Fashion's Influence on Society

Is there a point where someone can be too thin? Today there is no such thing as that. The fashion industry represents the super thin look and it is part of the requirement to be a model, however there are many types of modeling agencies in America, and every agency includes one or more types of modeling. The goals of models in America leave unhealthy images imprinted in the minds of children in today's society. It is much more than a job, it is a way of life which consists of nothing but working harder each day to reach their goal or goals. Models and the rest of society are being harmed by the emphasis on being thin and it needs to stop. Psychologists and eating-disorder experts say that the fashion industry has gone too far in pushing a dangerously thin image that women, and even very young girls, may try to follow.

There's no question younger girls are getting the message that thin is beautiful. Today's super thin models are setting impossible standards for young girls to obtain (USA Today np). Studies have been done of grade-school girls, and even in grade one, girls think the culture is telling them that they should model themselves after celebrities who are slim, beautiful, and sexy (Hellmich np). This concern is often as extreme as feelings of guilt, shame, and complete distortion of body image. Destructive and negative feelings about one's body can lead to eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. Some characteristics of one who suffers from anorexia include: losing a

significant amount of weight, fearing weight gain, continuing to diet although thin, feeling overweight even after significant weight loss, losing monthly menstruation, preferring to diet in isolation, binging and purging and preoccupation with food, calories and nutrition. Despite this destructive trend, fashion magazines believe that putting a thin, pretty model on the cover will sell more copies (USA Today np). Influential designers have publicly stated pros and cons to the argument of how thin is too thin. For example, Diane Von Furstenberg, inventor of the well known wrap dress, was quoted saying, "As the president of the council of Fashion Designers of America, I represent the designers. And while we can by no means take the blame for eating disorders, we can play our part in addressing this important issue" (np). So by this quote, she is stating that the fashion industry should not be held completely at fault for the eating disorder epidemic. On the other side of this argument, an article that appeared in USA Today in September 2006, was quoted saying "Anorexia chic. Heroin chic. Call it what you will, but for decades the image of feminine perfection displayed in women's magazines, cosmetic ads, movies, and on the fashion catwalks has been thin, thin, and thin" (USA Today np). This quote seems to direct one hundred percent of the blame towards the fashion industry and designers. This debate could go on and on for years, but unfortunately it leaves the bad eating disorders caught in the middle.

From fashion to fitness modeling there are certain requirements that a model must have. The requirements may seem ordinary in some cases but in others it is an unnatural requirement that must be met before a designer will sign an individual. Opposing to belief the models of each and every modeling department has changed over time; the designers now want even thinner models. The super thin look is most wanted for supermodels, bikini models, and fashion models. However, in each category of modeling there are certain weight, height, and of course the look requirements. Modeling is everywhere, billboards, commercials and television; it is also on the internet. Having models appear in many different places has helped the modeling agencies to form an even bigger industry. Even, though the modeling requirements have changed, there is little to nothing being done about the situation. The ways models become thin are unnatural. The models are not to blame for being skinny because they are told to lose the weight from their designers for the sake of their jobs (Cockburn np). Examples that models have confessed to are very unhealthy habits to stay super slim (Times- Colonist np). Some details of unhealthy practices are very alarming (Times- Colonist np). Although people are aware of these confessions from models, these troubles are still occurring in the fashion industry.

Even as more and more people are becoming aware of the problems that