I was recently browsing the web (specifically Reddit if you must know) and I discovered an article that was talking about Dior’s recent couture show and how the model who opened the Dior catwalk was in fact a 14 year old girl (yes, younger than me)…
Now before you all start shouting at your screens, “YOU’D DO IT IF THEY ASKED!”… yes, yes I would. If Raf Simons bumped into me in a Dior store (which quite frankly would never happen as that would be a very, very rare occasion), and asked me to model for him, I would probably wobble at the knees, cry a little and happily shake his hand. I mean, who wouldn’t? I don’t think I could really afford to say no, anyway… but, whether it’s really right for somebody of my age and physique to do so, is a completely different matter that I really would like to discuss with you.
A while back, I was actually on BBC Radio 4 talking about a rather similar topic, Global Kids Fashion Week, and how I think pushing children (I’m talking… 6-9 years old) into modelling is not really a great way to spend their spare time off school. You can read the original post that attracted BBC’s attention and the listen to the interview that made my “Press” page slightly more, well, impressive 😉
But, I think this example of youth in fashion, is slightly different.
We’re always going on about how we need to change beauty standards, and change up the way that perfection is perceived. Currently, the western beauty standards (for women/young girls) are: thin and tall with a thigh gap, no wrinkles, spotless skin, hairless legs, armpits (and erm, other areas), deep cheekbones, large lips, bright and clear eyes with no bags, a big curvy backside, big boobs, white sparkling teeth and eyebrows that are “on fleek”.
To me, a lot of those “standards” spell out the word… YOUTH. When do you have no wrinkles? When you’re young. When are your legs, almost hairless? When you’re young. When are your teeth at their whitest? When you’re young. So throwing a 14 year old model down the catwalk doesn’t really change things, does it?
(I like this shot. Sofia’s hand with Anna Wintour in the background…)
I’m not saying that being a model when you’re my age is wrong (go for it!), and I’m not saying that being thin or having a thigh gap is wrong either (heck, I know all about that!) but isn’t it time we actually grasped change? Isn’t it time that we threw in some diversity into the industry rather than just adding another dollop of perfection into the mix?
The ridiculous thing about it all, is that the amount of make-up and styling that goes into shows, and campaigns, transforms young models into something that looks more mature anyway. It’s contradictive manipulation… the industry is striving for something more youthful but is targeting it for the older… but can’t use an older model because then that will show age. It really is all about creating this perfect world that we know we can’t have unless, you’re one of the very few people that are probably models anyway.
I was going to end on the note that Dior dealt with the whole “sexualisation” thing well, but then I looked at the pictures and realised that the dress that Sofia Mechetner was modelling, was in fact rather revealing (erm, sheer). This is a totally different topic and I don’t want to cause even more of a stir but I really didn’t realise until I’d finished the main bulk of this post.
In all, I think this is a really interesting discussion point, so I’d love for you to have a natter in the comments. Let me know what you think about the whole situation in general…!
(All images via Vogue.co.uk)
