Skeletal model used in Boden mailshot

[boobashka]

Has anyone else noticed the model in the recent Boden mailshot? She looks unhealthily thin. I thought we were moving away from 'heroin chic,' but it seems to be creeping back into mainstream marketing. It feels irresponsible for a brand like Boden to promote such a frail aesthetic as 'aspirational.'

Personally, I have. Look at the thread, I’ve made no comment about that woman’s size.

I was responding to your comment that the “ideal” is thin, because of how “wonderful” it is.

You might have used your previous insecurities to vilify women who are different to you, but that doesn’t mean we all are.

It is wonderful for me. It has been life changing.

I am healthier. I am fitter. I am stronger. My self confidence is improved. I no longer try and convince myself or others that being overweight is ok in spite of the health risks and every inconvenience that comes with carrying excess weight.

I’m pleased for you.

But being overweight is okay to some people, regardless of the health risks (which aren’t your concern as it’s not your body) and the inconvenience (that you don’t need to personally worry about anymore.)

What you’re doing instead is trying to convince fat people to join you in reforming themselves, or at least that they shouldn’t be equally as confident in their bodies - I’m not sure that’s any better.

No Im telling them to stop moaning that clothing companies use thinner models to represent their brand for the sake of inclusivity.

I sell a certain product and my marketing material is much nicer when the photographs are staged in a clean, upmarket, decorated home than in a hoarders mess.

Should we start saying that hoarders need to be accomodated because they are happier living in a mess?

No.

You said specifically being thin is wonderful, it’s the ideal (… your ideal, you mean), offered to look at the body of someone bigger than you so you could mock them, because obviously this is a playground, and then said that fat people are just “convincing themselves” it’s okay.

You were judgmental and shaming, and there’s no point denying that because it’s in all of your posts.

If you were making similar comments about other people’s houses, I’d similarly be telling you to mind your business.

I do not know too many larger people (you keep using the word fat) who do not wish that they weighed less. We should do a poll.

Your crusade is to tell them that they should be happy as they are. Mine is to tell them that you can strive to be thinner because it is wonderful on so many counts.

Given the availability of weight loss injections, your psycho-babble seems to be the much harder route. Therapists have been telling people for year to just accept themselves as they are and people still strive to weigh less instead of accepting and being happy that they are 'fat'....

The ideal is hard wired into us as humans as part of our biology.

Everyone would rather be thin than fat. That is a fact.

The most desired body shape for western women is thin, which is why Hollywood film stars, models and royalty are thin. So a thin catalogue model is hardly a shocker.

This is a question of body shape, not thinness. The model has a very long torso, together with slim, longish arms and legs - a natural ectomorph. But I don’t think she’s exceptionally thin. People who are too thin for their body shape always look ‘wrong’ somehow.

Well, it is our concern because overweight and obese people cause the NHS huge costs that we have to pay for with our taxes!

It’s also an inconvenience to others when sitting next to an overweight person on a flight.

I was going to mention that as a perk of being thin… that you can fit into an aeroplane seat.

But apparently we must all just be content with how we are. No room for improvement. No better ideals.

I sit next to my partner and/or family on a flight, who evidently don’t mind. I can also still wear seatbelts and sit in chairs.

What a ludicrous response 😂

How much time do you spend complaining at drinkers and smokers for costing “your taxes,” out of interest?

Well if you had to ask me I would also say that you shouldn’t drink and you shouldn’t smoke. I don’t do either and my life is way better for both of those choices compared to when I did!

Being slim, not drinking and not smoking have made my life infinitely better!!!! And I highly recommend it to everyone.

It’s not ludicrous at all. There have been plenty of threads on here from people understandably complaining about people who take up more than their seat space on planes.

It is awful being stuck next to people who overspill on planes seats, that’s why some airlines are good enough to make passengers buy two seats when they don’t comfortably fit in one.

Oh OP, you were brave posting this! The model in the Boden catalogue could’ve been a literal skinless skeleton and people would tell you you’re wrong!

I think if your size prevents you from sitting in one seat, you should pay for two. I’d have no issue with that being policy, seats only come in one size. Same for seatbelts.

Any other reason to be “inconvenienced” would just be that you don’t like sitting next to big people.

Wow you really are a reformed character.

You lost weight, and gave up both drinking and smoking. Good for you taking steps for your own health… which is the only person’s health you’re responsible for.

Do you also believe that winners should not get prizes and schools should rather award participation medals so nobody has to feel bad?

No? Your prize is your own happiness in your body etc.

You can give that prize to yourself, I’m not obliged to give you around of applause too?

The harsh reality is clear to me. When my 5 foot 9 size 8 beautiful 17 year old nicks my clothes they look ahem rather different on her than me! So concur with the wish they use more normal models for clothes targeted at the 45 plus market!

All clothes look better on slimmer people because its not about the clothes!

No - The prize is that I am slimmer than you because that's the ideal most people subscribe to.

Why dont you set up a MN poll and ask those who are overweight if they would like to be a little less heavy on the scale?

What you’re asking for is to have the perceived reward of being slimmer, and then a prize every day from people recognising that.

I hope at some point you arrive at not needing that validation.

I dont need the validation from you. There is no way a fat lady could ever convince me that she is happier in her body than if she was slim. I dont need you to tell me that Ive done good, I know Ive done good because its not easy, its been a bloody hard slog to get here and I too could have just put my feet up and said 'bugger you all, I am happy to be fat!' but I know that there is a better, healthier way to live and you clearly dont like hearing it (because it makes you feel bad, I assume). Im so glad that your husband likes fat women, is he fat too?

I will never understand this disdain for aspiration. I will shout this from the rooftops over and over again. Being slim is a wonderful liberating feeling!