Vogue

Disclaimer: This entry may offend some of you, so before you read this, consider yourself warned.

Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe is the actress who received an Oscar nomination for her role as Claireece Jones in "Precious". Sidibe was also recently left out of Vanity Fair's 2010 edition of "Young Hollywood". VF's Young Hollywood is often criticized for including a specific kind of young actress, specifically those who have an "all-American" look, are beautiful, white, and skinny. This criticism can be seen in the actresses that VF decided to include in this year's "Young Hollywood" edition.

American Vogue has been under some criticism lately for some of the comments made by some editors. When asked whether or not Vogue would consider using Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe as a model on the cover of Vogue in the future. One editor had this to say: "Vogue is venue where designers debut their best new pieces. All of which are one of a kind and sample size. It would be impossible to get a regular-sized girl in those clothes, let alone Gabby".

There are many powerful people in the fashion industry who have many things to say about the obesity epidemic that North America is currently experiencing. Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of American Vogue, was quoted as saying: "There’s such an epidemic of obesity in the United States, and for some reason, everybody focuses on Anorexia. We need to spend money, time and education on teaching people to eat, exercise and take care of themselves in a healthier way".

Some people may think this a snobby, conceited, and arrogant comment, but I kind of agree with Wintour. Don't get me wrong, I do agree that it is important that one loves themselves. I also think that one needs to be as satisfied as one can get with their body type, however, I agree that North America focuses too much on eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. People often forget (or don't realize) that overeating can also be seen an eating disorder. Programs need to be created to educate people with the importance of healthy eating and exercise. This is why I really like the idea of the HEAL program in Ontario, because it looks at using a holistic approach, which includes communities, institutions, and including youth as well as adults, to health promotion. It also includes empowerment, engagement, and education. Maybe what America needs is a program that looks at educating people on healthy eating and exercise. I also think that people need to look at their audience.

Karl Lagerfeld, a German designer who heads his own line as well as the House of Chanel and the House of Fendi, has lashed out at the media for blaming the fashion industry for their negative influence on young women. In 2004, Lagerfeld designed a one-off line for Swedish retailer H & M. When the company asked him to create his pieces so that they can be made available in larger sized, he was livid. His response was "What I created was fashion for slim, slender people".

If the above comment didn't anger you, what I have to say next will probably piss you off. I am a average sized North American woman. I have body issues, I know people who have battled eating disorders, and I also come from a family with a history of Syndrome X. I won't be surprised if people think that I am a mean, cold-hearted person, but I genuinely agree with Lagerfeld. High-end fashion has always been about having a tall slender body. If you walk into a Chanel boutique, you'll notice that the clothing will only fit those with a specific body figure. If America wants to get angry with American Vogue, then so be it, but people need to realize that human beings are stubborn. How does American expect to change the mind of the most influential fashion insiders, when fashion has always been (and will probably forever be) about fantasy?

Don't get me wrong, I do not agree with all of the comments made by fashion editors regarding bigger body frames. I usually think that their view point is too narrow minded. Not everyone has the ability to eat properly. Not everyone has the time to exercise. That is why I like Wintour's comment on educating America on healthy eating and exercising. If people have the knowledge, they'll have the ability to make the right choices. Even if they have the right knowledge, but they don't care, regardless of how much medical attention/advice is given to them, they won't follow through with it.

If media wants to focus on preserving the self esteem of America, maybe they should focus on highlighting famous figures who promote healthy eating and exercise. Don't point fingers at fashion, because really, that's not what they are there for. Some people that are excellent role models for healthy eating and exercise are Kate Winslet, Michelle Obama, and Scarlett Johansson.

I would like to end off with a positive quote from Scarlett Johansson that sums up everything HEAL promotes:

"People come in all shapes and sizes and everyone has the capability to meet their maximum potential. Once filming is completed, I’ll no longer need to rehash the 50 ways to lift a dumbbell, but I’ll commit to working out at least 30 minutes a day and eating a balanced diet of fruit, vegetables and lean proteins. Pull ups, crunches, lunges, squats, jumping jacks, planks, walking, jogging and push ups are all exercises that can be performed without fancy trainers or gym memberships. I’ve realized through this process that no matter how busy my life may be, I feel better when I take a little time to focus on staying active. We can all pledge to have healthy bodies no matter how diverse our lifestyles may be.”










Resources:
http://www.hollyscoop.com/style/vogue/vogue-on-precious-star-shes-too-fat_1718.aspx#axzz0jRGlrAlt

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4785154,00.html

http://www.accesshollywood.com/_article_29064

http://justjared.buzznet.com/2009/04/13/scarlett-johansson-talks-weight-issues/