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Monday, August 03, 2009

The Devil Wears a Size 0















What is it with womens' clothing sizes? I watched "The Devil Wears Prada" last night, an enjoyable film that pokes fun at the fashion industry. Despite the obvious satire, I was still appalled at the main character being ridiculed for her "large" dress size. The "offending" size was 6. As far as I can tell, the Australian equivalent to a 6 is a 10 or perhaps an 8. The average size of a model in Australia is size 8-10. They are often 5' 8" to 6' however there is no way on God's Green Earth that a size 10 or a size 8 is "big". Not even a little bit. Unless perhaps you are three foot nothing.

Later on in the film the main character is applauded for her "weight" loss to a size 4. She was small at the beginning of the film. The man who applauded her weight loss was not slim, nor did he have any hair of note. Again, the film uncovers rather than celebrates this obvious double standard, but it does make me wonder when things are going to change.

This begs the question: Why is it that women are applauded for getting smaller? The sizes in the US are insane. In Australia, sizes 0 and 00 are the sizes you buy for your newborn baby. In the US, these are the sizes that women must aspire to for their adult lives. It makes no sense. Are we to be the incredible shrinking women? Will we get approval only when we resemble little girls? Or is the size 0 more sinister, indicating that women will get the ultimate approval when they disappear altogether?























6 comments:

  1. Hi, I'm River, Came here via Kath lockett's Blurb from the Burbs. I'm looking at your last image there. Aside from the horrendous thinness of the model, what the heck is that sheet of white fabric? Surely that's not a dress...

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  2. @River - I'm a big fan of Kath!! It's hard to believe this pic would sell this 'dress' / or sack as the case may be...

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  3. Hi,
    I enjoyed your post. I too think its amazing and horrendous that women still believe that they have to be malnourished to be beautiful or successful.

    I believe that women need to be more united and say no to the dictators.

    I am an artist and I make art about things such as this www.janeeporter.co.uk/painting-I.htm.

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  4. @Jane E Porter - I agree. I will check out your paintings as well...

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  5. Hello,

    Looks like visible ribs are the new fad. :) In fairness to the model, she has a pretty face. She should eat some more though. Health is wealth! :)

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Thank you for taking the time to read and comment ! :-)