Bellissimo! Italian Vogue hires curvy models
Friday 03 June 2011
Move over Lara Stone and the rest of the skinny brigade, there is a new breed of model in town. Italian Vogue has broken away from the classic magazine style and has featured plus sized models on their cover.
It is not unheard of for fashion magazines to feature plus sized models occasionally, but rarely on the cover. Italian Vogue has gone one step further and employed three curvy models for an editorial spread for their July issue.
This new breath of fresh air has come at a time when models seem to be getting thinner and thinner and the rise of Pro-Anorexia websites are more rife. This positive moves comes as editor Franca Sozzani tirelessly campaigns against such websites.
The brave move has shown plus size models Tara Lynn, Candice Huffine and Robyn Lawley posing seductively in sexy underwear. The shoot is aimed to illustrate how women are sexy at any shape and size and fashion is not all about being skinny enough to wear a sample size.
The Vogue editor has been campaigning all year for the closure of websites, which encourage eating disorders, and wants fashion designers and editors to share her sentiments.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Sozzani claims: ‘Fashion has been blamed as one of the culprits of anorexia, and our commitment is the proof that fashion is ready to get on the frontline and struggle against the disorder.’
Although the last time a plus sized model was featured on the cover of Vogue was nearly ten years ago the Italian fashion idol says she has every intention of featuring curvy women on a regular basis. ‘Why should these women slim down? Many of the women who have a few extra kilos are especially beautiful and also more feminine.’
The problem with anorexia and fashion is something, which will not disappear overnight. If the fashion world embrace values like Franca then maybe young girls will learn that sometimes bigger certainly is more beautiful.
By Samantha Carter