Listen here:

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Most body positive and body image posts I’ve seen online seem to be very focused on those who are size 16 or larger. But what about those who are short, regardless of size? Especially those who are on the small side? Show host Cynthia, who is not only short, but small – especially when it comes to shoes – discusses, for the billionth time.

Why is this so one-sided? Is this even fair, especially when those bring up their petiteness are dismissed? How is this even inclusion

Image Credit:  GoodStudio/Shutterstock

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The office wardrobe has already changed. Sure, there are still many companies which require people to wear suits, but many more have gone the route of “business casual” (or, as I first learned back when I was 11 or 12, “smart casual”). You are seeing more polo shirts or twin sets and khakis or even denim. There are still rules, and in many cases, one can wear just about anything unless it’s athleisure, sleepwear or has anything offensive. It’s a different world. However, many businesses have not changed. I’m not talking about stores like J.Crew or Zara. I’m talking about places like Brooks Brothers.

Now, I LOVE Brooks. And they DO have a more casual line, Red Fleece. In fact, I have a few Red Fleece pieces in my closet. I also have items from their regular line. However, I’ve more or less been living on t-shirts and leggings (see Instagram pic above). Unless, of course, I have a pre-production meeting or a shoot. Then what I wear will fall into the business/smart casual category. I’ve also found that lately, what I wear is more likely to be from small(er) businesses, especially Canadian ones, than large, global corporations. And Brooks is neither a small business nor Canadian.

But that’s not the point of this piece. The issue is this: many businesses just don’t care that things have changed. In the case of Brooks Brothers, the issue is they’re still trying to cater to a more formal business person when they REALLY should be focusing on their Red Fleece line. That’s what more people are wearing to the office these days. And some people (not me) feel brands only cater to them if models LOOK like them. I don’t see too many East Asian models in Brooks ads, but it doesn’t mean I won’t wear their clothes or that Brooks isn’t for me/speaks to me (I never understood that – why does a brand have to have people who LOOK like you to SPEAK to you/make it okay for you to shop there? It isn’t skincare/colour cosmetics, it’s clothing). Size matters more.

For years, I’ve learned to deal with the fact that I’ll never see models my height, so to determine if something works for me, I just have to try (or buy petite). I’ve complained about it before, and even kept a blog (it’s been inactive for years, but you can still read old posts), but I’ve kind of moved on, after trying for years. It was and still IS like preaching to the choir. However, I DO perk up when I see that a model is under 5’5″. Especially one who is 5’3″ or shorter. She doesn’t even have to be slim. A small, Toronto-based sustainable fashion brand recently started featuring a model who is 5’3″ tall. She’s not slim like me – in fact, I think she’s probably around a 10 or 12 – but featuring HER helps me determine length on non-petite specific clothing. I get a better idea of whether a midi dress REALLY IS a midi dress (or something closer than a maxi). But many larger brands, brands who can very well afford to pay for different sized models, aren’t doing that. Why? Because they want to keep things the way they were and just don’t feel like innovating. They’re not looking at what people want so they could improve. It’s an ego thing. Victoria’s Secret, who filed for bankruptcy protection, didn’t really bother to feature (too many) models of differing sizes and abilities in their shows. That’s not what customers want. To stay alive, you need to reflect that. It doesn’t take a genius to know that.

And it’s not just big businesses. A couple of months ago, a small-ish, well-known Canadian women’s brand had posted on social about needing help to stay alive. However, their main focus still seems to be suits. I wanted to support them, to purchase one or two outfits, even, but there was just nothing I could wear for a lockdown, work-from-home lifestyle. Suits just don’t work for me, not even for formal video conferencing meetings. They ended up getting the funding they needed to continue operating, but the truth is, if they don’t start changing their products, they’re not going to remain competitive. If they don’t remain competitive, then, well, they’re not going to survive. It sounds harsh, but it’s simple. It’s business Darwinism. Survival of the fittest. Those who aren’t marching along with the consumer just aren’t fit.

