Burda Style For people who sew

This is awesome and truly surprised me. Have a look, I think it is fantastic. Seeing a real woman in the pages of a fashion magazine, not some anorexic stick.

http://ca.lifestyle.yahoo.com/family-relationships/blog/lifestylists/3147/the-woman-on-page-194

Aug 25, 2009, 07.47 PM by Laurie1962

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13 Posts

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  Aug 31, 2009, 03.31 AMby Judeb

  It’s about time the message got through to the media that we are very happy to see “real women” in magazines, we are not all tiny and a good selection of sizes portrayed in magazines can only be a good thing A pat on the back for them and thankyou for sharing .
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  Aug 31, 2009, 11.44 AMby Ichigogirl

  I agree that it’s great if there are women all sizes in the fashion magazines.
  But please, watch your language. Thin women are real women too.
  It’s actually quite offensive to be called “not a real woman” just because you’re thin and don’t have big boobs.
  I was born thin, in a family of thin women. I’m no fatter than the models you call “anorexic sticks”. That’s just the way I am, and many more women with me.
  I like the way I am and I’m proud of the way I look (but I’m by no means perfect, and there are naturally things I’d change if I could, like all women). But I’d never DREAM of calling bigger women "flabby or “fat”. I’d expect the same respect from bigger women towards thin women.
  There are self-concious women of all sizes, don’t forget that, and it’s hard for petit women too to find clothes in the stores that fit.
  So some mutual respect would be nice.

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    Aug 31, 2009, 01.17 PMby Laurie1962

    IchiGoGirl..I was refering to fashion magazines and the fashion industry in general. Yay for you .. that you resemble all the images that are out there and apparantly do not have to work for it.

    Unfortunately the majority of girls who have this figure type do have to work very hard to maintain the perfect manquine form. Alot are dealing with an eating disorder..or it is simply the fact that they are between the ages of 12 and 17. Ah to be 17 again. Unrealistic on my part since I am now 46. No amount of diet or eeek surgery will bring me back to 17 again.

    I know a young woman who was very proud of the fact that she maintained a size 00 while pregnant. She did not gain an ounce in fact she lost and was very pleased with herself. Now this is what I find disturbing. It didn’t matter that her child was very ill due to her drastic dieting.

    There is an average sized woman, at least in North America, (I forget the % but it is quite high). She is 5’4, weighs 145 lbs and wears a size 16. There is a size of pattern just for her..it’s called womens sizes (usually a W after a number). The size you wear would be considered juniors petites, non. I believe we have had this discussion in an earlier post..re: size charts.

    I do not think I was disrespecting anyone, in particular you. So before you continue jumping all over me with veiled insults (flabby or fat). I will remind you that I was referring to the fashion industry, for having such ridiculous standards set out. So If you have found this post offensive..might I suggest growing a thicker skin or maybe actually reading the article that accompanied the photo that I linked to.

    I’m a full grown woman. I am completely comfortable in my own skin, and do not hold myself up the standards as set forth by the fashion industry. I could never try to dress like a 12-16 yr old who weighs 90-100 lbs. I am like you, a woman who sews her own clothes due to fitting issues with ready made garments. I would prefer that the fashion industry represent a wider variety of woman. As we do all come in different shapes and sizes.

    But, let’s be realistic if we continue to allow it, it will continue to happen. We are the consumer of this product so let it be know what we want. Let’s put more “everyday women” in the fashion magazines. Large, small, brick shaped, pear shaped, tall, slim, dark, light, big breasts, little breasts or no breasts at all. But let’s not kill ourselves to maintain a certain body type. Viva la difference.

