Friday Faux Pas: How Thin is Too Thin?

First of all, let me get this out of the way…I love Revolve Clothing. I love their product selection, their sales (Hello, D&G shoes for under $200!), their easy layout, and the fact that they ship to Canada (sometimes even for free). But something really bothered me a while ago, when I was browsing their site for the nth time. It wasn’t the fact that I missed out on that lovely Alexander Wang bag on sale, no, what bothered me was this bobblehead girl, with limbs as thin as my favorite egg tagliatelle from Buca. It was extremely unsettling seeing someone so unhealthy-looking, modeling clothes, while looking like a human hanger. Upon further prodding, I realized that said girl was featured in many other photos, looking slightly less scary when covered up, but shockingly thin in tank-tops and other revealing outfits.

What’s more, I realized that this sad-looking girl was also the same model who got picked on for being too skinny by the People’s Revolution maven Kelly “Don’t You Dare Effing Cry Inside” Cutrone during the one episode of The City that I ended up watching. I’m guessing that Kelly’s concern went unnoticed, seeing how this girl is still shockingly thin. But what’s more shocking than that, is the fact that she’s still somehow getting work.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not out to bully this particular model, or vilify the collective skinny, but my question is…how thin is too thin? Shouldn’t retailers realize by now that they aren’t promoting a healthy image, when booking models this skinny. And though some might argue that clothes look better on rail-thin girls, whose main job is to sell a product…In my opinion, models should look good in their outfits…and that would make me want to buy the clothes much more. It’s always a model in a size small or extra-small in the garment photo on every site, wouldn’t it be amazing if they had a medium, or…gasp…a size large model demonstrating how a particular item fits?

I guess, after a year, during which diversity was so widely celebrated, skinny is still the golden standard. And after getting so used to seeing the already thin girls at each and every online shopping site, I’m worried that eventually we’ll get used to seeing this as well. If we aren’t already. I’d love to hear your opinions on this. Take the poll below or leave a comment.

Should Online Retailers Avoid Booking Too-Thin Models?

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Photo Credits: Revolve Clothing

Kelly Cutrone Cries in Toronto

Kelly Cutrone, the woman-powerhouse behind People’s Revolution made a quick visit to Toronto earlier this week as part of the promotional tour for her book “If You Have To Cry, Go Outside”. Having seen her on TV, whipping vapid LA-NYC girls into submission, as well as famously asking maybe-anorexic girl if she’s ok (“cuz you’re so skinny!”), I came to the Indigo In Person interview with my mind made up. Especially, after the tough-love PR maven opened a can of whoop-ass on local Toronto bloggers of She Does The City, after they called her a “wicked witch of fashion PR”. Ouch.

Well, it all changed after the interview. Though I went in hoping that Cutrone would make me cry (it’d make for a kick-ass story), Cutrone  was the one tearing up (real human tears). After the warm intro by the fabulous Jeanne Beker, Cutrone showed humility, by admitting that Beker is a far bigger star than she is, and that she was honored that the Fashion Television host was there to interview her. The interview itself was quite insightful, showing a real woman, behind the feared TV personality. I especially loved her talking about motherhood, and how she believes that being a woman and being a mother are two completely different things, and that she tells her daughter Ava, that a mother is “a slave who loves her”. By the end of the session, I felt like I could learn a thing or two from her, instead of thinking that everyone that works at People’s Revolution is seriously into S&M. She seemed humble, and sincere in her answers, and…likable! Yeah, I know – shocker. And most of all – human, not a reality TV robot.

And though I didn’t have the patience to wait in line to meet Kelly, instead I got to meet Jeanne Beker herself! Super bonus! First Miss J. Alexander, and now Jeanne Beker. Spring starts off with a fashionable bang! I am so excited about what else is to come! Bring it on!

Aaahhhh! I met Jeanne Beker! Amazingly nice, even to the fangirling masses! Worship Canadian fashion’s godmother!