Thin fashion models are going out of fashion, but Russian curvaceous beauties cannot replace them yet
This study became another argument for supporters of revising modern standards of female beauty. At the end of the last century, emaciated figures set the tone in the modeling business, from whose appearance it was difficult to tell whether it was a girl or a pale youth. However, the increasing cases of death of models from exhaustion forced fashion designers to admit: a good person should be ample.
In Spain, Italy and Brazil, a ban has already been introduced on the participation of models whose weight does not reach 50 kilograms. In Russia, such measures have not yet been adopted, but experts say it is only a matter of time.
For three years, American psychologists studied 345 thousand samples of British, American, Indian and Chinese literature to understand what attracted poets and writers at all times. The objects of admiration turned out to be a thin waist and, accordingly, wide hips. The results of the study became another basis for a radical breakdown of modern ideas about female beauty. Thin and tall models with narrow hips and flat chests are gradually leaving both fashion runways and men's hearts.
Owners of curvaceous figures now have the opportunity to get back at the skinny ones for years of humiliation. Skinny models, under threat of dismissal, consume high-calorie food. Collections of leading fashion houses now include women's plus-size clothing – Moscow is no exception. The sad statistics, according to which several models have died from exhaustion in the past few months, marked the end of the 'hanger' era that had lasted for decades. At the end of the 20th century, beauties with boyish figures became the fashion standard: thin, flat, tall. The fact is that the concept of beauty is directly related to social status. In the Middle Ages, plump ladies were considered beautiful. Fullness was associated with wealth and high social standing. Only rich women could afford to eat well and be idle.
Now the situation has changed. Buns and hamburgers are much cheaper than organic vegetables and whole-grain bread. Visiting gyms and getting massages also require money and time. Thus, a slim figure has become a sign of high status. Another explanation for the popularity of models' thinness is the feminization of society. Women wanted to be equal to men in everything, including appearance. In clothing, this manifests in the unisex style, and in the modeling business, in the appearance of models with flat, boyish figures.
The reason for the change in priorities is that society is tired of artificially imposed ideals of beauty. Thinness began to mean not careful self-care, but poor health. Globalization also played a positive role in changing ideas about beauty. Moreover, from the point of view of sexology, tall and thin people often have problems in the sexual sphere. It is no coincidence that all the gods of intimate life throughout human history were depicted as short and stocky.
Despite global practice, no radical changes are yet taking place in the domestic modeling business. Employees of modeling agencies are convinced: the trend towards more curvaceous forms will not affect Russian fashion shows for a long time. The main role is played by the strict framework of the model profession. 'To work in the modeling business, a girl does not have to be a beauty; she must embody a certain image demanded by advertisers,' said Vladislav Metreveli, president of one modeling agency. 'For example, a model's popularity does not depend on her waist size, but the size of her hips plays a huge role.'
Russian fashion industry workers are convinced: the slimmer the model, the better. Designers prefer tall and thin girls with the same parameters, rather for purely practical purposes - it is more convenient to display clothes on them. Conversely, models with curvaceous figures distract the audience's attention from the product itself. 'Personally, I believe that a model should be a little thicker than a hanger,' said designer Natalia Drigant. 'It is aesthetically pleasing and practically convenient, clothes look more beautiful and elegant on them. In the future, modeling standards are unlikely to change, and Rubenesque women will definitely never be on the runway.'
However, market analysts believe that the appearance of plump models on domestic runways is only a matter of time. On the one hand, the fashion industry must obey global laws. And the trends are such: a healthy, strong, harmoniously developed body is in fashion. Moreover, in the Russian consciousness, 'women with curves' have always been valued more than skinny ladies.