We all need to be supporting small businesses, but only those who care about a consumer’s needs. I’d much rather support slow fashion, especially slow fashion brands who use diverse sizing AND features a size diverse range of models than the standard 5’10”, size 2, twenty-something. That’s not me. That wasn’t me when I was 25, either.

It’s not just regular, everyday workwear. Formalwear (yes, we still need it) needs to better represent sizing as well. Brides who are larger, for example, may have more difficulty finding gowns. I’m tiny, and though I had much more choice when I was looking over 10 years ago, I have to admit that the majority of gowns were too overwhelming on my short, petite frame. I didn’t have much to pick from either. And yes, since brides come in all shapes and sizes (just like non-brides), we need to see a more diverse size range of models (and other types of formalwear as well. We can’t forget that weddings have guests, even these days, where the guest list is in the double digits rather than 100+). And I don’t want to hear from designers that they want to focus on their “muse” as I did from a well-known Canadian brand a few years ago. Yes, that comment hurt – way worse than a sales associate giving me attitude because I wasn’t a Mandarin-speaking “Crazy Rich Asian.”

But many companies continue to ignore what people want. And they’re suffering the consequences. And unlike some people, I’m not mourning their loss. Staff can find other jobs, perhaps even in different industries – there are so many new and exciting things popping up and they can be trained if they don’t already have the skills. If the company itself doesn’t evolve, they’ll just be stuck, and, are, frankly, a waste of space. Nostalgia can exist in photos, video and in our hearts and closets. Think about typewriters. Are we still using them? Do we, in 2020, expect someone applying for an executive assistant job to know how? Doubt it. I was surprised when a supervisor wanted me to fill in a form using a typewriter in 2008 (and wondered why I wasn’t able to do it on my desktop. I THINK fillable PDFs existed by them (PDFs definitely did), but I don’t remember). Same goes for the fashion business. And I haven’t even had the chance to go into e-commerce and social media. But that’s not really an issue with fashion but restaurants which cater to some cultures. I’ll get into that another time, though.

I know I sound harsh, but we have to be harsh. We have to ensure our society can move ahead. This is like Survivor (goodness, is that STILL ON?). Only those who manage get to stay on the island. Otherwise, you’re gone.

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Over the years, I’ve discovered many other petite bloggers, like Jean Wang (who used to blog under the name, Petite Asian Girl). People like Jean became true blue influencers, even appearing in campaigns for stores like LOFT. I didn’t have that kind of luck, but I STILL stand by the fact that height doesn’t really take much of

We can’t ignore the fact that the fashion world completely dismisses height. Sure, you have petite sections in stores like Banana Republic and Ann Taylor, but they tend to be at the back corner section (and fairly hidden online. They don’t get their own section on the top menu while plus does). Department stores are either getting rid of (some got rid of petites a long time ago) or combining petite sections with regular – a big mistake, in my opinion. I get that they believe it makes people feel more “included” – but that’s really more for a size (as in number or letter) issue, not height. When you’re in a hurry, you’re NOT going to be looking for the letter “P” next to a size, you’re just going to be looking for the number itself. Petites, unlike plus, need their own section and it needs to be better promoted. But like us in general, our voices are dismissed. Maybe tall people just can’t see us (though I know of a very petite size inclusivity activist who only half acknowledges (if at all) the issue).

It’s vital that ALL issues relating to inclusivity be taken seriously and equally. But they’re not. Sometimes, activists will say that they acknowledge them, but in reality, it’s really a dismissal. The question here is why? Especially when SO MANY CELEBRITIES ARE UNDER 5’4″! So you’re not going to acknowledge (and I hesitate to mention her) Kim Kardashian? Reese Witherspoon? Both are around 5’2″ from what I understand. I get that Kim isn’t known for being super-sophisticated, but STILL. They are there, and they seem to pull red carpet looks off well.

