AIBU to think Boden's models are too thin!

[trippingup]

Just that really... I've made a complaint about this image. It was served to me as a Facebook advert and it just really got to me.

www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/womens-dresses/smart-day-dresses/j0141-pnk/womens-sweet-william-harley-textured-dress

if everyone else is seeing the same frumpy pink dress - model is fine. And smiling - amazing, they usually look so miserable.

The model looks normal to me.

She has a proper bust and looks well.

I'm 5'9, take an 8 in boden, have a much smaller bust and about 8 lbs I think from being underweight. I'd say she is a stone heavier than underweight, which is not bad for typical models imo.

They could keep everyone happy and have several models of different sizes modeling the dress.

I find the reviews section useful; there's often people of different shapes and sizes discussing the fit.

That is a hideous dress. [misses the point entirely].

Looks like a normal sized woman to me.

She does look slim but she's probably around six feet tall, therefore she's not average is she?

i've been a boden buyer for too long now - they used to use 'real people' as models and there were cute quotes but somewhere along the line it got ditched and they became more and more mainstream (plus quality declined).

that dress should be on a larger figure - I'm a boden vanity size 12, I've got a previous version in blue and flattering for the larger bottom op.

yes, I should start that diet soon :)

They've got to use tall thin people because if they put their clothes on a size 14, 5 foot 4 woman then people would see how frumpy and ugly 98% of their clothes are.

*She looks healthy to me.

Of course she doesn't look 'normal' but that's because overweight people who are somehow offended by people with a healthy BMI and write letters about it are becoming the norm.

Why do we need a race to the bottom with short, chubby, unattractive models? Clothes look best on the opposite of this and they are selling a clothes.*

Yes, they are selling clothes.

That is the one and only purpose of Boden, to make a profit by selling clothes. Clothes that go up to a size 22. They are not there to form an opinion on what a healthy weight is or to give dieting advice to customers. They are there to provide what the customer wants, no matter what the customer's shape or size.

I strongly disagree that things always look better on thinner women, it varies in my opinion, but regardless I think selling clothes to most of Boden's target market would go better if they showed a variety of shapes and sizes. A minority of customers will resemble the models in either height or weight or general shape.

I used to think that nevertheless companies possibly needed to use thin models to create an aspirational image, but now with the greater range of models being used by some other brands, I have realised this is really not the case. I am much much more likely to buy something if I can see it modelled by people who are closer to my own size. My own size varies a lot but whatever it is I need clothes. As I imagine everyone does. So it makes sense to use a variety of different size models. Not because I am in any sense 'offended' by seeing people much thinner or fatter than myself, but just because it gives me more practical information for choosing which items to order. Especially important with mail order stuff.

I don't have a problem with the model OP found too thin, more with the general policy of identikit models being used. It is the opposite of 'body shaming' anyone to suggest that there should be variety. Boden need customer feedback on that, and I would guess they want it, although they may be too pretentious to ever really change.

I'm a size 8 and fairly tall, and have always been baffled by Boden's choice of model. I think their clothes are not meant for beanpole women with no tits (unlike, say, Cos, which is much better for us of little girth). They are clearly better suited to women with more shape. I think that pink dress and many other things of theirs hang off many of their models. Just looks more rubbish than it needs to.

What's with the wetsuit style pull cord on the zip at the back?!

I'd look good in that dress so YABU.

WAY too expensive for me though.

You may well be right MotherCupboard which is another reason for pressuring them to use varied models as they would need to improve the clothes.

When I look at clothes modeled online I always check consciously whether I like the clothes or just how the model looks, or ease I get carried away thinking I'll be übergorgeous just by wearing the dress.

Some of them would look good wearing a hessian sack.

i agree output, why would you buy a massive a-line skirt if you didn't have a larger bottom to conceal? Maybe you like swish but the whole point of that dress is to highlight a smaller waist either side of larger boobs and possibly an even larger bum.

If I was a size 8 i daresay I'd dress myself in skintight jumpsuits all the time

Another saying she looks perfectly healthy.

If I was going to take issue with their model choices, it would be the fact they do a whole petite thing, they highlight that they don't just shorten hemlines, but change all proportions for clothes to allow for smaller frames - yet never use a petite model, they just show you the regular sized dresses/trousers/tops with an option for petite.

yule I would look like a 12 year old boy dressed up as the Milk Tray Man if I wore a jumpsuit! Again, you need proper tits and bum for that stuff.

To those saying it's too expensive, no one ever pays full price for Boden. If you get on their mailing list, you get bombarded with emails and snail mail offering 10,15,20,25% off. Then you get the £10 and £20 vouchers which you can use in conjunction with the offers above. Then of course you get the sales - currently up to 70% off although mostly they'll be the styles no one likes. I have a policy of never paying more than 50% of the list price at Boden.

I think that pink dress and many other things of theirs hang off many of their models. is exactly what I thought when browsing the site last night! I cant really tell how the dress I like fits because the model is so straight.

She looks fine

Slim people are just as "real" as not-so-slim ones!

Slim women are allowed to wear clothes they want, and don't have to live in skin-tight garments

This thread is absolutely depressing.

Too thin for what?

For your tastes.

I’m as skinny as that. I eat, I exercise, I have had children. What’s the problem?

Why can’t I have a model that reflects my body shape?

Not sure this is body 'shaming'. Slim is societies idea and what we're all supposed to aim for. Can't say I feel shamed by it for being slim.

Also I not we've the usual claim that you can say anything about overweight people or the 'internet explodes'. Yet nonslim people have been refered on this thread as "unattractive" and being so is "race to the bottom". Internet is still intact.

The whole model thing is daft. Different body shapes suit different clothes. It'd make sense to have different sized models for different clothes.

Taller models do usually show clothes better though. For whatever reason!!

She doesn't look unhealthy, but agree with OP that it would be useful to see the clothes on someone of average height (as well as different weights)

I'm a 5'5'' size 10 and their models must all be really tall as all their stuff looks completely different on me. It puts me off buying it. If they had more different model types they would probably sell more

She looks fine, just normal.

The bigger issues is that fugly fanny coloured dress for £98. Who'd pay nearly £100 to look like a dildo?

Oh ffs. They look like perfectly normal women, stop body shaming.

For me it's not just they fact they are thin it's how tall they look.

Yes, because all women are 5ft4 🙄