THE INFLUENCE OF FASHION!

Hello Everybody!!!

These past few months I started noticing more than ever how big the influence is of the Fashion Industry in our everyday life. Every single advertisement, commercial or image of the different brands out there, showing "perfect" skinny models, with perfect hair, skin, body.... just sets an unreal example to the buyers. Yes, those models and celebrities may be very beautiful, but when showing them to the world, the media tends to enhance their best features, make them skinnier, with better hair, better skin, even better eyelashes, and all of this sets an stereotype that in fact, is not real.

I started wondering what the people on the other side of the Fashion Industry, like models and fashion designers think about this issue, so I decided to ask.

Because of my curiosity I got the amazing opportunity of interviewing the renowned fashion designer Zang Toi, the first plus-sized model to win Americas Next Top Model, Whitney Thompson, and the founder and designer of the clothing line "Love Is Apparel", Natalie Ogletree. 

I thought it would be cool to show you what these people think; they all have different thoughts and ideas, so HERE YOU GO!

What does Fashion mean to you?

Z: The ability to make women feel and look beautiful & glamorous.

W: It's an art. Fashion is simply the expression of oneself through clothing and accessories.

N: Fashion to me means taking an outfit or item of clothing and making it your own, making it fit your specific style and look. Fashion is something so incredible because it is different for everyone and no matter who you are you can show uniqueness and originality through fashion and use it to showcase you and your personality or even just how you’re feeling that day.

Do you think the body type matters when it comes to fashion and style?

Z: No. I dress ladies of all sizes. The most important is to be confident in what you wear.

W: I think that dressing for your body type is important, but that doesn't mean that a size zero has more natural fashion sense than a size sixteen.

N: I think that different body types tend to pull off styles and trends differently of course, but if you’re clever and creative then I think anyone can pull off anything!

How do you feel about the tendencies and stereotypes the Fashion Industry states with the models and the sizes they present?

Z: It has been a “norm” in the business to use models of Size 0. However, it is getting better as you see more diversified models on runway shown in New York, Paris and Milan.

W: I hate that plus begins at a size 6 in the fashion industry when the average woman is a size 14. It's not realistic and it makes men and women feel bad about themselves.

N: In my opinion, size shouldn’t be something that is scrutinized. We shouldn’t make someone feel lesser because they don’t look a certain way. We’re all beautiful and interesting in different ways. Stereotypes sometimes put a negative blanket over differences that should be celebrated, like beauty and creativity. If someone is 400 pounds but has swag, put them on the runway, who cares?!

What do you think of previous Fashion Icons like Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor?

Z: They are the epitome of timeless beauty.

W: I wish we had more women like them in today's industry. Back then, curves were sexy. Now, we want emaciated figured with breast implants. I don't buy that. I don't let the industry define my personal definition of beauty.

N:I think that they are two of the most beautiful and iconic figures of all time! Marilyn totally worked what she had and Elizabeth’s timeless, classic style is still being recognized today and I think that’s incredible.

What do you think about current Fashion Icons, like the Delevinge sisters?

Z: They are quirky and cool.

W: "Icon" is thrown around too much. In the fashion world, you're in today and out tomorrow. The average model retires before the age of 23. I would just like to see some more variety in fashion models.

N: I ADORE CARA DELEVINGNE. I mean maaajor girl crush status. Those eyebrows! I can’t. Cara and Poppy are basically the definition of cool because they’re not only gorgeous, they’re funny and silly and actually let their personalities show through unlike some of the more cookie-cutter, good-PR-driven models that are out there. Like, Cara models for Burberry and Vogue and hangs out with Karl Lagerfeld at Fashion Week but then on the weekends she’s at a club in London with Rihanna wearing Dimepiece LA... Like, how cool can you be, seriously?! Cara’s personality on top of her amazing urban chic style (and eyebrows…) makes her my favorite fashion icon and model.

Do you think that women with overweight should feel discouraged into being fashionable and stylish?

Z: Not at all. Just be yourself and not follow fashion trend blindly.

W: Absolutely not. Women and men of all sizes should celebrate their size and feel sexy. The NY Times just published an article that naturally thin people that don't work out are actually less healthy than people that are a little obese. We're all unique and I think that we should celebrate that.

N: Absolutely not!! I think that it’s silly to judge someone by how big their thigh gap is or if they have love handles or not. We’re all different and that’s what makes people so interesting! Like, why would we all want to look the same? How boring would that be? I am an advocate for weirdness and uniqueness and I think that fashion ambassadors, of all people, should welcome that, too.

Why is your opinion on the way Fashion and Eating Disorders are linked?

Z: Because people feel pressured to look like the models in the ads, which is often misleading and display a false image.

W: Designers send people the wrong message and makes all of us feel bad about ourselves by using underage models and airbrushing them into oblivion. Many people have a genetic disposition to having an eating disorder and it's sad that the industry does nothing to help that.

N: I don’t think that thin models and pictures in magazine are the cause of eating disorders, but they can definitely be triggers. We see models and celebrities in the magazines and think, “Man, I wish I could look like that,” and I’m definitely guilty of this myself, but I have to just keep telling myself that I’m the way God made me and if I wanna lose a few pounds then I should eat better and work out more! I think that if we say we love fashion so much then we should want to celebrate people of all sizes, ages, races, and genders being passionate about fashion, too, because it’s something that brings us all together!

What do you think the Fashion Industry should change in order to help the female population to feel better about themselves, no matter what size they are?

Z: I think advertising campaigns are the most effective and visible to get the message across. By featuring plus size models or “real” people in ads.

W: We need to see diversity. When we go shopping, I want to see people that look like me. You want to see people that look like you. There should be different races, ages, heights, sizes, etc.

N: Keep putting people of all shapes and sizes in the spotlight because we’re all awesome and we should all be celebrated! :)

As I said before, they all have very different points of view, but they are all valid nonetheless, and at one point they agree that the size doesn't matter when it comes to Fashion. Embrace who you are, your size, your skin, your hair, EMBRACE AND LOVE YOURSELF.

Big LOVE and lots of BLESSINGS!!.xx