So here’s what I don’t understand. As short people, our proportions are different from those who are taller. If designers are able to custom/tailor/make gowns look amazing on a 5’3″ celebrity, why can’t they make RTW clothing for us? Why are we stuck, at best, with mall brands who either regulate things online (just like plus) or in a corner of the store? And at worse, they’re boxy clothing that even women over a certain age (and at 40, I suppose I’m AT that age (or close to it)) won’t touch. And that’s considering how they complain or make excuses about not being able to make things look good on larger people.

For regular store brands, including aspirational lines, premium denim and the like, yes, proportion is an issue. I was at a store recently, trying on a pair of jeans. The pair of jeans was labelled a 24 waist and was supposed to be “super skinny.” Tried it on, and not only was it at least half a size too big (not surprised – premium denim, which typically uses waist measurements, vanity sizes just as much as mall brands), but it certainly wasn’t “super skinny.” It was also pulled up a little higher than it probably should be, showing that the rise is not quite proportioned for someone who is 5’2″ or so with a shortish torso.

So what does the above paragraph mean? That designers who are saying that it’s “hard” to proportion things for larger clients (and thus won’t make anything over a certain size) are okay with people who are my size? It’s technically MORE DIFFICULT to proportion things for US, regardless of height! It isn’t just hemming, after all. This SHOWS that it’s about aesthetics. People my size are more “appealing” to look at based on social conditioning. DUH.

Anyway, as I’ve said time and time again for over a decade, I REALLY WISH body image/size inclusivity activists would look at height issues more seriously. Even if they “acknowledge” the issue by telling us to our faces, they seem to “forget” about us in less than a second. We’ll still be regulated to the back corner or online if no one does anything. It’s a fresh new decade, so let’s make the 2020s about height as well.

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Why? Mirrors help guide you when you’re working out. Yes, it doesn’t really matter if you’re on a treadmill, elliptical or bike, but for yoga, barre and other movement-based exercises? They help A GREAT DEAL. Especially if you’re not the most balanced person in the world.

I’m a barre and Essentrics person. The barre studio I go to is mirror-free, but I’ve been attending enough classes with a specific instructor to know her routine and feel comfortable without the help of a mirror. However, I’ve found that when there is a sub or if I have to attend another class due to a scheduling conflict, I might have to rely on a mirror to help me with the various movements – especially if it’s a faster-paced class. And mirrors can help prevent injuries, too. Do you REALLY want to hurt yourself, and thus, not be able to go to class? Especially if it’s something you love? I think not.

I know size diversity activists typically are extremely adamant about mirrorless gyms and most will NOT make room for debate. These people don’t even WANT to hear my side of the story (surprise, surprise). I find it very sad and very typical of today’s “snowflakes.” Seriously, people, how can you consider yourself “woke” if you don’t let others speak? Your idea of what’s “right” and forcing it on the rest of the world is just as bad as the other side forcing their views on you. Or, they will close the conversation by saying something along the lines of “thanks for your comment.” And they leave it at that, without anything further. That more or less translates to “you’re totally wrong, dahhhhhhling, and *I* will ALWAYS be right!!!” I really don’t know how many eye roll emojis to insert for something like this.

Let’s just put it this way: mirrors work for some people. It HELPS some people. It even makes some people MORE CONFIDENT about themselves because they know they’re doing things correctly and WILL GO BACK FOR MORE CLASSES. The gym will make money and the client will be satisfied because he or she is becoming MORE FIT. Exercise not only helps improve physical health but mental health as well. And isn’t that a good thing?

Image courtesy by Vereshchagin Dmitry/Shutterstock

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Yorkdale now has “all gender” bathrooms. There’s even a sign EXPLAINING WHY they exist. Seriously, is that really necessary? I’m fine with all gender, but I also think all the in-your-face explanation is…annoying and OTT. THAT is what bothers me. Just have a sign that says “washroom/restroom/lavatory” or whatever the most polite term is. End of story. Unless, of course, our society REALLY IS that stupid not to know. Actually, maybe we are.