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  Aug 31, 2009, 02.12 PMby Ichigogirl

  I think you misunderstood me a bit.
  If you are skinny and unhappy about it (like I said; women all sizes have issues, I think it’s human to be self-critical), which I’m not, I’m 36 and I’ve grown into my skin by now, it’s just as offensive to be called “anorectic stick” as it is to be called fat or flabby. I didn’t call big women fat, like I said, I never would. I think women of all sizes are beautiful, and I too salute the difference.
  Most thin women don’t dream of critizing bigger women because of their size or calling them names, but we’re expected to think it’s normal and not offensive to be called “not real women” or “anorectic”?
  All I ask is that we don’t rule out certain body types, neither the fuller nor the less full figure.
  I don’t really care if it’s normal to be big in the USA , it’s still not OK to call thin women names.
  And like I said, I agree with you, I think it’s wonderful if the magazines show women of all different sizes (there was a beautiful photoshoot in French Elle this summer with a curvy model).
  But I don’t think that the way towards accepting curvy women as the beauties they are has to include condemning women with less curves, or to rule them out as unwomanly.
  But yey, the model in the article is beautiful, and she is a real woman, just like for example Natalia Vodianova is (she’s a mother of three…).
  Yes, viva la difference!

  1 Reply

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    Aug 31, 2009, 02.43 PMby Laurie1962

    I know that I wasn’t attacking an idividual by posting what I did. I was making a statement against the fashion industry for perpetuating a very unhealthy standard. You read a very general statement and took it personally. When that was not my intention. I actually toned down the phrase that I used quite a bit, for this website. As for acceptance and tolerance, as a humanist, I don’t want to have to only tolerate someone who may be different than myself or the “norm”. Acceptance also implies a half-hearted attempt.

    “Just as a mother would protect with her life her own son, her only son, so one should cultivate an unbounded mind towards all beings, and loving-kindness towards all the world. One should cultivate an unbounded mind, above and below and across, without obstruction, without enmity, without rivalry”.

    -Sutta Nipata

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  Aug 31, 2009, 04.41 PMby wzrdreams

  Being called an “anorexic stick” doesn’t help the self esteem of young women any more than being called “fat” does.
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  Aug 31, 2009, 04.55 PMby Laurie1962

  I was referring to the images in the pages of the fashion magazines. Deny it if you will, but the young women who appear in these magazines are between the ages of 12-17 (and 17 is old). So yes, they are chosen BECAUSE they are skinny AND it is NOT the norm. I find it laughable that I am being attacked for calling a spade a spade. And the skinny model types are the ones pissed at me. How ironic.

  2 Replies

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    Aug 31, 2009, 06.04 PMby wzrdreams

    As a size 10 / 12, I’m hardly a skinny model type.
    I agree, it is strange to see teenagers dressed in sophisicated clothing meant for women ten years older, and I loved seeing the picture in Glamour of a beautiful woman with some curves. However, this is a conversation you started and there are different sides of the body image debate. The point that you were trying to make was lost by your word choice, which I agree can be read as offensive.

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    Aug 31, 2009, 09.50 PMby Ichigogirl

    Eeeh.. are you really calling thin women spades and who here really is the skinny model type (not me, for sure)..?
    I only wanted to open the eyes of those who think it’s ok to call women of a certin body type – that is their very own normal body type – anorectic, or not real women, or (as I’ve seen elsewhere) ugly or unhealthy, and to the fact that the way you look is just as sensitive an issue (and very personal) no matter if you’re big or small, and if we really want a society that is open to different body types it’s just as bad to condemn the skinny ones as it is the full-figured ones.
    I do however totally agree that it’s weird that children should show womens clothing. But many of the supermodels of today are over 20, around 25, and some are around 30.
    It’s great that more models now are older (Lauren Hutton for example) and bigger than they used to be, and that many of the models have more personal looks than they used to.
    I am not attacking you, I simply wanted to inform you (since you seem oblivious to it) that you hurt people by using the words you do, I’m sorry if I offended you by it when you only wanted to point out a good thing.
    I guess I’m sick that it’s considered politically correct to critizise thin people and to use insulting terms when doing it, when it’s totally forbidden to even mention big people’s bodies or size. Not that I’d want to, their size is none of my business, it’s everyones free choice how to live their lives.
    And I’m not pissed at you (really!), I just don’t like the things you call other people who look different to “the norm”.

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  Aug 31, 2009, 07.28 PMby zora

  I really hate this “real women” expression. I don’t care about whether you wanted to attack the fashion industry or not, I think it’s discriminating and unfair against slim “real” women as well as slim models.
  I can understand your wish to see different sized models but this is no reason to offend someone.
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  Aug 31, 2009, 07.45 PMby Laurie1962

  Agreed all are offended .. LOL!! At this point all I can say is Blah, blah and blah. Because obviously if you are offended you did not read a word that I wrote nor that was contained in the article that was linked to. You just jumped on a sentence and took off running. So before any further offensive remarks are bandied about, actually take the time to read what was written.

