Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Size STILL Matters


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*Waves at all of Lynn's readers*

Hopefully y'all will still come visit on Tuesdays even after you find out that I am going to be a permanent, semi-permanent, dry-erase figure here. Lynn is one of my first blog friends and it seemed like the least I could do was help her out a bit. You know - all of the demands of her new job - little time for blogging - significant life demands. But I think I may have been duped! Seems Lynn may have just nabbed me in her intricate web, to be consumed (so to speak) later.

So, what's a girl to do? Well, I'd say punt but I never could get that dang oblong pigskin to cooperate, so instead I give you Tara Lynn.


Tara Lynn is a GORGEOUS, 27-year old, bi-lingual (French and English), plus-sized (an honest to goodness size 16) model. She earned herself the latest "real woman" photo spread (20 pages) in French Elle.

There have been a few of these fat girl tributes in the media as of late (for those of you who don't know me, I am a fat girl so I have authority to use that phrase) - from the "real women" of Dove to V’s Size Issue (both of which I blogged about HERE and HERE). I have some issues with these tributes, for instance ...

What is this "leaping across the page, singing tra-la-la in the ugliest pair of shoes I think I've ever seen" shot?


And why must there be an obligatory nude shot? Not that she doesn't look fabulous, but I can't help but wonder if this isn't done to to quell the curious "But what does she look like without clothes on?" nay-sayers. And really, don't you think that wicker chair is seriously poking her in the butt?? Couldn't they give her a fluffy white rug to sit on?


And what about this black and white, artsy-fartsy ... oh hell! Who am I trying to kid?? Tara Lynn is just plain HAWT! So what's my point?


Well ... do you think the current flow of plus-sized models into fashion pages is a fad or is it for real? Would using women (curvy) rather than girls (stick-figure) as models be more impressive if they were ... well ... just commonplace fashion spreads rather than part of a huge fanfare of self-serving PR?

Does it matter?

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29 comments:

we're doomed said...

Concentration camp stick figures don't do anything for me. I think a little shape and form are what make a woman beautiful.

Karen said...

I think she looks great. I also think that most people know about re-touching and airbrushing. We all know that even the models themselves don't look like the magazine pages. I guess my point is that I don't put much stock into what they show us in the magazines. I appreciate the fashions and the artistry, but I don't get too bogged down in who is presenting the fiction to me.

But I also LOVE those boots that she is leaping in. They look like a low riding boot. I want them badly!

Evil Twin's Wife said...

She is beautiful. She looks more like a 12 than a 16, but I've always been bad at sizing.

Dana said...

we're doomed, I'm all for shape and form - just wonder when we'll stop patting everyone on the back for getting in touch with reality.

Blogger Karen, it's funny, I have no doubt that Tara Lynn's photos were retouched as well. It's just how the modeling industry works.The boots?? Oh Karen *shakes head*

Evil Twin's Wife, sooo ... she doesn't look THAT fat?? Just giving you a hard time *grin*

furiousBall said...

i bet that wicker chair left a great pattern on her buttcheeks.

why is that my first thought?

Lola said...

She is definitely HAWT. Why am I the last to know that these magazines are featuring plus size models?

Grant said...

The Japanese already have this concept covered. I'm fine with it except for when the women get morbidly obese, then all I can think is "You poor thing, you're going to die", which does not equate sexy in my book.

Dana said...

furiousBall, kind of like a butt kaleidoscope??

Lola, I've actually gotten lucky stumbling on the news articles because heaven knows I am NOT a fashionista. I can barely even spell the word!

Jay said...

She's beautiful.

And, I personally believe that the "nude shot" requirement is a GREAT rule. I'm totally in favor of it. ;-)

Dana said...

Grant, I'm just looking forward to the day where this isn't such an anomaly. Where the media isn't patted on the back for giving some time and attention to the fat chicks.

Jay, not only is she beautiful, she is smart too, making her (in my mind) even more attractive.

SkylersDad said...

I think women look much better with curves!

Charlene said...

Featuring plus size women is a gemick. It will stay that way until the power in fashion does not reside in companies like Vogue ala the Prada movie.

I look forward to the time when a size 16 is the most purchased clothing size going. Capitalism will move the fashionistas into making those changes.

Anonymous said...

Real women have curves.

Dana said...

SkylersDad, well, I do too, but when will the fashion industry go there without expecting so much media attention?

Charlene, I think you are right - it is likely a gimmick. I'd just like to see designers FORCED to design for ... say ... a size 12 or 14 runway model!

The Phool, yeah, but real woman aren't walking the fashion runways!

Laura said...

I never liked women who looked like skin and bones......

Id much prefer the "real" look instead of the body thats nearly impossible to achieve unless you are in to starvation.

Im Italian....we love food! And people who eat it!

we're doomed said...

Dana, whenever I reach out to touch reality I get my hand slapped. QCTM

Mike said...

I like the B&W picture best.

Real Live Lesbian said...

She is stunning! And I think it's the same as finally featuring gay couples on TV shows. It gives us validity. It proves that we are, in fact, really out there in the real world and fashion/tv/media is beginning to reflect that.

Those boots are ugly....but I bet Karen could totally pull them off with the right outfit.

Thanks for taking over on Tuesdays! Now I need to find a good Thursday girl! ::snicker::

Ileana said...

Cool curves! I'm going to show this post to my plus-size lady friends so they can see how sexy curvy can be!

Dana said...

Laura, I've often said that at 6' tall I could have been a model ... if I hadn't liked eating so much!

we're doomed, but I know your reality and I can't imagine she's ever slap you!

Mike, that B & W is by FAR my favorite shot!

Dana said...

Real Live Lesbian, I'll buy the validation argument, but us "normal" folks are still WAY under represented!

Oh! And I see how it is. I'm not good enough for you? You need a Thursday girl to satisfy you too?? *giggle*

Ily, curvy is ALWAYS sexy!

Nicky said...

I work with young girls and I run support groups to help them deal with the pressures and stresses that come with being a teen. These girls need to see these pictures of this beautiful woman. These kids only get to see the media airbrushed images of what is considered to be beautiful, and the kids try to live up to these expectations- no one can. Many of these young girls have such poor self esteem- and I hear all the time that they do not feel pretty or they think they are ugly because they do not look like the stars on TV or in magazines...They need to see that beautiful woman come in all shapes and sizes....

Indi said...

I think she looks amazing. We should except our bodies in whatever shape or form they come, if we are comfortable with ourselves, does it really honestly matter. I think more models should be with more lfesh as we are women after all. So that's a yes from me ;)

Indi

x

Rachel Cotterill said...

To be honest, if I'm looking at fashion pages I just want to know what the clothes look like.... I've never been good at this fashion malarkey! But I think it would be better all round if they just used a selection of normal-sized models, without faffing about it.

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

She looks great. I agree with the wicker chair though OUCH

and from what you have shown, you look great too missy

Akelamalu said...

Most men and women prefer a woman that's nicely rounded to a stick insect but the designers won't use bigger models because they'd have to be able to design clothes that fit properly instead of just hanging on a hanger! Tara Lynn is beautiful.

Slyde said...

wow, you're right..

shes a very pretty girl..

Gina said...

I'm really petite. So much so that I've complained about it on my blog. And even I love to see larger women in magazines...especially when they look like her..DAYUM! Hawt, indeed. I hope it keeps up.

James said...

Evil twin's wife said:

"she looks more like a 12 than a 16"

size 16 English is size 12 American. I think.