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Body Positivity in Fashion

Somewhere along the way in the wild world of fashion, it was decided that it would be most appealing and beneficial for companies to use an unattainably skinny, long-legged, and flawlessly retouched woman to display their clothing. Airbrushing and photoshopping women’s bodies, and telling women they need to “drop two sizes,” are common practices that have an unfortunate history in fashion. How the fashion industry could stray so far from reality, and make millions of women feel that their bodies are somehow inferior, is completely beyond me.

Over the past few years, it seems that there has been a huge gesture by many fashion companies, media outlets, and celebrities towards body positivity. Thanks to these efforts, men and women’s body dissatisfaction has declined in the years following 1990 (report by the American Psychological Association). However, the fashion industry has a long way to go, and there is still confusion surrounding what body positivity truly means. Body positivity is not only about accepting larger body types; it is about accepting a body that is skinny, muscular, curvy, larger, taller or shorter, or a body with stretch marks and wrinkles, among other things. Body positivity also means celebrating all of these bodies regardless of race, age, background, or sexual orientation.

Increasingly, popular celebrities and fashion companies have shaken up the fashion industry in an effort to continue the body positive movement.

1. The All-Women Project:

A campaign co-created by Charli Howard, a model who was criticized by her modeling agency for her body size (a US 2/4). *massive eye roll*

“Rather than Photoshopping our bodies and our ‘flaws’, we’ve chosen to highlight and embrace them,” Howard said about the images in the campaign. “We may be models, but we all have cellulite, stretch marks and other flaws that make us women, but which society teaches us to be ashamed of. This

campaign is designed to unify women around the globe.”

2. Christian Siriano Casts Five Plus-Sized Models in New York Fashion Week 2017:

In the words of Christian, "We are living in a new world where traditional fashion rules no longer apply. This is great; the concept of "rules" in fashion has always sounded to me like an oxymoron. There are still designers who balk at the idea of dressing a larger woman, or a woman from a background deemed unworthy. These are designers for whom restrictions have been placed upon themselves, by themselves, and to me, restrictions are the antithesis of art. All people are beautiful. There is no correct size, shape, color, or age. As a creator of fashion, I celebrate the body that wears my work."

Christian states that traditional fashion rules no longer apply in today's industry, and that rules and restrictions are the exact opposite of art, and should not exist in fashion. He believes that there is no one correct body type, and that all people are beautiful. The world that we live in today, and the realm that fashion exists in, are at odds when it comes to acceptance and progress with body positivity. The fashion industry needs to work harder to catch up to the idea that all bodies should be celebrated. By creating fashion that fits all body types, and hiring models of all sizes, ages, orientations, and backgrounds, fashion brands can help to make all people feel more comfortable in their skin.

3. Jasmine Tookes' Unretouched Fantasy Bra Photos:

Chosen by Victoria's Secret to be the third black woman to model the Fantasy Bra, Jasmine's photos were released unretouched, meaning stretch marks and all were on display. I find this image especially powerful because Victoria's Secret is choosing to display a naturally skinny woman, but a woman who still has stretch marks. We don't often see body positivity displayed with a skinny woman, because when most people think body positivity, they think plus sized. However, naturally skinny women deserve to be celebrated just as much as plus sized women.

A quote from fashion designer Mallorie Dunn: "To me, body positivity means accepting the body you have as well as the changes in shape, size, and ability it may undergo due to nature, age, or your own personal choices throughout your lifetime. It's the understanding that your worth and what's going on with you physically are two separate entities — that no matter what's happening inside, outside, or to your body, you're still just as worthwhile as the person next to you."

Mallorie explains her definition of body positivity, which I feel is a very accurate and inclusive definition. She says it is important to accept your body regardless of "changes in shape, size, and ability it may undergo due to nature, age, or personal choices." She says that your worth is more than the physical make of your body. In a world of constant comparison and a time in which body image issues are very common, it is important to remember that the worth of a person goes much deeper than physical appearance. The fashion industry is often in the limelight, giving it a unique opportunity to make a difference in the way women feel about themselves. It is important now more than ever for companies to celebrate all body types, in order to foster body positivity, self-worth, and overall wellness for all women.

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