Super skinny models for M&S?

[CheeseDreamz]

I am really struggling to shop online at the moment as it feels like many retailers are using super slinky and very tall models to show clothes that are usually aimed at a more average demographic and body type. M&S being the worst right now.

Before people accuse me of body shaming I am observing the predominant use of what is actually quite a rare human shape - not about whether it is attractive, or healthy or possible to achieve. 5ft 10+ and size zero with very long legs is not that common, especially over 25. I have my thoughts on this, but my question is more around the widom of doing this and the difficulty of shopping.

It's making it impossible to tell what a piece of clothing might look like if you have boobs or bum, even at a size 12. And in many cases the clothes don't even look that great. Also has the model wears size x information now gone on many sites?

Looking over a few sites it seems to be increasing in mens clothing too.

I know that representation of a variety of body types has been adopted (for years by some retailers) but it feel as if that is really waning now - weirdly it seems to be better in brands I would consider for younger people. There is some discussion in the media about "the return of hyper skinny" (though a quick google reveals there are articles on this going back to 2022), so it's a perennial thing. But really, who the hell do M&S think shops with them? It's so off-putting - all I see is that these clothes are not for me.

I agree (to a degree). When I go into M&S women's wear though the majority of shoppers seem to be over 40. Their styles are imo, middle ageish. But the models are mostly tall slim young women. 🤔 It would make a refreshing change if their models were reflecting their target market. Say, 5 ft 6, age 40ish, and size 14.

Eh? I can't link now but all the models in the M and S Curve section are very overweight/ obese.

Feel like I need to trot out that old chestnut " We have lost sight of what a healthy weight is".😙

Surely we are not far off being able to scan your own photo in and AI being able to show you what you'd look like.

I've started a bit of dress making recently and I'm starting to understand more how so many factors affect how something look on you. Shoulders and hips and back length etc all determine how clothes fit so even if they showed you what something looks like on a tall size 14 with square shoulders, it will look totally different on another size 14.

I don't like it either, great big skinny women with huge feet. I can't see myself wearing anything they are wearing.

Ok sorry @mitogoshigg I see what you mean. The cover page of Curve has a plus sized model but then when you go to buy, all slim models. Yes thats's odd!

Well I'm a smallish size 10 but my bugbear is I'd like to see clothes shown on short women please!

Never mind size, what happened to representation is validation. Very few white women at M&S modelling hq these days. Considering they are 85% of the uk population of women (probably even higher M&S shoppers) ..minimum it’s weird.

The quality of materials used has reduced.

The sizing is bonkers. Size 8 too big?? No

Fashion and shopping impulses are based on being aspirational and tempting, not on being truthful.
Despite what the body positive want, XXL is not tempting for most ppl.
if you had clothes modelled by various sizes models, they d lose business, because ppl reaction would be “I would look fat in that too” and they would be less tempted to impulse buy.

I am 56 and a size 8. I do have breasts and a bum , just smaller and neater than some women. And it is not rare to have this body type as you age. As a Pilates instructor , my reformer classes are full of older ladies (some in their 60s) with the above body type.

I want to see clothes on a model of my size. Perhaps they should have models of different sizes and shapes, to cater for all body types?

Huh? I'm 37, 5'11'' size 6/8, I do 'exist'. And those models are not 'size 0', they look like me. Which I'm ok with, as I can see exactly how clothes will look on me 😁.

It is what it is, it's hardly a secret that clothes look the best on tall and slim and there were multiple surveys, etc that they sell best when showed on such, regardless of buyer's own weight. Same with men. Whether the shoppers were dad bods, overweight or obese, they were all drawn to slim athletic models rather than overweight ones. So to max their profits they'll continue to do it.

If the size 6/8 models had big boobs and bums then people would complain that M&S were promoting bodies that looked like they probably underwent plastic surgery.
Models are supposed to have unusal proportions because not everyone is supposed to look like a model. Some brands pick more attainable beauty (a pretty woman that might be found walking down your local shopping centre ) which works for them.

I'm 48, 5'10, size 8. I love it 🤣 we are all different shapes and sizes so these models are perfect for me and others like me. However I get that it's not helpful to others - we were looking at Hollister bikinis last night (me and my dd) and a lot of the models are obese and that was no help to us at all. A variety would be good - an 8, 12, and maybe a larger size. Covers more bases.

5ft 10+ and size zero with very long legs

M and S do not use models that fit this description, so your argument falls flat straight away.

Dont worry in the next 12 -18 months we will be able to login give measurements and everything on the store will be our shape, models will be AI generated and wills henge to suit the user.

One of the benefits of AI in retail is being developed now, can't wait!!

But M&S don’t use skinny models, they use tall thin ones, but I’ve not seen any on their website that looks underweight. (Whereas many shops aimed at teens are now all jutting hip bones and elbows being the widest part of the arm)

M&S models are usually tall, but all look in a healthy slim size.

I find it very hard to visualise how clothes will look on me and find it very useful to see items on a thin model and a larger one. Even if neither are my actual size.

Younger people do not have a monopoly on being thin so even if the average customer age is dropping a variety of sizes would still be useful.

they do put a comment about model’s size and height. Usually they are tall and have size 8 which is fine but it shows clothes very differently from when you have height 165 cm and wear size 14.
Plus photos often in nice poses of model rather then a dress.
So it is a big annoying that I need to crawl over my laptop magnifying here and there and then still order online several sizes just in case.

I’m getting Ann Summers advertised on this thread and they have two different sized models which is helpful.

I don’t know whether M&S are trying to be more ‘fashion’ but WTF are all those poses?

Maybe obesity shouldn't be celebrated but why should I see skinny models, wearing so called fat clothes? I'm fat, I want to cover up and see what it looks like on a fat person.

I see they are mostly 5'8 to 5' 10 and a size 8, Which is a healthy weight for young women

I was about 7.5/8 stone when I modelled as a size 8. I was definitely underweight!

I think M&S is targeting a younger market hence the slimmer models.

If you download tik tok and put in "size 12 M&S" or whatever - you can watch videos of women of different sizes trying on their clothes. I do this now for everything - even try ons of make up on real skin, rather than the perfectly clear, airbrushed skin of models / celebrities. I find it very helpful and it's one of my favourite things about social media - we can actually share proper reviews and see products reviewed honestly. Obviously, avoid anything that says "ad" or is by a proper "influencer" as they tend to say everything looks wonderful (even when you can see it doesn't).

Depends on many factors including ethnicity no? I was that size in my twenties and thirties at 5'7. I am Asian. Everyone in my family is built that way and we all eat 3 meals a day. Many of the.models are Asian.

I was 8 stone when I married and DD is about that now.

I think this is why you still need to go in and try things on to be honest, its a drag to do but you'll never know for sure unless you do even if you are tall and slim you might have a longer torso or a bigger bum or hips or bust than the models.

Exactly ! I’m 5’10 and a size 8. My dd is 5’11 and a 6-8. It’s genetics and we are healthy . We need to celebrate all body types