Until recently I did not know that American Eagle has a separate ladies' undergarments company called Aerie. What makes this website so unique? They DO NOT photo shop the models. Yep, hard to believe, but if you look at the girls you see real muscles and sometimes a little cellulite. If the garment is a size 38D, then that is the size of the model.
http://www.ae.com/aerie/index.jsp
They've got their websites secured so that bloggers like me can't steal their pictures. But as far as I'm concerned, this is a win!
Then I thought to go to American Eagle's website and look around. Last I remember, I didn't think they supplied many sizes. But I was wonderfully wrong! They have jeans up to size 18. Not only that, but they have short, regular, long, and extra long. Wow! What a range of clothing sizing!
"Miss Blogger, shouldn't this be a total win?"
Meh. Sort of. Here's my beef. If you go to American Eagle Outfitter, they offer those sizes but once again you find stick thin models. I would post a picture of their shorts, but again, I can't pull it from their site. So just take a look for yourself: http://www.ae.com/web/browse/category.jsp?catId=cat1680006
The model with the dresses is fit and thin. I like it. She even has a chest. But why, oh why, when you get to the skirts and shorts do we suddenly have nothing but frail legs, thigh gaps, and knobby knees?? I do not understand why retailers, even body image conscious retailers, insist on this thigh gap trend. Why is it so bad for a woman to have real thighs?
A friend of mine bought me a book for my birthday that goes into many details about self-discovery. It's fascinating to me. The first part of the book outlines everything about personality traits based on just the physical. It covers everything: from the lines in your hands to the shape of your face. There is a page that shows what a woman thinks a man likes in an ideal woman, and then it shows what men really like in an ideal woman. Guess what? The drawing of the woman that the men described as ideal? Her thighs and hips were larger than the women thought.
What does this mean? It means that someone other than our male counterparts are influencing us women with what is considered ideal and beautiful.
Here's another tip: The drawing of how women perceived their bodies was MUCH larger than reality.
They say the camera adds 10lbs? Well, then I think it's safe to say our female brains add 20lbs.
So, thanks American Eagle for your support with various sizing and girls that are not photoshopped on your underwear site. But how about you have that same variance with your models on your regular clothing site? And can you stop posing the model and adding the lighting to highlight a thigh gap? Either you support women of all shapes or you are simply devising a marketing scheme to sell more underwear and bras. So which is it?
#americaneagle #aerie #thighgap #beautifulcurves
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Monday, May 19, 2014
You Only Get One Body
I usually try to mix in some funny pictures and jokes on my blog just to keep things interesting, but today is a heartfelt day for me. Not only is it my birthday, but I also get to go see someone that is dear to me in the hospital after surgery.
We spend so much time worrying about our weight, our hair, and whether or not our toenails look right for summer sandals. And of course the infamous...did I shave my legs before deciding to wear these shorts today?
My whole blog is devoted to women's body image and fighting against the media machine. Today, I want to express that your body is beautifully and wonderfully made. Think of all of the things your body does for you on a regular basis that you take for granted: digesting, sleeping, walking, expressing...the list goes on and on. Here is where real beauty lies:
We spend so much time worrying about our weight, our hair, and whether or not our toenails look right for summer sandals. And of course the infamous...did I shave my legs before deciding to wear these shorts today?
My whole blog is devoted to women's body image and fighting against the media machine. Today, I want to express that your body is beautifully and wonderfully made. Think of all of the things your body does for you on a regular basis that you take for granted: digesting, sleeping, walking, expressing...the list goes on and on. Here is where real beauty lies:
Your body takes care of you on a daily basis breathing for you, keeping your heart beating, keeping those nerves sensitive. What have you done for your body? Other than critique it, harm it, and talk about it like it's not good enough. Know when it is good enough? When suddenly you don't have all of those things that you took advantage of previously.
Looking "pretty" isn't worth damaging the greatest gift you've been given on this earth.
You know the saying "Real beauty is on the inside?" I take that to mean quite literally as well as spiritually. For every time that you think something bad about your body, counter that with something your body has done for you today. The list will be endless.
Monday, May 12, 2014
The Old Navy...Thigh Gap?