Inclusive should REALLY MEAN inclusive. It shouldn’t mean “your ‘traditional’ values suck and I’m better than you because I’m SO WOKE!” That’s called snobbery. Criticizing parents because their little girls wear “princess” dresses is just as bad as criticizing parents because their little girls only wear (male) superhero clothing. I know that this isn’t too common, but it DOES happen. When I was little, I LIKED wearing dresses. I wanted to wear dresses to school, but I wasn’t allowed because dresses and skirts weren’t play-appropriate. I begged to go to a school with a uniform, just so I could wear a tunic or skirt (school uniforms eventually happened, but not until middle school, when I was kind of “over” that whole “I must wear dresses/skirts to school” phase. But I still preferred to dress up on grub day). Is that weird enough to be shamed these days? I really hope not. But it seems that it could.

It isn’t just the whole “princess” thing. Heck, even any mention of cultural-related issues can be criticized. It seems that SOME people, especially the super-left, feel that certain cultures, especially non-European ones, need to be preserved. Do they not realize that cultures, ALL CULTURES, evolve and change? My ethnic background is (mostly) from China (I say “mostly” because my roots are predominantly in the southeastern coast, which would have seen a lot of travellers/people from elsewhere). Am I supposed to honour its customs to the fullest? And if so, which ones and from which century? Chinese culture dates back thousands of years. Are there certain dynasties to focus on? Or do you mean basic Confucianist values? What about Chinese culture prior to Confucius? He may have had a strong influence in China and China’s surrounding countries (e.g. Korea and Vietnam), but China DID exist before he was born. Like REAL Chinese culture. He wasn’t the guy who started it all.

In addition, China is a huge country and has been for thousands of years. What part of China is the most “real?” And by “real,” does one mean Han culture (even THAT is influenced by region. It’s like saying there’s only one Canadian or American culture)? If so, that erases the identity of minority cultures in China. It’s something that the Chinese government is apparently doing and this is being criticized. It’s also no better than criticizing Hong Kong culture because of its British influences. Sometimes, colonialism creates new cultures unique to the colonized country or region, existing even after its independence or return to original country (which is in the case of Hong Kong). It shouldn’t be seen as “wrong” or being too influenced by the colonists. It’s just the way it is and, like it or not, part of the region’s identity. It’s not something that can be erased. It just is. And it’s not like they’re mimicking the colonists, it’s something they created based on its influence. Like Hong Kong milk tea. Hong Kong diners (cha chaan tengs). Or Macanese chicken (a curry-like dish. It’s actually called Portuguese chicken in Cantonese, despite it not being AT ALL Portuguese. In fact, the dish has some Indian influences in its spice usage). To say that one has to erase that from existence just to “decolonize” oneself is erasing heritage itself. Like it or not, British colonialism is part of Hong Kong’s history. It can’t be undone.

I feel like people don’t use their brains enough when it comes to political correctness. We really need to THINK before we say or do. And sometimes, what one SAYS in the name of being PC is actually very demeaning. When you criticize someone for making changes to a culture in, say, cuisine (especially in cuisine) or because they’ve made changes to either suit them (especially if there are dietary concerns) or because certain ingredients are more difficult to find in a particular country or region. I mean, what does AUTHENTIC really mean, anyway? As I’ve said before, few of my recipes are considered “authentic” in this case because I just don’t “do” what many people might consider “Chinese cuisine.” I was never taught, and to be quite honest, rice isn’t even on the top of my list of “must eat” foods. My food is, of course, INFLUENCED by my heritage, and I take a lot of pride in that (if I’m technically allowed to), but it most certainly isn’t “traditional Chinese.”

I also feel that a lot of this comes from people who just feel badly about what their ancestors did to people in other countries. And that guilt, well, is going overboard. In fact, it’s to the point that it’s making me uncomfortable. Guess what? What happened in the past happened in the past. It was awful. Whatever. You don’t have to constantly apologize with an in-your-face philosophy until our heads hurt – especially if it erases the existence of something (e.g. buildings named after slave owners. Guess what, those guys were horrible, but they existed. And they were people. Changing a name almost makes it sound like they never did, especially if they were involved in founding a nation. And really, do we HAVE to look at things from the perspective of what people in the 21st century think is “proper?”). And my head has been hurting for a while now. Merci and move on.