  2 Replies

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    Sep 1, 2009, 06.44 AMby zora

    At this point I think it’s obvious that you don’t even try to understand why people are offended. I read the article you linked to and I still think that the words you chose are offensive to models as well as any “real” slim women.

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    Sep 1, 2009, 07.34 PMby littlepinkbutton

    The very thing you have accused us of doing (not listening-or in this case reading, attacking you…) you are doing yourself. What you fail to realize is that once you generalize or present yourself in a combative way, you lose people. It’s like yelling. People stop listening when one yells.

    I get what you were originally trying to say, you just presented it in a way that caused you to lose credibility instantly. Ending it with the anorexic comment voided your intentions, no matter how good they were. Even I was put off.

    No one is insecure, some of us were just affected by your remark because it was something that we have encountered throughout our lives. Naturally, to hear it from an adult women, we are taken aback and annoyed even. I expect this sort of generalization from a teen, not what I assume is a mature woman.

    A simple consideration for how you word things (in the original and subsequent posts), would have save a tremendous amount of time and hurt feelings.

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  Aug 31, 2009, 10.26 PMby nehmah

  Real: existing; not imaginary; physical Woman: a human of the feminine sex. I exist, take up space. breathe air, consume nourishment. So do all of you, even if some of you are men: a human of the masculine sex. I won’t worry about your shape, don’t comment on mine. Here endeth the lesson. Cordially, Nehmah
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  Sep 1, 2009, 12.06 AMby MayaDoughterOfSun

  I think that ‘anorexic stick’ does not apply to thin women, but to starving models who are also victims of cruel fashion machinery, or better to say: it applies to ‘the rule (imaginary) model’ which we should follow to look desirable or feel good. Women are all real, no doubt, but something is wrong with the ‘image of perfection’.
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  Sep 1, 2009, 06.28 PMby littlepinkbutton

  oh my.

  Yes, I too terribly am tired of the phrase “real women” when referring to weight and body sizes. Even Oprah tosses the term around and I really don’t care for it. I am a petite 5’1" 119 lb. woman. I have spent my entire life on the smaller side of the spectrum. It is just the way I am, end of.

  I have been criticized and made fun of for supposedly never knowing what it is like to struggle with one’s body (be it weight, shape…). The term anorexic has been tossed at me more than once, though anyone that sees me and realizes that I was always in a healthy weight range would never be so ignorant to generalize like that. Anorexia is a serious issue that should not be generalized. In my experience, the term anorexic was used to describe basically anyone that was even remotely thin.

  I found myself constantly having to defend myself against others and it almost seemed as if I had to apologize for being as small as I am. When I worked in a clothing store several years ago, a coworker held up a bra that happened to be my size at the time. She exclaimed “34A! That does not even cover my nipple!” and proceeded to toss the bra at me in front of my peers. Yes, I am small, but that remark did nothing to raise my self esteem. Only momentarily did it upset me, but I rose above it. Instead of snapping back with an equally degrading remark about her ample bosom, I didn’t. It would make me as bad as her. I simply told her that they make the smaller size because there are people in this world that need it. The same way they make tall, plus, petite…

  In my experience (and unfortunately because of what society has drilled into our heads as perfection), we all strive for a body-type that few come by naturally. This is beyond a certain weight! This is why we diet and go under the knife. This is why we straighten our curly hair, or perm our straight hair. This is why we cannot go outside our homes without full make-up.

  A larger girl may look into the mirror and wish she could fit into a certain pair of jeans and not feel self-conscious. She may avoid dresses at all costs because she hates her legs. Has anyone ever thought about how a smaller girl may feel from time to time? On some occasions in my youth, I wished I could fill out a halter top without looking like a adolescent boy. I wished I could buy a swim-suit that did not have so much padding in the cups. Or I just wished I could fill out a dress from top to bottom to look like the women on tv. Yes, when you are small, you have issues too!

