Midsize Models

[TheLeadbetterLife]

Does anyone else get frustrated by the lack of midsize (or just, you know, normal-sized) models when online shopping?

It's fantastic that the plus size ones are actually plus size now, but everything in-between rake and very large seems to be missing. It's annoying, especially when so many of the current cuts in dresses are... challenging. I need to see them on a size 14 / 16!

We're supposed to be in this brave new world of body positivism, but the online shopping world seems focussed on extremes. There's a lot on Pinterest etc, which is very useful, but people showing off their outfits isn't the same as seeing how a specific item looks.

Agreed. Sometimes it would be so much easier to decide on an item if it was modelled by someone midsize or at least adopting a normal pose. Sometimes models just crouch in weird positions and the alternative photo is of just the garment unworn 🤷‍♀️

I think that's true of bodies in general tbh in the media & real life. Most people seem to be on either end of the spectrums & I don't see that many "average" people. Even looking at my friends and family most of them have either lost weight or gained it.

Yes, completely agree. I love when companies use mid-size models, it's so much more helpful knowing how something might look on me! I'm an 18 but I don't find a size 22/24 much more helpful and a size 8, really. Especially when they do weird poses!

*than a size 8

I completely agree. It would be really helpful when buying online to see an array of sizes and heights. As a 5ft1 size 10 woman, it's impossible to imagine how clothes online would look on my body type, and never end up looking right! It definitely seems to be only extremely thin and extremely large women modelling

I don't know...my friend has a line of loungewear and her "plus size" model is a small 14! I don't see that many places other than Molke and Lucy and Yak maybe where they consistently have plus size models in their normal ranges.

Plus size ranges tend to start at an 18, so obviously they have to use size 18+ models.

Oh my god yes!!!

Either the models are very thin or they are significantly overweight. Why can't they just use models who are a size 12/14/16?

I remember feeling like this as a teenager to (apart from they did not use plus size models at all back then). I was never overweight as a teen, but neither was a very slim, especially as I'm short. I used to always sign inwardly when yet another magazine was just full of 'perfectly' sized models. I just wanted to see someone who looked vaguely like me! And I still do!

Christ yes, what's with the bizarre poses as well? Some of the dresses are already weird looking at the moment, stand up straight so I can see what it looks like!

The bizarre poses are one of my pet peeves. Definitely with you there.

Totally agree. I've always wondered why we are shown rake thin models or overweight models. But how about models who are bang in the middle of healthy BMI? Where are they?

@secretbookcase

Totally agree. I've always wondered why we are shown rake thin models or overweight models. But how about models who are bang in the middle of healthy BMI? Where are they?

Usually modelling bras I think. Put some clothes on those women and move them to the fashion section please.

The problem with models who are sizes 12-22+ is that their bodies are as unrelatable as the traditionally very slim ones IMO. How many women are a size 16 with large (high sitting) boobs, a slim waist, fairly flat stomach, shapely hips and bottom, toned legs and arms, with slender ankles and décolletage. Very very few women carry their weight this way. Not saying it isn't at least some progress to see a bigger variety of sizes, but the proportions of plus size models are not reflective of most women.

Of course you can never represent all possible sizes and shapes, I just don't understand why there can't be just one in the middle somewhere, especially since one in the middle has a higher chance of at least being in the ballpark of the average woman?

Exactly this. Most poeple are average and yet models are either size 000000 or obese. Plus everyone is always tall. They never model petite clothes separately. Just see the tall model and extrapolate how it will look on you.

And don’t get me started on weird poses. God

They're absolute buggers actually, because when it's an item where you don't want it to be too short (like a mini skirt), they use shorter models! It sometimes tells you at the bottom of the page what height the models are. I am tall and I have to look out for this.

Zara definitely uses some 12-14 models these days. Few and far between but it’s refreshing to see them.

Ok, so don’t look at Zara. I’ve just opened the app and looked at new in. Everyone is seriously tiny and I now feel depressed.

I prefer to see them on models where it says 'Model is 5'10 and wearing a size 8 or whatever' and showing front, side and back. I then translate it into what it might look on someone with my body, face and colouring.

The photos with someone who looks very overweight puts me off as it seems to be normalising being very overweight, although if there are a range of different models then it's ok.

Some styles of clothes suit all body shapes and some don't.

As a short busty size 12, I'd totally agree op. I'd like to see how items look on shorter models that aren't a size 6!

I'm a short busty size 6 and I'd like to see them on models who aren't 5'11

I don't even think this is even really a slim vs plus size vs something in the middle thing... I think they just represent 1% of the population and that's it really?

It's annoying. I'd like to see all shapes and sizes, just normal women.

Also I don't believe some of the very small ones are wearing the clothes "as is". They're pinned and tucked and modified I suspect.

I don't really mind it not being all shapes and sizes, just something approximating a woman in the middle of the bell curve would be useful.

It's when the high street shops try to go all high fashion editorial and have six foot models with absolutely no hips or breasts whatsoever, bent into weird angles. I mean, come on Zara and H&M, who are you trying to kid? It's so bloody pretentious.

I think it's quite a good idea in principle, but if I saw someone who looked about my age, I'd think it was an outfit for the elderly, as the models are normally a bit younger than the target age group.

A range of models is better - Lucy & Yak's site shows all shapes and sizes

Modi body show different size models - you can choose to see someone size 10/12/14/16 wearing the pants. Really good! Would love to see more websites doing that for all types of clothes.

Plus size models are usually a size 12 or 14. And then the clothes are pinned/tailored to them.

I really like it when websites state the models size/height/what size they're wearing as it gives me a reference point.

Skims is another brand that shows the items on a range of sizes, so you can select the one closest to your size. I’d love it if more brands did this and also if the model’s height was included as standard info (I’m short).