In the month of June 2011, Vogue Italia came out with a curvy ladies issue, with "plus size" models gracing the cover, as well as having their own sexy black and white spread. Although this is Italian and not American, it is definitely an awe inspiring step up for curvy women in the high fashion industry. The models are depicted in a lush surrounding, posing in Dolce and Gabanna lingerie, or no clothes at all. Although beautifully photographed and very aesthetically pleasing in regards to seeing voluptuous women in a high fashion magazine, I couldn't help but ask, where is the fashion???
There was definitely a process of negotiation as I interpreted these images, from Viewers Make Meaning pg 57 "negotiated reading is interpretation being a mental process of acceptance and rejection of meanings." The first conflict I had was that the models were stripped down to lingerie for the cover, with one model even being strategically posed so her legs could be spread open. The images inside the magazine are very similar, the models lounging nude or mostly nude, straddling a chair, bending over on top of a table, etc..so once again, where is the fashion?
okay, perhaps there were good intentions in wanting to include "plus-sized" women in the fashion industry, but there is no doubt that these models have been styled for the male gaze, with an emphasis on the body and sexiness being the only way "plus size" models can be portrayed. I put "plus size" in quotations because these women look normal and healthy to me- curvy and beautiful. The ideology in our culture that skinny=beautiful is being challenged here, but I don't think it is quite enough.
why does a certain minority group or body size always need a special photo shoot or chance to be seen and appreciated in the fashion and advertisement world? Don't get me wrong, I was really happy to see this spread, it is an excellent start, but I hope women of all colors shapes and sizes can start being incorporated into all aspects of the media/advertisements/fashion idustry ( without objectification OR sexual subjectification)
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