Why the High Fashion Runway Won't Change

We all know that runway models are starving themselves for their jobs.  They eat paper, only drink water, and smoke to help burn away the last of the calories.  But these standards were not set forth by the models, but rather the designers and agencies who employ them.

Last year the Council of Fashion Designer of America, presided by famous designer Diane Von Furstenburg, created a list of regulations to help crack down on unhealthy models.  These regulations monitor the women's BMI, diet, exercise, and age.  Unfortunately, these "regulations" aren't laws, they are merely strong recommendations.

So why do other designers insist on their models being only 13 years old and weighing in at 98lbs?  As a former costumer and designer, it's easy to see why.

They need a living hanger.

I hate to reduce any human being to an object.  After all, wasn't it a curse in Beauty and the Beast??  But it's true.

When you begin designing for real women, it requires much more tailoring and thought.  Not every woman looks good in everything (as we all know far too well).  So how do you make all of your clothes look good no matter who is wearing them?  You make sure the people wearing them don't look like women.  As a designer, especially a very conceited one, you don't want your audience admiring the woman or being distracted by how a certain garment fits on her.  You want the entire focus to be on your work.  Also, sample sizes are just that: they create these haute couture pieces in only one size.  A very small size (less fabric = less work), and you have to fit the dress not the other way around.

In a nutshell, it's harder to design for real women.  And the ego of some designers don't want to think about function.  Imagine all of the stupid weird things you've ever seen come down a runway:

These clothes are their artistic expression.  They can't be bothered with practicality.  If you've never met an egotistical fashion designer, you're lucky.  The ones with egos are unbearable.  And a common trait is "My Way or the Highway" kind of mentality, because the simpletons that the rest of us are don't understand the art that is parading in front of us.

And this is why it won't change for high fashion.  Practical fashion designers are starting to listen to their audience and hiring *gasp* size 4's...on occasion.  But all fashion starts with high fashion and trickles its way down (historically speaking it's always been that way).  So as long as deranged artists are designing, the people wearing the clothes are of no consequence.  They just need a hanger to get their clothes down a runway.

PC Disclaimer: Since no one is EVER permitted to generalize...this is my politically correct statement to ensure my readers that I do not believe that ALL high fashion designers are egotistical and don't care about their models.  However, if the vast majority were not, would we even be having this debate?