The Average American

 
The other day there was a post asking what every ones thought about "average" as it pertains to fashion models which I would believe how it would relate to self image.

So, I was thinking (rare)......." The Average American".....(I can feel peoples feathers getting all ruffled already!)

Just some random personal observations.....Playing a littles Devils Advocate.....

- The Average American is heavier (nice way to not say fat) than any other Country I have ever been to in the world.....both men and women.

- On any given day we can read about how Childhood Obesity/Adult Obesity is a rampant problem. Yet on the same day we can read or hear about models are to skinny and they should use "Average Size" models because we are getting a warped sense of what normal is......Yes......I know...I'm in the industry....I see the 5'8'' 115lbs. models and the 6'2'' 150lbs. guys. Those thin ones are for the most part are for Younger Designer Fashions.
One of the reasons they want the tall skinny ones is that it shows the lines of the clothes better and you can bulk up a skinny model with padding where needed and layer multi levels of clothes without looking puffed.

- I would say for normal Average on camera the size range is in the size 4-6 range. Now the complaint would be that the Average American woman is size 12-14........So....what do you do.... cater to the 12-14 size???? Is the size 4-6 range healthier than the size 12-14
***Note: over the years the sizes have changed.... maybe by two sizes since the 50's

I know there are exceptions.... but generally speaking is the size 4-6 range in a "normal weight" range and the 12-14 range in a "over weight" range.

Do we want our overweight children to think Overweight = Normal/Average and that overweight is OK....... It's just a question....cause I can see how this can be viewed several different ways.

Another question would be.....If the "average" size eventully gets up to size 16-18 should that be the model size to promote "normal average"..... again...just a question.

I already know what the marketing reasons are..... Marketing is based on perception. Most people have a distorted view of what their image is. If your a size 12 you may perceive yourself visually as an 8.  

OK , enough on that..I'm sure some panties got bunched up......

What are your thoughts.... Do we promote being Average and overweight as OK ?????

frisco

I don't think that either is a good thing to promote.  How about healthy?  How about models within the normal BMI range?  Models that aren't airbrushed and altered to make them look even more thin and flawless.  I want my kids to be healthy, not obsessed with their weight.  To be active and eat the right things.  I want them to be comfortable in their own skin. 

Good question.

 
Nice reply........I see where your going and I can't say as I disagree.....

But the question is still there.......is size 4-6 generally in the normal weight range? and the American Average 12-14 in the overweight range?

And if 12-14 is overweight would you want your children to base that as OK? ( I know in general overweight can be healthy...but we all know overweight is right next to obese)

frisco

I would prefer to see normal weight models.  I understand the rational you gave for uber thin models....however, the way an outfit drapes on a rail thin person will in no way translate to what is looks like on my size 2-4 frame.  I would prefer to see designers create outfits that look good on the folks that will buy the clothes.  That would o course mean creating many more designs as wht looks good on a smaller person willprobably not work for someone larger.

I think our idea of normal is totally unrealistic.  When I weighed 250 lbs I saw myself as a size 16 or 18 not the 24 I actually was.  Now that I am a size 8, I see myself around a size 12.  It doesn't make sense.  I am overweight still for my height.  Everyone tells me I am "tiny".  Yet, I know I am still overweight and need to lose almost 20 pounds more to fall into the "normal" category.  If I lose 20 more pounds I will definitely be a size 4 or 6.  So, when "normal size" people tell me I am "tiny" I too ask the question about the reality of perception.  Perception after all is others reality.  I also wonder about the size of clothing.  Are designers putting smaller sizes on bigger clothes.  Is an 8 really an 8? 

My mother's size 4-6 from 1955 is about the same as a 0 or 00 today. My size 6 today is about the same as the size 10 I wore in high school. At the end of my freshman year in college, I was a size 16 with a 30" waist (1986). That's a size 12 today. I spent the summer dieting and running to take off the 'Freshman 15' I had put on, and to get back down into a 10-12 (6-8 now).

