Once again, I've been having lots of trouble explaining to the tall, thin fashion world about the need and importance of non-standard sizes. We all know that designers pretty much only make sample sizes a certain way, and models they use must fit into their sample sizes. That's the reason why models have to look a certain way (which I have explained in many of my videos). But do designers really have to follow the rules? What happens if they don't? And even if they do, would it be so bad if they made different sizes for different pieces? What about following the four basic shapes, so people could actually see what clothes look like on different body types?
The Four Basic Shapes are:
Petite and Skinny: Basically someone who is truely petite. Since models must be on the taller side, we will use "tall" petites to average heighted women who are slim. In other words, 5'3" to 5'5", and a size 0P or 2P.
Petite Plus: Again, 5'3" to 5'5" and size 10P to 12P (I know that they're not really plus sizes, but these women are shorter than the regular plus-sized model. At many main main street stores, regular petite sizes end at size 12 anyway)
"Standard" size: Tall and slim. Preferably not too skinny. Maybe size 4 to 6.
Plus sized models: Tall and a size 12-16.
I really doubt that the fashion industry will ever fall for this (as I have not yet received much comment from the video/e-mail/press release I sent out last week, except one from a television program saying that they'll "pass it on" to TPTB (The Powers That Be) and another organization basically asked me exactly what I was trying to do), but maybe, just maybe, someone out there will read this and actually respond positively. But we all know that the big-wigs in the industry will go on and on about how the clothes wouldn't look good, because they aren't hanging well, etc...etc... and that they'll lose money. Question, big fashion guys/gals: HAVE YOU ACTUALLY TRIED USING BIGGER OR MORE PETITE SAMPLE SIZES?HAVE YOU ACTUALLY TESTED DIFFERENT SIZED MODELS WITH A SAMPLE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC? IF SO, HOW DID THEY REACT? We aren't talking about putting a short girl in regular sized clothes nor are we talking a very plus woman on the runway (like the girl who was in the Gaultier show last year). That would look odd (although as a petite person, I would mind seeing a petite girl in regular sizes. I'd want to show the world why we look bad and why we DO need petite sizes out there! Someone needs to point things out....but anyway...) We all know that petite celebs are often used in ads, and we know that the clothes are altered to fit their body shapes, which is why they always look so good. That's why I'm suggesting that designers start making different sample sizes, so the clothes COULD fit non-standard sized models. But of course, the fashion industry will just think it's a waste of time. How sad that is.