Body image is at issue as well. We can’t be concerned about people’s health without being criticized for body shaming. But that’s only if someone’s big. If someone is very thin, then it’s perfectly fine to critique her (I say “her” because it’s almost always referring to a woman. And I mean 99.999999% of the time). And body image activists are very much a part of this. They only advocate for one side of the story and not the other. If it’s okay to be “naturally big,” then it’s perfectly fine to be “naturally small.” The whole “real women have curves” campaign Dove had years ago REALLY BUGGED ME. Because “curves” to them meant big. And when you bring up the fact that you’re small and you ALSO have fit issues (especially when it comes to lingerie), WHOA MY GOD, people say “at least you can find things in the teen (or even KIDS’) department!” A certain lingerie/athleisure brand KNOWN for fitting “everyone” has been guilty of this (I see their ads on Facebook all the time. No, you don’t fit EVERYONE). As I’ve said before, do these companies not realize they need to go small as well as big??? Especially if they want to expand in Asia (I guess they don’t)? Are they THAT STUPID? And then there are the body image activists who just pretend to acknowledge this. They can be very dismissive. And snobby. And being PC shouldn’t be snobby.

Of course, this is just one woman’s perspective on just a few issues. I can go on. Shame me all you want. Hey, even call me a super-righty. I don’t care. I just want to say what I want to say. If it doesn’t sound PC to you, then maybe you have problems too.

Image by By Nadya_Art/Shutterstock

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When I was in my early 20s, people would often ask why I was “so dressed up” and it got really annoying. As if it’s really weird to wear dresses and heels on a weekend. It still happens once in a while now that I’m in my 30s, but never in my area – I live in a part of Toronto where people tend to look “nice” – and the sloppy/over-casual people are probably tourists. I liked dressing up then and still do, especially in the summer and really, I blame the questioning on the so-called “casualization” of society. It’s part of that package where young children are addressing their parents’ friends by first name (sorry, kids under 12, you have to call me Mrs. Mintz, Ms. Cheng Mintz, Ms. Cynthia or Auntie Cynthia until I say that it is okay to call me just plain Cynthia. Actually, PARENTS, please introduce me as one of the four), the world of slouchy pants on males over 25 and so forth. I really shouldn’t have to apologize for this!

Wearing @zorandobric today – it’s the first time this season!! #isupportcanadianfashion #canadianfashiondesigners #canadianfashion #canadianbrands #ootd #wearcanada #canadianbrands

A post shared by Cynthia Cheng Mintz (@cynthiacmintz) on Jun 16, 2018 at 10:41am PDT

 

A typical Saturday outfit 

For young people, it’s only getting worse (I mean, take a look at this article from the Huffington Post – sensationalist, perhaps, but someone MUST believe in this).  I wore a uniform in high school which included a button down blouse that had to be worn tucked in to my skirt (pants were later implemented as an option), a tie, tights or knee socks and black oxfords.  Because so many of us didn’t tuck in our shirts, more recently, the school changed the tops to something that didn’t require tucking and was shorter.  Many other schools did the same thing – except they went from dress shirts to polo/golf shirts.  When worn with pants or kilts, it can look AWFUL.  The kids look like complete slobs and would have been given a talking to in the 90s.  I’m not the only one who has complaint.  I once volunteered with an organization where a guy said that the kids at his high school alma mater look significantly sloppier than they did when he was there.  All because of the more casual uniform.  Oh well, I guess it’s welcome to the 21st century, sadly.

So this brings me back to the original topic.  Because people are so brainwashed to wearing casual clothing (thanks to people like Mark Zuckerberg, known to wear hoodies to work), wearing anything neater than a sloppy t-shirt with jeans, muscle shirts, crop tops, etc… is considered “dressed up.”  And it is sad.  It does nothing to prepare young people for the “real world” – especially if they aspire to work in a professional, office setting.  And because they’re so exposed to looking like they’ve just rolled out of bed (or heading to the club – that is the OTHER extreme), they will be in for a shock.  And no one is preparing them for ANYTHING.  How sad.

