I received yet another invitation by Ford Models to enter their modeling contest (on myspace). I might still yet but if they call me I'll have to inform them I don't plan on moving to N.Y. anytime soon and I don't exactly have a way to get up there either. No offense to you who grew up in N.Y. but I prefer the friendlier side of the country. Ye-ah, we got our fair share of a-holes and what not but I don't personally want to deal with materialistic angry people all the time. I could be wrong but friends who have visited N.Y. have come back with horror stories about the east coast and N.Y. specifically.
Getting back to Ford Modeling, I was reading their blog because I was interested about the rules for entering the contest, specifically looking for anything saying they would maybe consider finding a way up there for me if I did manage to get called up. I found my answer of course.
The other thing I found was, "Why do models have to be tall?" Apparently it was believed way back when they thought it would be best to have tall girls so people in the back row could see them. They also wanted women with not so apparent "womanly graces" so that the customers would not be distracted from the clothes. Well, for back then it makes perfect sense to me. For today? Not so much. The excuse for today is that the clothes just hang better on the model who is taller. Their argument is that the clothing has a tendancy to gather vs. hang loosely and freely. This is where I must argue my case though. If the fashion designer is truly gifted they should be able to create an outfit that will look good on anyone, no matter their height even if that means they have to go back and make a few alterations so it still looks lovely on an individual who is short.
So why is it I feel so strongly about this whole "Tall" issue and the fashion industry? Because while they seek models who are tall and beautiful women like myself get left in the dust. We can model just as well as anyone else but because we are short (I'm technically 4'11" but I call 5' because it's just easier since I am so close). No one knows the embarrassment or disgrace a woman like me feels when I walk into a bridal shop or one of those specialty dress shops to buy a prom dress (I didn't go to one mind you but when I saw the evening gowns I always thought they were so beautiful but always too tall for me
) and all of them seem like they are for runway models. The only way someone like me can wear any of those dresses is to a) Have it custom tailored (which I have done for one of my dresses but it can be costly) b) Grab one of those evening dresses that is suppose to show leg and leave your shoulders bare. While those are nice some of us love flowing gowns! I personally love my Elizabethian dresses, why? Because they are classic, belled sleeves add a sense of regal disposition, they flow and fit the figure well. In fact you know the picture I have where you can just barely see the top of the white dress and it looks like the picture should be a painting? That's my Elizabethian white dress. It's just a bit long and I do need to get it altered but I love it nonetheless. It has been one of my all time favorite dresses.
Additionally to add to my argument, it is very degrading for a woman, like myself, to have to seek clothing in the Kid's Clothing sections. I try to avoid them if I can and hit up the teen sections because, let's face it, the children's section does not have trendy fashionable adult clothing for women (not to mention no sexy lingerie or bras or anything of that nature for women like myself. I have enough trouble finding any of that even in the adult sections mind you). They've come out with tons of specialty shops because general consensus has shown us most of Americans are obesse, but what of the people who aren't? What about the short and thin figures? We just get to suffer in silence and take the indirect insult from the clothing stores? I've been half tempted sometimes to call stores that supply women's clothing and say, "hey get more sizes for short and thin people. You act like all adult women are huge!" While I support the plus sizes, because I've known my fair share of friends who are overweight, I kind of understand how they felt when they couldn't find clothes for themselves. This sort of fashion marketing crime needs to eventually meet its end, but someone like me can't figure out what steps would be necessary in doing that...except in voicing my opinion and letting the other thin and short women out there know, "Yes! You are beautiful and don't let the clothing stores try and tell you otherwise. You are still special and I'm sorry you have to live with the shame of going to the kids section, it shouldn't happen!"
So take heart and heck, if you want to try my idea of calling up the department stores and letting them know what you think about them not carrying your size of clothing, let'm have it I say. Everyone in the world deserves to have clothing that is smart, sensible, and fashionable no matter what their body type may be!
Thanks for reading!
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