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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