  Luckily, my insecurities did not last long. My mother guided all of the girls (3 of us) in my family. The word “diet” did not exist. We 3 girls are all very different in size and shape. I was always small and petite, my other sister was very average overall. My eldest was on the heavier side. There were absolutely no similarities in our body shapes. My mother taught us how to make the most of what we had, how to dress to compliment our shapes and to hold our head high. The availabilty of Fashion magazines were limited in our home and were purely for entertainment purposes. These were not to be used as a instruction manual for life.

  I believe that the term"real women" should be used to describe those that are comfortable in their own skin, period. No matter if you are a 120lbs or 220lbs. It should be used to describe the woman who embraces her freckles and does not cover them up. It should be used to describe the African girl that is proud of her kinky hair and does not chemically relax to appear more Western. It should be used to describe the woman that looks radiant in her greying hair and laugh-lines.

  I am very proud of my body and would not change a thing. I love the smallness of my bust. I love my small wrists and feet. I no longer wish to have a larger bust, curvier hips or longer legs. I am happy being in a small package. My mothers lessons did not go to waste.

  The point that I believe you were trying to make was lost when you chose to generalize. Your subsequent comments only worked to damage your case further. Of course, the “skinny model types”-as you put it, would have significant commentary. Your comment hit them a bit closer to home as it did me. This is the very thing I had to put up with for the better part of my adolescence. My sister (the anti-model type) was next to me and I had her read your post. She too was put off.

  REAL WOMEN love themselves.
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  Sep 1, 2009, 06.58 PMby Laurie1962

  My original link was meant to inspire us to all be happy with what we have. Apparently there are a number of insecure members (and touchy) on this site. I used a phrase that was considered by some to be offensive. Although it was never directed at anyone in particular only used to descirbe what I see in fashion magazines. I was subsuquently verbally assaulted for being offensive (how’s that for irony). And attempted to defend myself which unfortunately just dug my a** deeper. So this is the last time I will post on the this subject. Have fun trashing me "ladies ". ; ^ )
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  Sep 4, 2009, 03.25 PMby Ichigogirl

  I’ve been thinking about this discussion and Laurie1962’s reaction for a few days now.
  I’m not sure, but I think that it may be that we simply have different eyes when we look at how big or thin the models are. I think it depends on what society you live in and what people around you look like.
  In my eyes, the models in the fashion magazines do not look anorectic. To me, most of them look very healthy (but I’m well aware that the pressures of the modelling world can be tremendous, and cause eating disorders, and that many women can not be as thin as most models are without forcing themselves).
  I do not believe that the majority of thin women have an eating disorder. In fact, I think eating disorders are just as common (or even more common) among overweight people as they are among thin people. I have friends from both categories (though the vast majority have no eating disorder at all, thankfully!).
  In the USA today 80% of the adult population is overweight or obese (see http://www.annecollins.com/obesity/statistics-obesity.htm or http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html).
  If you live in a society where the majority of adults are overweight you WILL begin to see them differently. You will begin to think that it’s normal to be big and abnormal to be thin, and to think that being thin makes you look like a child.
  So althought I found it impossible to understand Laurie’s choice of words and reaction at first, I think I can understand it, at least a little.
  And I do not by any means want to trash anyone.
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  Sep 5, 2009, 04.05 PMby Leeloe

  I think that bouth sides are right.. i can understand what Laurie1962 wants to say – that fashon industry is looking for ‘skiny’ girls an one that are not that ‘body type’ becomes anorexic, which fashon industry consider to be right as long girls are size 00. and when after seeing nothing but that ‘skiny’ girls in magazines, one with biger (average) proportions shows up people become more critical.
  I can understand why IchiGoGirl is offended ..I have friend who is model and she is very healthy even though shes ‘skiny’ and she was telling me what fashon industry is doing to those girls and forsing them not to gain some wait. And I grow up with her so I know how people can be mean when your look is in question. I really dont think that Laurie1962 wanted to offend enbody, this was all just a diffrent point of view from difrent sides :) .. It’s true that lately all we can hear are critics pointed to the anorexic girls, and when someone is naturaly ‘skiny’ they are put in the same box with those anorexic girls.. and I agree that’s unfair ..