The fashion industry has always prided itself on the size of their models. Through the 1990’s fashion houses came under increased scrutiny for the size of their models and stories of unhealthy behaviour in an effort to remain relevant.
Much of that criticism continued into the 21st century which has seen intermittent rebellions against ultra skinny models but still the industry has retained its largely unrealistic standards for body shape, spawning occasional outrages against the field.
At the centre of the most recent outrage is Filippa Hamilton, a former model for Ralph Lauren whose heavily photoshopped appearance in an ad for a Japanese department store brought outrage from across the world. The photo in question dramatically reduced the size of the model’s features making her look sickly and in some ways inhuman. Though the company apologized for the ad and had it pulled from distribution the uproar began to bring skeletons out of the closet. One of those skeletons was the model and the centre of the controversy herself who has now been making the talk show rounds telling everyone who will listen that the company had actually fired her in April because she was too fat, something she more or less acknowledged.
“They fired me because they said I was overweight and I couldn't fit in their clothes anymore. I was shocked to see that super skinny girl with my face. It's very sad, I think, that Ralph Lauren could do something like that,” said Hamilton to the New York Daily News, apparently around a ham sandwich. “I think they owe American women an apology, a big apology. I'm very proud of what I look like, and I think a role model should look healthy.”
At 5’10” and 120 pounds Hamilton would be considered healthy by most standards but such a girth is largely frowned upon in the mainstream modeling industry. Hamilton also acknowledged that she had received a great amount of anger and snide comments from other models over her penchant for consuming solid food.
“It’s very hard no matter where you are in the industry to get a bite in. The competition is very fierce and you have to do whatever you can to keep up. Eating solid foods, frankly, is just about the worst thing that you can do, something I’ve learned the hard way unfortunately,” said renowned British model Lily Cole who has very similar statistics to Hamilton. “I learned my lesson and I’ve gone on from there and moved on with my life. There’s no sense fighting the industry because you will end up getting tossed out. Eventually you will get too old anyway and then you can start to eat. It just isn’t worth it at such a young age. Food will still be there when you retire and models need to learn that.”
Ralph Lauren acknowledged the ending of Hamilton’s contract though would not specify the reasons. The company also acknowledged that it provides food processors and blenders for all of its models.
“A job is a job and you have to meet the requirements that the company sets for you. If you work in a warehouse you have to be able to lift heavy boxes. If for some reason you are unable to do that then the company has the right to redirect your employment however they see fit. Models should receive any kind of special treatment simply because they are weak and light headed,” said Scrape TV Fashion analyst Fiona Dollak. “She knew what the effects of eating would be and how that could potentially affect her career but she chose to do it anyway. That isn’t the company’s fault it’s a product of thousands of years of evolution and the inherent desire for survival. That and a Big Mac or two, but that’s Hamilton’s fault.”
Robert Geller presented his Spring/Summer 2011 collection last night at Exit Art in New York. Inspired by the youth of the 1960s and 70s- an era in which young people around the world were awakened to the power they possessed to enact change. Of particular interest was the Berlin student movement who challenged the German government.
