23 September 2006

The Smackdown... It's Starting Already

Sorry if you're tired from models-are-skinny-and-people-are-upset posts. There are endless news stories on it and it fascinates me.

Milan has just announced a 'code of conduct' for models.
Speaking at the show, the city official in charge of coordinating the new code of conduct - and promoting the city's fashion industry - said it sent out a clear message that Milan was not prepared to tolerate the exploitation of vulnerable young women with their hearts set on a modelling career. "We will work together with modelling agencies, with the chamber of commerce for fashion and with doctors to ensure that - above all - modelling agencies and stylists do not favour this phenomenon of anorexia." Milan's first woman mayor, Letizia Moratti, has backed the campaign to ban anorexic-looking models. Under Milan's new code, which is due to come into force in time for the next fashion week, in February, models will have to carry a medical certificate showing they are healthy. In addition, younger, school-age models will have to be accompanied by a tutor or guardian.
What are your thoughts? Will this prevent anorexia in impressionable models?

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

all models are underweight for sure
and that is never totally healthy
even if they are 'natualy' (psh) underweight
will the thing just have to state they are not dangerously underweight? there is no way to keep models from being annorexic....the people who chose the models for their shoes just need to chose chunkier models...people need to get the word that curvier models are 'in'...then things could really change

la femme said...

More imporant even than the subject of emaciated stick insects (I'm currently feasting on an enormous chunk of poppyseed loaf and mentally channelling the calories onto Sasha Pivovarova), is YOUR MOVE!

How is life in the UK so far? You must be crazily busy- I hope all goes well.

camaybraham said...

Down with the anorexic models!!!!!

Carissa Duhamel said...

The modeling industry is going to become like the alcohol industry during the prohibition.. illegal shows with bmi's of under 18.5 will be hush hush and held in complete privacy.

Linda said...

I agree with the above comments. Also, anorexia is about so much more than just skinniness. It's a mental distress that cannot be measured in weight.

daddylikeyblog said...

I just discovered your blog and I love it. It's smart and articulate and socially conscious and pretty--my four favorite things! I'm definitely going to link to you as soon as Blogroller gets fixed and my links come back.
Keep up the good work!
~Winona
www.daddylikey.blogspot.com

S. said...

As tired as I am of skinny model discussions (mostly because it seems so obvious that there is a problem and also because it's just as wrong to bash skinny individuals as it is to bash large), I am happy it's happening finally!

This is interesting info, at least there's some effort. Let's be kind about it though and not catty, targeting people in a personal way.

la femme said...

Did I mention how much I miss you...?

Anonymous said...

*kicks* Go back to the writing, honey.

la femme said...

Things are getting so generic without you...

Anonymous said...

Very skinny model.

by the way check out.....

http://www.stylepit.com

you will like it they have got interesting stuff

mareGa said...

Well, this give us hope!

Emily said...

I think requiring the models to be at least 16 years old is a step in the right direction. . . Though I think 18 would be even more appropriate. . . More so than the issue of skinny-ness, I worry about models being too YOUNG. The ideal of fem beauty should not represented by undeveloped 14 year olds. . .

Thomas said...

I agree with Lorna. Once curves become esthetically meaningful, things will change. But I think 'health' is a dirty ploy to get there. Especially when it's up against an art that functions not on sickness or health.

Fierce or Farce? said...

just chiming in to say that i really enjoy reading your blog. it's a shame we don't know each other, we share a lot of common viewpoints and have similar interests!

Andrea said...

Please post more! I know I'm not alone when I say I miss I Hate Generic.

Ladybird said...

I think there are alot of interesting reading on your blog!