Why are there no average sized models on websites?

[JanisMoplin]

Now that more and more companies are charging for returns, and brick- and- mortar stores are slowly being phased out or are just plain shite, I wish clothes makers would use average sized models, say a 12 to 16. Everywhere there appear to be models who are either a size 6 or a size 22. It's really hard to tell what clothes will look like if you are neither very small nor very large, and have a moderately sticky out tummy, wide hips, or flabby arms. So much stuff I have ordered is going back. I am a size 12, 5"7.

I am sure I am being very naive and there is a good reason for this?

Redoute did this about a decade go on their website. You could put in your measurements and virtually try things on in the changing room. I used it a lot and I have no idea why it didn’t take off!

I think some stores tried it with Mannequins a few years back and were criticised for normalising obesity?

Boden has the random one on their swimwear, I reckon they are testing it out.

There is a try on function on some dresses on M&S, it is brilliant.

Yanbu op.

I'm pissed off with seeing every cosmetic modelled on a man ffs. I unfollow every brand that does this when I see it.

I actually disagree OP. The OUTNET models their own brand iris & ink on size 8 and size 12. And I’ve just found these very quickly browsing new in - H&M, asos and & Other Stories. They’re definitely not size 8 (or 4 as has been mentioned!).

Zara and its brands do need to do better.

I'd say those examples are still all slimmer than average and don't give much of an indication of what they will look on people that aren't slim.

Im confused by what you want as in your op you say

I wish clothes makers would use average sized models, say a 12 to 16. Everywhere there appear to be models who are either a size 6 or a size 22.

I think lots of shops do show sizes 12 & 16 & most plus sizes models are not size 22 but when other posters use those examples you think they are too slim?

sorry just realised the below wasn't you.

To be fair we shouldn’t be striving to make side 16-18+ the norm and acceptable

im not fat shaming it’s purely not healthy to carry excess weight

normalising it actually isn’t the answer

I used to be a model and yes, the clothes are often pinned ☹️

The examples are still tall. I'm 5ft 2 and would love an example of what it looks like on someone shorter.

Fatface and Asos are somewhat varied.
Although I noticed a review on fatface last week saying thank god there were now average sized models on site. However, the image she was referring to was a the larger one. I think we all have a different idea of what average is.

Asos has lots of models of 5'4 and under, which is great, it's a pity I don't like shopping there!

I have noticed, and this is off topic, that many darker skinned models, all across the high street store websites have almost completely shaved heads. I want to know why!?

What gets my goat is when stores like Toast on't even bother to show the item on a model. And then they won't bother to lower themselves to tell you what height, size etc.
I simply won't buy from anywhere that doesn't tell me what the fuck is going on.

Completely agree!

To be fair we shouldn’t be striving to make side 16-18+ the norm and acceptable

im not fat shaming it’s purely not healthy to carry excess weight

Well it depends on your height. Size 16 at 5ft 11 is very different to 5ft 1

Would love petite models to be petite and not just 5 foot 3. What about 5 foot or under!

agree. They're either really thin or really fat.

Search midsize on TikTok or Instagram and there are loads of videos of size 12s doing try ons from high street shops.

Here is an example, she is quite young and fast fashion brands but I’ve seen M&S, Boden etc ones from other people. vm.tiktok.com/ZMLTRmQBv/

Would love petite models to be petite and not just 5 foot 3. What about 5 foot or under!

I'm under 5ft but I feel like there are so few of us they prob wouldn't have a model our height. As pp said ASOS sometimes have petite models, iirc I've seen one who is 5ft 1. (Which is prob as close as I can expect in terms of height)

But the other day I was looking for something petite and the model was 5'7" which is not at all petite imo!!

I think there is a long way between typical shop mannequins (usually very tall and size 6 or 8) and "normalising obesity". You could potentially have a 5'4" size 12 mannequin which would probably be more indicative of customer size but not overweight.

Are there so few of us though? If 5 foot 3 or 4 is average then 5 foot or under is no more uncommon than 5 foot 7 or 8.