The post Old Post from DelectablyChic!: Casualization of the Wardrobe and Apologizing for What I Wear appeared first on Cynthia C. Mintz.

I don’t really understand this.  Are people really so into the “do whatcha want, whenever ya want” philosophy?  Especially with clothing?  To each their own, I suppose.  Or maybe I’m just getting old at 38.  I have no issues with my body.  I don’t want to hide anything.  I just don’t want to look like I’m spending a day at the beach or pool – there’s a time and place for everything, and I think many young people forget that.  Or don’t care. And yes, I think it’s sad.  Or am I spending too much time on liberal fashion blogs where people, well, weren’t “raised that way,” so to speak?

Over the winter, I was looking for non-leggings pants to go with some of my tops.  I DO wear leggings (as you saw in my #nosolidblackforlent pictures on Instagram), but mostly for more barre-centric classes opposed to personal training or Pilates.  Do you know how difficult it can be if you’re looking for something that isn’t black?  There are tons of non-black choices for leggings, but pants?  Not so much.  Maybe I’m just too picky and dealing with a so-called #firstworldproblem.  Okay, I admit it.  I AM dealing with a #firstworldproblem.  But it doesn’t mean I can’t rant about it, right?

A lot of people in the fashion world just see me as a prude and probably more conservative than I should be.  Many even think I’m uncreative and the more militant might think I’m holding progress back a few decades.  However, they can think what they like.  As long as they don’t become too aggressive and bully-ish (which, unfortunately, they often are), I’m fine with it.  I just want more options.  Is that too much to ask for?  Let’s hope things will change this year!

Image credit: Mtsaride/Shutterstock

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Parts of Yorkville Village are ready for Toronto Fashion Week (this was taken last week – there’s more Fashion Week-related stuff now)

Unlike most people size diversity for me isn’t just about extending sizes (whether it be availability in stores OR models), but height as well.  Recently, I commented on an Instagram photo of a trench coat from a well-known Canadian contemporary brand.  The coat was long – about midi-length (mid-calf) on the model.  I commented on the post, asking if it was “short person friendly” and whether someone like me would likely need to get it hemmed.  I also wrote that I thought it would be nice for brands in general to show people of varying heights.  They kind of answered my question by giving me the coat’s measurements, but it really didn’t satisfy me.  It also doesn’t help that most size diversity activists dismiss my issues just because I’m currently still very tiny in terms of clothing size.  It’s to the point that I’ve pretty much given up (I used to have a blog about being short called Shorty Stories) for the most part.  It’s not like they’re going to listen, anyway.

A post shared by Cynthia Cheng Mintz (@cynthiacmintz) on Feb 5, 2018 at 11:37am PST

A mirror selfie taken before I was measured (yeah, I know, not the best pic of me)

So here we are at Toronto Fashion Week.  It starts today (Monday) and runs until Wednesday.  Yorkville Village is pretty much decked out, with some entrances blocked for pedestrians because of the shows.  There’s also a pop-up, Reset Fashion, featuring many Canadian brands (including one REALLY COOL service called Passen – it helps you find brands which best fit your body type based on your measurements) near Palm Lane.  I didn’t buy anything – there weren’t many brands featuring basics – but was measured by Passen.  I had to change into blacks to be measured, but their pieces – particularly their tops – were too big for me.  Luckily, I had a camisole, which was form fitting enough.  The leggings were a bit loose, but I was told that it didn’t really matter.  I don’t have my actual 3-D model yet – the service will officially launch in the next few months – but I’m looking forward to being able to know not only about which brands, but which styles within which brands fit me best!  And the best thing is this:  it’s a Canadian based company.  I hope these guys get a deal if they ever go on Dragon’s Den!

A post shared by Cynthia Cheng Mintz (@cynthiacmintz) on Sep 12, 2017 at 3:39pm PDT

An outfit post taken back in September.  I’m seen wearing Rachel Sin to my alma mater’s 150th Anniversary gala.

