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.

Models are historically tall and slim. What I find irritating, is the M&S Instagram, seemingly meant to represent 'average' customers, wearing their clothes still seems to concentrate on size 8 body's. I have just checked, of the last 15 posts featuring females only 1 would be larger than a size 10. That just doesn't reflect the shoppers I see in store.

I'm a size 22.

With fuck all in the way of tits.

A cup, to be precise. Not that I can buy bras in that size. But there you go.

Because she wouldn't refer to an obese woman in the same nasty manner. She wouldn't say someone with "massive saggy tits."

Why do you keep talking about obese people? Plenty of obese people have small boobs & slim people have saggy boobs. You seem very angry...

I see your point, as not that many women are that shape (or that age and shop in M&S even though they've got better)

It's the styling and positioning of the shots I find bizarre

Can't really see the way the clothes fit or hang

Nah, I'd say they were great. When I was a 6-8, I had an air gap in AAs.

I hate my breasts & one reason I struggled modelling! But yet you jumped on my posts & the fact is some of those models will be underweight in BMI terms. There is a gulf between that and obesity which often seems to be lost with some posters..,

People slamming thin models as unhealthy while clamouring for overweight models.

Some models are unhealthy though and whilst I prefer healthy weight as opposed to extremes because there is a middle ground I get the argument that the store should reflect their market.

I agree. I have not a clue how clothes like this will look on me.

I think sometimes people lose sight of what a healthy weight looks like. Op these women are not hyper skinny and no have boobs and a bum etc, so it’s your perception that’s the issue here.

@DelilahRay well that went over your head 😆Good luck though & I hope you find some peace!

I'm 5'10", though 12/14 and the tops and knitwear are all short and boxy on me with too short sleeves so they can't all be tall

That is surprising, because the women on the site look a healthy size to me; and certainly, do not look underweight, or is there a one I have missed? I have seen anorexia first hand, and I see women who look healthy on this site.

Do you feel the same regarding an unhealthy BMI for the curvy section models?

@Mannersmattertoo I do not care whether they are a healthy size. I am the target market for M and S and can not tell how those clothes will look on me.

I am not referring to M and S. But fashion routinely uses models who are young teenagers and obviously under weight.

The average runway model has a BME of 16, which WHO classifies as "severely thin".

They look tall and very very slim indeed to me.

I don't understand the argument that using 3 models (6/8, 12/14, 18/20) for the same item is more expensive. They use more than 3 models across all of the images and if they didn't fanny about with the stupid (arty!) poses they could take the photos much quicker so save on model hiring time.

I'm also not convinced about the argument that clothes don't sell as well if they're not on tall, slim models. If they show the same dress in 3 different sizes then that would include the tall, slim ones so people can still see the aspirational look (if that's what persuades them to buy). If however, the dress looks awful on an average size model then that's the fault of the dress designer isn't it?

Chipping in about the obese thing. I have a tall, big-framed friend who varies between an 18/20. She isn't obese and she's much more physically fit than I am! Similarly, a tall model with a small frame doesn't necessarily look skeletal. They don't have to use unhealthily thin or obese models.

I am older and remember when their models were more average looking.
Am very happy they have moved away from all their images being a slim young white woman with a bob standing stiffly and wearing mid heel round toe black court shoes with everything.
Light coloured jeans? Those black court shoes and a tucked in t shirt and the model standing with legs shoulder width apart. So ugly.

So, they can’t put every body shape in there, that would be encyclopedic in size, we would be going through hundreds of photos for each item.

Exactly, I'm also 5'10", size 12/14 and the jeans and trousers often fit me well in the L length but rarely do any of the tops, knitwear or dresses fit me properly as the proportions are not right and sleeves too short