Guest Commentary: Sorry, But Fashion Is Not A Celebration Of The Everywoman

Image: Karl Lagerfeld for V Magazine

I adore fashion and I have never been thin. My size has taunted and tormented me for as long as I can remember, not because I necessarily wanted to be thin as much as I wanted to look different in clothes. It’s difficult to trust someone who says they love fashion when their appearance screams comfort, practicality or negligence, so in many ways I have always felt like something of a fraud. Even today, few things intimidate me more than a skinny, well-dressed peer. (Ed. note: WHA? For the record, Streib is fashionable and beautiful.)

But the never-ending and nauseating discussions of whether the idolization of super-skinny models and celebrities is ruining our culture—brought to light most recently with V magazine’s current size issue, which includes plus size models—is absurd. I’ll be the first one to admit that any issues I have with my size are fueled by my own insecurities, not because fashion magazines are beckoning me to fit some fabricated ideal. I’m never going to feel more comfortable with my body by seeing Crystal Renn in a bikini. Why? Because she’s just as gorgeous as any size two professional model.

Fashion magazines are not a celebration of the Everywoman, just like cooking magazines don’t include images of frozen TV dinners. Aspiration is part of the editorial appeal, it’s all about what’s new, what’s different, whatever can convince you to buy the magazine. V is getting tons of publicity because of this issue, which is great for them. But pretending that this is suddenly going to revolutionize the fashion industry or make women more accepting of their bodies is ludicrous. It’s the same thing in a different package.

Fashion is a business. Publishing is a business. Self-confidence, health, personal style…these are not things that can be purchased.

Lauren Streib is a journalist living in Brooklyn. She’s written for Forbes, The Daily Beast, Marie Claire and of course, The Fashion Beat.

Another ed. note: Magazines don’t give girls anorexia, their parents–pushing them to be perfect in every way–do. Growing up, I was certainly not a size O and I loved fashion magazines. Yet I’ve always been self confident because my mother was constantly telling me how beautiful and smart I was. While I commend V for its effort, I do think this is going to have a similar effect as the Italian Vogue “black” issue did: very little. Someday, I hope to see women of all sizes and colors in every magazine. Not because it’s politically correct, but because it’s more beautiful.