[luxotika]

MADRID. (Reuters) - The world's first ban on overly thin models at a top-level fashion show in Madrid has caused outrage among modeling agencies and raised the prospect of restrictions at other catwalk pageants.
Madrid's fashion week has turned away underweight models after protests that young girls and women were trying to copy their rail-thin looks and developing eating disorders.
Organizers say they want to project an image of beauty and health, rather than a waif-like, or heroin chic look.
But Cathy Gould, of New York's Elite modeling agency, said the fashion industry was being used as a scapegoat for illnesses like anorexia and bulimia.
"I think its outrageous, I understand they want to set this tone of healthy beautiful women, but what about discrimination against the model and what about the freedom of the designer," said Gould, Elite's North America director, adding that the move could harm careers of naturally "gazelle-like" models.
Madrid's regional government, which sponsors the show and imposed restrictions, said it did not blame designers and models for anorexia. It said the fashion industry had a responsibility to portray healthy body images.
"Fashion is a mirror and many teenagers imitate what they see on the catwalk," said regional official Concha Guerra.
The mayor of Milan, Italy, Letizia Moratti told an Italian newspaper this week she would seek a similar ban for her city's show unless it could find a solution to "sick" looking models.
QUALITY, NOT SIZE
The Madrid show is using the body mass index or BMI -- based on weight and height -- to measure models. It has turned away 30 percent of women who took part in the previous event. Medics will be on hand at the September 18-22 show to check models.
Under the Madrid ruling, models must have a BMI rating of around 18. That would disqualify top Spanish model Esther Canadas, and supermodels like Kate Moss, based on unofficial records of their height and weight.
"The restrictions could be quite a shock to the fashion world at the beginning, but I'm sure it's important as far as health is concerned," said Leonor Perez Pita, director of Madrid's show, also known as the Pasarela Cibeles.
When asked if they supported controls, seven Spanish designers showing at Madrid either declined to comment or said they did not want to become involved in the controversy. Designers in Milan gave a similar response.
A spokeswoman for the Association of Fashion Designers of Spain, which represents those at Madrid fashion week, said the group supported restrictions and its concern was the quality of collections, not the size of models.
Eating disorder activists said many Spanish model agencies and designers oppose the ban and they had doubts whether the new rules would be followed.
"If they don't go along with it the next step is to seek legislation, just like with tobacco," said Carmen Gonzalez of Spain's Association in Defense of Attention for Anorexia and Bulimia, which has campaigned for restrictions since the 1990s.
Elite's Gould said fashion was not to blame for eating disorders that usually started at home due to poor eating habits and constant dieting by mothers.

So far, Madrid's move has yet to spark a worldwide trend toward catwalk shows with curvier figures.
London Fashion Week said in a statement it would not put restrictions on what type of models its designers use. (Additional reporting by Sophie Hardach in Milan)

[Saja]

I Love It!!!!

[angel_eyes4evah]

WONDERFULL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!Best thing they could do!

[Teresamachado]

wow

[lynnda]

surprising!

[Mina]

Hmmm...

[crazy13eautiful]

That is surprising, but I guess it could be good.

[mintesa]

This is good! When I was a teenager I got really thin and skinny, i looked sick, coz i wanted to look skinny as models. that is not healthy.

[janetsbreeze]

i think that's awesome! about time the world realizes that real women are not super tall and rail thin

[speerrituall1]

Finally the fashion world wants real people!

[blackmettalic]

Yay!

[Retro-Violet]

finally! someone does something about it!

and to the modeling agencies, go eat a sandwich.

[Saja]

Screw the sandwich, let them eat cake!!!

[macuphead]

whatever, i think its stupid and overrated. someone with a positive upbringing isnt going to be totally obsessed with their body image simply because of watching tv or reading fashion magazines. why dont they start giving parenting classes to mothers who are getting lipo and botox and constantly dieting, this is the only thing that is going to screw up a child, not a dior model. come on. models are thin, its how the runway clothes are designed. if i ever see a frumpy fat ass walking down the catwalk wearing the latest line of chanel haute couture, i will be disgusted. the clothes are supposed to be elegant and outrageous, and if the models flab is hanging out of it, thats not going to happen!

[angel_eyes4evah]

Originally Posted by macuphead

whatever, i think its stupid and overrated. someone with a positive upbringing isnt going to be totally obsessed with their body image simply because of watching tv or reading fashion magazines. why dont they start giving parenting classes to mothers who are getting lipo and botox and constantly dieting, this is the only thing that is going to screw up a child, not a dior model. come on. models are thin, its how the runway clothes are designed. if i ever see a frumpy fat ass walking down the catwalk wearing the latest line of chanel haute couture, i will be disgusted. the clothes are supposed to be elegant and outrageous, and if the models flab is hanging out of it, thats not going to happen!

Were not asking for flab! We want NORMAL healthy skinny or middle size!