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Issue One December 2014
How
tall is too
Once upon a time, there was no such thing as dressing for your body type. However in recent times we have realised there are body types and height, weight and lots of other factors that play into the items of clothing we dress ourselves in. And rather than buying into the worlds latest fad, we amazingly, all just want to look good and wear clothes that well, fit. Over the past 20 years the fashion world has changed. Walking into most high street retailers, you can now see a petite section, and a tall section. You also don’t have to exert yourself too hard to see that there is a minute selection of clothing within these sections. Which directs me to ask, why? In 2010, The Office of National Statistics found that the average woman is 5ft 3in. Now, petite clothing is designed to fit anyone who sits within and below this national average. Falling slightly short of average means I am in this minority category. We are forced to shop within around 200 items at a push, as opposed to the thousands within the ‘normal’ section. The Association of Model Agents states that models “should be at least 5ft 8ins tall”. This could answer why there is so little clothing to fit the average woman.
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Companies could be catering to the women advertising the garments – not the average customer. Not everyone is an expert seamstress and can solve the problem of those trousers being just a wee bit too long. And there’s also only so much tumbledryer shrinking we can do to make sure that birthday dress doesn’t look like you’re wearing your nightie. Donna, who at aged 51 stands just 4ft 10in, doesn’t mind the longer length as she told me “I always wear heels so like them a little bit longer”. Baring in mind when I say she doesn’t mind the length, this is whilst wearing petite. If you’re into flares or bootcut, this isn’t a problem, as with heels you don’t encounter the ripped hems. However if you opt for skinny, you are most likely going to end up with a cascade of fabric bunched up around your ankle. Call me crazy, but I’m not a fan. I spoke to 5ft 2in Miss Selfridge manager Nicki; “I find it hard to find jeans which fit in the leg #shortgirlproblems. Miss Selfridge and Topshop and ASOS Petites are OK though, but I cut some jeans down sometimes.” To me, if you have to hack at your jeans to find the perfect length, there’s something wrong.
Nicki commented, “Any retailer with a petite section is OK I guess, although the options are far fewer than other average range stock.” I researched how well retailers cater for petite women, and was astonished. ASOS sells 173 pairs of home-branded ‘normal’ length jeans. However the petite section contains just 14. Nicki and I also discussed how companies could adapt to suit petite women. She believed “retailers should try implement petite sections into all their branches, even if just to begin with it is for classic pieces” “With tops and t-shirts the struggle with fit isn’t as extreme. It’s all about leg lengths.” I whole-heartedly agree as only in bottoms do I see a difference. Most tops fit fine
without a shorter length and I think this is something that retailers should address. Retailers have come a long way in producing items for different body types. As more companies progress and expand to introduce petite, tall and curve sections, customers will get closer to discovering the perfect fit. The fashion world is ever evolving and becoming more understanding and accepting of the fact that everyone is unique and that there is not just one ideal. Different body types should be celebrated and as time goes on, they will be. As we break through the boundaries of social norms, the fashion world cannot ignore us and diversity will eventually seep its way into the fashion industry.
two parts masculine one part feminine Fashion has evolved over the years, and women no longer dress in a manner that is deemed completely feminine. Gone are the days when trousers and jeans were frowned upon, as I rarely find myself out of them. With the introduction of androgyny and diversity within fashion, women and men are pushing the boundaries of ‘male fashion’ and ‘female fashion’ to the point where there will soon be no defining line between them. Recently the love for duster coats, ripped jeans and cleated soles has boomed, mixing feminine style with these hugely popular trends. Bloggers all over have been embracing the mix of male and female, by teaming dusters and bombers with fluffy heels and skirts. Personally I am so happy that the two genders have mixed, because I have never been a girly girl and I have always been judged for it. I feel more comfortable in jeans and I don’t find skirts flattering for my figure, as I have a short torso and therefore dresses are awkward for me too. By making the bridge between masculine and feminine much shorter, we are moving into a more accepting and diverse society, where everyone can feel comfortable being who they are. I don’t see why there is such a divide between male and female clothing, as I take no hesitation in stealing my boyfriend’s
shirts and jumpers for a slouchy feel, with a pair of skinny jeans and heels. Just as he has no hesitation in going to Tesco in my plaid pyjama bottoms and a pair of plimsolls and a t-shirt. The reason people still feel uncomfortable with the cross between masculine and feminine all boils down to society. Society needs to understand and accept that not everyone is the same, and that will never be the case. As much as some geriatrics with backwards views will disagree with me, there is absolutely nothing wrong with standing out from the crowd. In fact, I’d encourage it. If people have the balls to say fuck the norm, and be whoever they want, then that’s fine by me. It saddens me slightly that some people genuinely believe that wearing some holographic leopard print pants with a pair of cobalt boots classes as ‘different’ – and yes I’m talking about myself. I don’t deem myself as all that unique and individual, yet people still stare at me as though I’m walking down the street aflame. We have a long way to go in the fight for acceptance and for everyone to be loved as they are. However I feel that we are making some progress, and fashion is just one way to see this progress. Hopefully in 10 years time, we can say that everyone is seen as an equal. 12 --------------