The average american woman, statistically, is already a size 14-16 by today's standards.  That is generally going to be well into the overweight range which again, statistically, brings with it much higher risk of various diseases than a normal BMI. I think people should be 'happy' in their own skin, but at the same time, higher BMI's are less healthy particularly for non-caucasions.  Individuals will always be the exceptions fo the rule, but the science is pretty conclusive.

There was an interesting article recently on Slate by the man who put together the Southeby's display for Marilyn Monroe's estate auction serveral years ago.  She is touted as being a 'volputous' icon in contrast to today's rail thin starlets. The display designer points out she was so tiny -- much smaller than she appeared on camera - that he had to have custom manequins made to fit her clothes.  She was a perfect 1950's size 10, a 4 or a 6 by today's standards. Designer sample size clothes are a size 2 (I have a close friend who works for Chanel), and most of the 'skinny' models today are a 0 or a 2 -- only a size or so smaller than Marilyn Monroe. 

 I totally agree with you! You said the words that I was trying to find! I am not saying that it's ok to be overweight vs normal BMI but our standard as a country keeps changing! The fact that today's size 6 is the same as a size 10 years ago, says it all!!! So in fifty years does that mean that today's size 6 will be a size 0?? It's not ok to be obese but it's also not ok to be underweight which is what is being pushed upon our kids! 

Well, yes, 4-6 can be healthy, as can 12-14.  We aren't all built the same.  The obesity epidemic has caused us all to have a difficult time being able to visualize normal.  Its really sad.  For the visual, I will reiterate that having the models be shown as is, as opposed to photo shopped, would go a long way. 

For me, the biggest issue is not how we look, but how we eat.  The average american doesn't cook anymore.  They heat things up, eat highly processed foods and have no idea where their food comes from.  In my opinion, that is a bigger issue than how we look.  We all have such different ways that we come at this epidemic.  Since you seem to work in the industry, the visual would be your focus.  I know you are also a big cook, so that is wonderful.  For me, I run the local farmer's market and am very much into the Slow Food movement.  So, for me the food is the issue, with the visual being less important.

My personal goal is to have my visual appearance reflect my beliefs better.  Being a morbidly obese market manager is frustrating.  I know the right foods to eat, but struggle with a body that rebels as a result of years of unhealthy eating.  For my kids, I want them to understand what healthy is.  To go beyond the visual and the societal pressures.  I wish I could magically make it so that they won't have the issues that I have struggled with, but I can't.  

I agree with you about eating habits, cooking, etc.  I do think it's the biggest part of the obesity problem in the US.  Living in Florida, slow foods is relatively easy.   We have great produce, grass-fed beef, local seafood,  etc, all around us.    We do eat out, but we tend to favor restaurants that feature local, sustainable foods.

I was a vegetarian for a number of years. I went back to eating meat in my early 30's. This article by Michael Pollan helped send me down the 'locavore' path about a decade ago.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/10/magazine/an-animal-s-place .html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

Great post!  Overweight is right next to obese.  I don't think your question can be answered as I think height plays a huge part in what a size 4-6 or 12-14 looks like.  Healthy is so much more important the actual size pants you wear.  I agree with the distorted view we tend to have of our selves.  I was a tight size 22 when this journey began and I though I looked great.  That is until I did a side by side comparison and realized I look much prettier and healthier with a 50lb loss.

I promote being healthy.  My son is underweight according to the charts, but he is very active and eats very healthy.  Therefore, I'm not concerned.  My niece is considered overweight according to the charts, but she is very active and eats very healthy.  She also appears to be a great size, so I am not concerned there either.  If ever either of them become unhealthy then I will be concerned.

NO we should not promote being Average and Overweight as OK, but we also should promote being anorexic as OK either.  Models shouldn't look like the Olsen twins or like Angelina...it's sickning to think that is considered beautiful.