Size 0... Are we really surprised?

To be honest I don't really understand much about clothes except that I need a large t-shirt, my waist is 32 (well they are if I hold my breath!) and I look crap in shorts unless they are baggy.

But with a lot of interest currently shown by the media in the state of the health of catwalk models and their influence on women consumers, I decided to pitch in with my say.

I have to begin by saying, are we really surprised? Most fashion shows feature clothes that look somewhat ridiculous. Almost every design looks like a concept project, but in terms of practicality and functionality - they mean absolutely jack.

The featured clothes don't seem to be tailored for the consumer, instead it appears to me that the catwalk models are expected to tailor themselves to the clothes. I seriously contend that models are coerced (covertly or otherwise) to drop down to unhealthy levels. Recent headlines in the media of models dying of starvation highlighting the case in point.

Fashion shows are a living art gallery, where the frame is the model and the clothes the stars. I would have thought that surely the point of the fashion show is to highlight how good the model looks wearing the clothes?

The problem as I see it, lies with the designers. They design clothes with scant regard to how the clothes will fit a person. Instead the clothes are designed with the person wearing them as an after thought. I'm not for one moment suggesting that they are doing anything wrong, quite obviously no laws have been broken.

Unfortunately the flip side of the fashion industry is that, it carries a lot of influence. Many people (men and women) for whatever reason will do what they can to be sure of keeping up with trends, be it the current season or "look". Of course, it's not just the fashion industry that's to "blame".

The media, be it the press and TV carry the message across to the public. And it is this which leads people to believe that what they are seeing is what is desirable and they should be aspiring to.

A small note to anyone who says that it's not the media which influences the public, my question would be, why on earth would anyone spend any money on advertising if it had no effect?