In a previous blog, I discussed the trend of thigh gaps: http://beautyandthecurves.blogspot.com/2013/10/mind-thigh-gap.html
Old Navy has started a new campaign with Amy Poehler, who I think is a very funny lady. But there are two things in their most recent commercials that bother me.
Old Navy has started a new campaign with Amy Poehler, who I think is a very funny lady. But there are two things in their most recent commercials that bother me.
Thing #1
Thing #2
Normally, when I think of Old Navy from personal experience shopping there, I think of normal girl clothing, one step above disposable, at a good price. They are great about having many sizes available for all sizes of women.
In the past, they have used nothing but thin models (if they're not celebrities), but this year their choice in women and wardrobe is disappointing.
Why are they stuffing these already thin women into pants that they clearly can't even walk in? Then on top of it, it creates a thigh gap. Is that the image they're trying to push with these new pants?
Whenever I see advertising like this, I just wonder, why? Why did the director, casting director, and marketing head for Old Navy approve something that doesn't even coincide with their brand? This looks like an Abercrombie and Fitch move.
Both of these commercials are focusing on selling these pants.
Ladies, let's put it out there...do you look at these pictures and think, "Oh, I'll look great in these!"
If you were to try these pants on in a store, you now have this visual expectation set before you as to what these pants are "supposed to look like."
I have to ask Old Navy,
"What you are accomplishing by promoting a thigh gap in your models who are selling your new line of pants?"
These are choices that companies make when casting. This is clearly their idea of perfection. And I'm telling you, you don't have to look like this. Don't buy what they're selling. Whether you take that to mean mentally or literally, Old Navy is producing one more subconscious acceptance and push for thigh gap.
And I, for one, will push back.
Monday, May 5, 2014
#EffYourBeautyStandards
There are times that I like to devote my blog to spreading awareness about other women and/or organizations that support women of all sizes to love and appreciate their bodies. One woman that I recently learned about was Tess Munster.
She is a plus sized model who has created a movement called "Eff Your Beauty Standards." She was an unknown single mother working hard to make ends meet when she was inspired to tell everyone that she loved the way she looked and wasn't ashamed to show it off.
She now travels the U.S. as inspirational speaker for women across the country living the life she promotes. I follow her on Facebook and on her blog. It's always inspiring to get a reminder to love your body, and she does an amazing and fearless job of it.
Since the movement has gained footing, she now has EffYourBeautyStandards merchandise that you can buy to support the movement: http://tess-munster.highwire.com/
Sometimes she receives criticism, because no one's life is safe from it if you enter the public eye. Some women don't like that she allows for photoshop in her photos, but I think they're missing her point. She's not shrinking her figure, and she takes lots of unedited photos for her various social media outlets. However, the professional photos that are used for merchandising are photoshopped, because she's doing what she wants to do. Some photos will have photoshop and some won't. Here is the important thing to me:
She is a plus sized model who has created a movement called "Eff Your Beauty Standards." She was an unknown single mother working hard to make ends meet when she was inspired to tell everyone that she loved the way she looked and wasn't ashamed to show it off.
She now travels the U.S. as inspirational speaker for women across the country living the life she promotes. I follow her on Facebook and on her blog. It's always inspiring to get a reminder to love your body, and she does an amazing and fearless job of it.
Since the movement has gained footing, she now has EffYourBeautyStandards merchandise that you can buy to support the movement: http://tess-munster.highwire.com/
Sometimes she receives criticism, because no one's life is safe from it if you enter the public eye. Some women don't like that she allows for photoshop in her photos, but I think they're missing her point. She's not shrinking her figure, and she takes lots of unedited photos for her various social media outlets. However, the professional photos that are used for merchandising are photoshopped, because she's doing what she wants to do. Some photos will have photoshop and some won't. Here is the important thing to me:
She doesn't hide the photoshop.
Recently named one of the world's top plus size models by Refinery 29, Huff Post, & Vogue Italia
The reason why the modeling/media world drives me nuts is because they act like every photo you see is real. If women would step forward and say, "This or that is fake. I had implants. I had lipo." Whatever the case may be, then at least they're being honest and not leading young girls to believe they were just born that way.
I would consider myself a fan of Tess Munster. If you'd like to become her fan too, here are some links:
And let's join Tess in saying,
#EffYourBeautyStandards
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)