect the fashion rags to show everything in the average US size of 14/16 but watching 20 somethings that are 5' 8" tall nibbling on 5 almonds for lunch because they are a size 4 and "fat" says something about perceptions. One question I must ask. Does one need to have an eating disorder to show the beautiful, impossible shoes? Non, non, non!!! Would the fanciful, unwearable clothes look any worse on a size 6 or forfend! a size 8? I think not! I really don’t expect the fashion rags to show everything in the average US size of 14/16 but watching 20 somethings that are 5′ 8″ tall nibbling on 5 almonds for lunch because they are a size 4 and “fat” says something about perceptions.

]]> By: Cheryl http://shoeblogs.com/2008/05/08/is-the-fashion-press-to-blame/comment-page-1/#comment-570118 Cheryl Thu, 08 May 2008 21:23:54 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/?p=4057#comment-570118 Bravo! Fashion is art, and I appreciate looking at it even though my own wardrobe is often boring and my shoes definitely often quite fugly, as I have the misfortune to have really bad feet. But I love the fantasy of beautiful shoes and clothes and enjoy fashion magazines and the superfantastic shoe blog because the perspective is so interesting! Bravo! Fashion is art, and I appreciate looking at it even though my own wardrobe is often boring and my shoes definitely often quite fugly, as I have the misfortune to have really bad feet. But I love the fantasy of beautiful shoes and clothes and enjoy fashion magazines and the superfantastic shoe blog because the perspective is so interesting!

]]> By: Cat http://shoeblogs.com/2008/05/08/is-the-fashion-press-to-blame/comment-page-1/#comment-570105 Cat Thu, 08 May 2008 20:53:02 +0000 http://shoeblogs.com/?p=4057#comment-570105 Well said, Manolo! I would never be able to actually wear the Alexander McQueen sandal with the 4 3/4" heel, but it is certainly beautiful and I most definitely enjoy looking at it. Well said, Manolo! I would never be able to actually wear the Alexander McQueen sandal with the 4 3/4″ heel, but it is certainly beautiful and I most definitely enjoy looking at it.

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