To Expect Relatable Models When Shopping Online?

[JustHavinABreak]

This has probably been done to death so apologies if this is repetitive. My life circumstances are such that I very rarely have the opportunity to shop for clothes on the high street, and instead I do it online.

My grip is this: Why are most of the models 5'10 and a size 6/8? I'm a size 14 and 5'4. Not skinny but not massive either. Fully accept that I should drop a size but at my age, I'm very unlikely to become a size 6 amd almost certainly not going to grow another 6 inches.

How an item of clothing looks, hangs or sits on an unattainable body is no indication of how it would look on me.

Are you all supermodels or so you all just know some secret that I don't??

it was suggested that more reviews in which people upload photos of themselves in the clothes would be useful.

My tall size 6 adult dd likes sites that allow this. She finds that many models are probably being photographed with the clothes nipped and tucked where you can't see so it's hard to judge what the clothing shape is really like.

It’s not so much the dress size of the model that gets me (I can just kind of size up in my head knowing my own body) but it’s the current trend on some websites for highly androgynous looking models which I find difficult. I get it’s just a fashion look (there was similar in the 90s but more restricted to catwalk) and they’re clearly still beautiful women, but they represent such rare proportions they’re hard to imagine on almost anyone. So regardless of size, it’s useful to be able to see some boobs, some waist, some bum etc IYSWIM.

But there are so many heights/ weights/ body shapes that it would be impossible to cover all of them. I’m 5’8, 8-10 but pear shaped, so clothes will look different on me to the model, even when the caption says the model is my height and wearing my size. Where your waist falls, the length of your arms, the size of your breasts are all going to affect how clothes will look on people and it’s totally unrealistic to cover that in model photos. I can usually figure out what is likely to suit though.

What bothers me more is then pinning the clothes so they fit in the photos a way they never would (and sometimes forget the edit out the pins).

I think you're being too hard on yourself, fudge. I reckon that people see you and think you're slim, even if you see yourself as plus sized 🌺

I am size 6 overall, short with HH boobs. Good luck finding many models in my weird size.

I just find it helpful to know the model’s measurements. Then I can kind of scale it down.

What I see is either v slim women or very large women. I am 5"7 and a size 12 , so average I guess and there are very few average models.

Its the height that bothers me

I constantly moan about the length of trousers in shops in this country, I find it unfathomable that they seem to be made for people who are very tall and have long legs. The average height for women in this country is 5'4 or 3 I think yet the models are nearly always 5'8 and taller

The average woman in the UK is apparently 5'5 and a size 16, with a 36D bust. It seems a shame that at least this size model can't be used alongside the existing standard.

Not that i buy my clothes from them very often but QVC is really good for showing clothes on different sizes models and generally their models are not totally stick thin. i still struggle though as i'm very tiny all over - short and thin.

It strikes me that you are all making essentially the same point. No matter what model is chosen, there is someone it won't suit. That's inevitable. I just think it's a pity that the "standard" set by the industry is one end of the scale, and those of us in the middle, or those who are 4ft nothing and a size 24 are always (with few exceptions) left out.

Before anyone reminds me that some people have "real" problems, I am fully aware that this is a nothing in the grand scheme of things. However, in the midst of my own not insignificant problems at the moment, a new frock might have brightened up m'day!

If you imagine though that the clothes industries don't see the models as anything other than clothes hangers, they are trying to find a body that is in fact as neutral as possible. They want them to hang in a certain way and the best way to achieve that is to have someone tall with as few curves as possible. That way we are looking at the clothes and not the model. We all know how clothes sit on our bodies, what we need to be able to do it look at an item and imagine it on ourselves. If an item was modelled on someone with a big booty and big boobs, we'd have no idea how the item was supposed to sit and therefore wouldn't be able to imagine it on ourselves.

36

For each of your 9 you need a busty, a hippy and a straight and an hourglass version

Clothes usually look better on tall and slim women, it would also be impossible to have every size and shape represented.

Lots of shoots are done before a line is mass produced, its far easier to have a pool of models who are a similar size and the same size samples to work with. It's not the case that they get their entire stock in and then think ah best take some photos, it's just logistically far far easier and cheaper to have consistency.

Yes, you're all right. Happy shopping all

I tend to read the reviews and also follow people my size and shape on Instagram
If all the reviews say "way too big on the chest" then I know as a K cup, I'm buying it
Same if everyone is saying a top is too long - I'm 5ft 10 and it's likely to be perfect

Even if I follow someone who is a size up or down from me, as long as they're similar shape, I find it works perfectly

Frustrates me when they don't have the model height on a product listing especially dresses.....5ft8 and like dresses to fall below the knee so I don't inadvertently flash someone when bending over 🤨

Yours tend to use pretty chunky models, although I'm still a lot fatter than them.

I agree OP I know you won't get everyone's size and shape but I don't think this is as hard as companies make it out to be.
I'm sure for one of Stacey Solomons in the style there had about 5 models different heights and sizes all in the same dress.

Even more so, I would like manufacturers to use the same standard measurements for their sizes.
I vary between a medium to a 3XL, and it's really annoying.

But this is just what's been sold. People are truly more likely to buy something if they can see how it looks on them. But we're sold a dream so people tend to buy something that looks good on "the ideal" size then wonder why it doesn't look as good on them.

The 'fat' models piss me off more than the slim ones (I am currently a size 20).
If they are even a size 16+ (usually look more like a 12/14) they always have a tiny waist with a flat stomach. Their weight is carried on their boobs, thighs and bottom!!
I am looking for a top or dress to cover my massive gut with very attractive C section pouch, seeing it on a flat stomach tells me nothing 🙄

I think now there are far more models used who are differing weights. I’m size 22. I know that a dress will fit me differently than the model even when plus sized. I suspect in future, AI will allow you to add your dimensions and a photo to see how it may look.
What I really dislike are the comments of a larger model is shown, real women blah blah. All models are real presumably.
Although I’m size 22, I find I buy clothes from ranges that run from 8-24 more than just plus sized.

Same!!

We need an app. Give it our dimensions and see all the clothes in our avatar. 4ft 10 big chested hour glass but 2 bellies. Never gonna find clothes for me on a model so mostly return and wear leggings and tshirts.