Anyway, while the shows are this week, I’m really not sure if I’m going to go to any. It partially has to do with timing and weather (mostly weather – February isn’t exactly my favourite time of the year and I often prefer to stay in one spot), but also because of my issues with certain aspects of the industry, which I really want to see changed. Basically, I’d like to see the fashion industry accept varying heights. It will just help the consumer better understand how things might fit on their body types, which includes height. Brands (especially independent designers) can take advantage of social media and perhaps post images which say something like “this is one of our favourite customers, Jen. Jen is 5’1″ and a size 12 and just bought a pair of our versatile slim fit pants for work. She’s smiling because the pants have a 28″ inseam and she won’t need to have them altered!” I mentioned the whole height thing to a designer today, and she looked at me as if I was crazy (when I mentioned to her that I have a love-hate relationship with fashion). So no, I doubt designers would even consider something like this!

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Ms. Dauxerre’s book

As you can see, modelling is far from glamorous.  In fact, it can be downright cruel.  We all know that models are often not treated very well, but how badly are they treated?  Often they had to wear shoes much too small for them – Ms. Dauxerre had to walk wearing shoes two sizes too small!  Talk about blisters!  Ms. Dauxerre also had an awful allergic reaction after wearing a designer’s clothes – to the point that she wasn’t able to audition the following day.  And keeping within the size a designer is looking for not only means dieting to the point that one is much too small for one’s height, but there are restrictions on the amount of exercise (basically zero) as well – at least according to the book.  Muscles aren’t considered feminine looking, according to the book (wait, do these designers know my maternal grandmother??!!!).  Then there are the super-early shoots, temperature issues during shoots and, of course, the lack of food.  Or decent food.  Even if models are fed (say, at a preview for media), they are often not given the same type of food as guests.  Ms. Dauxerre also talks about pay and how models are often “paid” in clothing rather than money itself.

This book definitely serves as a warning to young women (and men, too) who want to become models.  It’s not how it’s portrayed in movies and television.  And definitely not something parents should really encourage their kids as something to pursue.  Unless, of course, changes are made.  Changes such as sample sizes.  If models need to be very tall, then wouldn’t it be better to have larger sample sizes?  At 5’10”, one will appear to be just as proportionately thin in a size 8 as a petite woman (who is, say, 5’2″ or 5’3″) who wears a size 0 or 2.  And the runway “ideal” of not being muscular or athletic doesn’t “fit” the Hollywood ideal either – the “fit” look has been “in” for YEARS.  Wonder Woman was NOT the catalyst!  If designers complain about having to dress larger sized celebrities like Melissa McCarthy, then shouldn’t they also do so for smaller actresses or musicians (I find that body image activists forget this too.  I have reminded them numerous times, yet they seem to either forget or even dismiss my comments.  I guess they don’t want to hear anything from a smaller woman)?  The non-muscular look is not exactly the ideal.  And I have also never heard designers complain about having to dress shorter people.

One thing that needs to be noted is that Ms. Dauxerre was modelling some seven or eight years ago and things have improved…slightly.  For example, models in France must now present medical notes indicating they are not too thin to work.  However, we often hear that designers STILL refuse to use a broader range in sizing.  Is it really that difficult to change?  Or, if they DO prefer to use smaller sized individuals, just use shorter models.  The only reason why agencies are full of very tall, very young and very thin models is because that’s what they have on their roster – because that’s what designers are looking for.  It isn’t up to the agencies and scouts, it’s up to the designers.  And if a designer can dress the very petite Lady Gaga (5’1″ or so), they can dress Chrissy Metz from This is Us.  Oh, and please treat models better.  Feed them.  Give them a place to sit while they’re waiting.  Let them warm up if the location is too cold.  AND FOR GOODNESS SAKE, PAY THEM!!!  Like REAL MONEY.  Because complimentary clothes, shoes and bags don’t pay the rent.  They only clog up closets.

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