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.'

If you don’t need my validation, why are you telling me about your slog? I’m not interested in what you did to get to a point I have no interest in being at.

It’s great for you, really, that you’re pleased with yourself, but if you don’t need validation there’s really no need to tell everyone how great you did.

I don’t feel bad. Weird assumption. But I feel honestly great not restricting my diet. I like how my body looks, I like the way clothes fit it, and I’m happy in it. That might be hard for you to believe because you weren’t, but honestly - I do not feel bad, and I am not envious. If I want a kebab for my tea, that’s what happens. Without any “oooh I shouldn’t!”

My partner can still fit in airplane chairs, just like me, but also doesn’t have any food hang ups or body confidence issues. If he did, we wouldn’t be together. Insecurity is not for me.

Spoken like a true fat person with a chip on their shoulder unfortunately...

I admire hard work and dedication, its a quality the world could use more of whilst we settle for average and mediocre as a standard. The only reason I have told you about my slog is because you dont seem to understand WHY being slim is aspirational and WHY it is out of reach for so many people and instead believe that we should all just be happy in our own skins.

Ive actually got so lost in this that I dont really know how you feel about Boden and whether they should model fatter women so you can all feel better or are you happy buying clothes which will obviously look better on a slimmer woman? Or do you purposely search out inclusive retailers that cater to your body size?

Is that really the case when people like myself all my life, and the model in question on this thread have been likened to a druggie, not called a 'real woman' a skeleton, must be sucking in her mouth to see her cheek bones, no tits and arse, etc etc etc?

I have been bullied my whole life for being 'skinny.' I am not skinny, I am slim built with a damn good figure which I am happy with. And always have been. It's never let me down. But just because being 'slim is the desired body shape' it's not consent to flame and insult women over and over again because they have something you don't. (Not you personally.)

I can see why it’s aspirational to you and others who share that aspiration. What you seem to struggle with is that I don’t share that desire.

Boden/shops specifically? I wouldn’t check if they carry my size based solely on that advert. But I’m not their target audience, that’s okay, and I’m not offended by that.

I don’t only shop in “inclusive” shops - most of my clothes are ordered online for convenience but from high street shops, usually the “Curves” section. I actively avoid shops that don’t have clothes that fit me, but I’m not upset about that either.

I too was slim and then years of IVF treatment left me overweight. I am finally slim again and knowing what I know now I will never be overweight again. People can say what they like it means little to me because I know that on average I am healthier and I work harder for the shape I’m in.

I know it feels like you’re being attacked but rather reframe it as jealousy and be proud.

Very slim but looks normal to me.

So 45+age, size 8 women are not normal women?

No - Apparently slim is not to be considered normal or aspirational. We should all be fat slugs on the couch moaning and bitching at online retailers.

That is a disgusting way to talk about people.

“Fat slugs.” Stop being such a judgemental bitch.

I don’t condone anyone calling slim women rakes, skeletons etc etc. But if you don’t like it, stop dishing it out.

Blimey. Overweight peope have enough on their plates without having to deal with stuff like this. Most of them want to be slimmer but it’s not always easy! I say this as someone who’s never been close to overweight.

It’s not ludicrous at all!

If partner is happy to sit on one side of you, then someone else might have to sit on your other side if you’re given a middle seat.

It’s really uncomfortable to be sitting next to someone overspilling onto the seat 💺 next to them!

I’m only pointing this out in response to the comment that being overweight doesn’t concern anyone else…?? It does.

Exactly as often as I complain about any avoidable behaviour that costs us extra money!

I’ve been thinking this about Bodens models for years

Then don’t start a thread judging a perfectly healthy and beautiful woman. That is exactly how we’re supposed to look - lean and healthy!

She's certainly slim, but I wouldn't say skeletal. She is blowing a kiss which makes the cheeks look hollow anyway, and I think the photo has been badly edited to make her look even skinnier than she actually is.

I choose my seat. Usually a window. I don’t spill over the edge, not quite that fat yet.

I have already said that if you are, you should pay for 2 seats to accommodate that.

Outside of that, overweight people don’t owe you an apology for going on holiday.

Well I hope you’re a net contributor, or the “my tax money” argument doesn’t actually stand anyway.

No, I’m with you and defended the model earlier. I have no time for OP and others.

I also is feel it’s unfair for overweight people to hate themselves when most would prefer to be healthier and face difficulties.

You may want to go back on the thread. I have not used the word fat whereas the person I’m responding to has used it repeatedly. I have intentionally created ‘alarm’

This poster wants us to believe that being overweight is perfectly ok as long as you’re happy and is in some sort of denial that most overweight people would prefer to be slimmer because she and her husband indulge in chocolate for breakfast.

It ludicrous that slim women are subjected to this vitriol when that is what is aspirational to be. She is not skeletal, she is not a rake, she looks entirely healthy and happy.

@TheGrinchWasHere I hear you, I took fat slug as a literal thing when I read it! I do agree with your points.

I certainly am!

But even if i wasn’t, surely we should all want to pay less as a society, especially for preventable issues like obesity, smoking and alcoholism.

Nope. All that matters is that you are happy. The pursuit of happiness is all that matters.

Being overweight is okay, as long as you’re happy in your own body. If you’re not, by all means change it, but nobody has the right to tell anyone how happy they should/shouldn’t be in their own skin. It’s personal choice.

He’s not my husband, I haven’t stated at any stage that he is.

There is no need to call people slugs. Particularly as the “person you’re replying to” (👋🏻) hasn’t actually used any derogatory terms about smaller people, so you can’t even claim it’s reactionary.

All I have actually done is not want to personally be skinnier. I have no idea why you find that so personally offensive.

You can be slim and healthy or you can slim and unhealthy.

You can't be obese and healthy. You are only obese and unhealthy...

No one wants to say this bluntly cos people have a meltdown over it.

Happiness is something else again. You can be happy and unhealthy or happy and healthy. Eventually if you are unhealthy but happy that's going to catch up with you and make you unhappy....

Exactly.