October 14, 2009 1:06 PM
- Text
Ralph Lauren Fired PhotoShopped Model for Being Too Fat
(MoneyWatch)
The Ralph Lauren PhotoShop disaster gets worse: The Daily News reports that the label fired model Fillipa Hamilton in April because she was "overweight." (She weighs 120 pounds.) Hamilton said:
The episode clearly illustrates that the fashion world has a bizarre obsession with super-thin women; it's a world in which 120 lbs is too fat and needs to be PhotoShopped down.
Here's a theory, for which I know I'll get flak: Compared to other industries, the fashion world is disproportionately staffed by women and gay men. Neither of those demographics are famous for their realistic ideas about women's bodies, or what straight men find attractive about them. Perhaps if the industry became a little more diverse -- and had more straight guys as creative directors -- then we'd see more meat on the bones of models in clothing ads.
Below: What Hamilton looks like when she's relatively unretouched.
And finally: An appearance by the author on ABC's Nightline discussing the Lauren fiasco.
Lauren said:They fired me because they said I was overweight and I couldn't fit in their clothes anymore.
Filippa is a "beautiful and healthy" woman but their relationship ended "as a result of her inability to meet the obligations under her contract with us."No details were given on what those "obligations" might have been, but modelling contracts often contain weight restrictions. A Lauren ad featuring an image of Hamilton distorted to look unfeasibly thin became an internet laughing stock last week.
The episode clearly illustrates that the fashion world has a bizarre obsession with super-thin women; it's a world in which 120 lbs is too fat and needs to be PhotoShopped down.
Here's a theory, for which I know I'll get flak: Compared to other industries, the fashion world is disproportionately staffed by women and gay men. Neither of those demographics are famous for their realistic ideas about women's bodies, or what straight men find attractive about them. Perhaps if the industry became a little more diverse -- and had more straight guys as creative directors -- then we'd see more meat on the bones of models in clothing ads.
Below: What Hamilton looks like when she's relatively unretouched.
And finally: An appearance by the author on ABC's Nightline discussing the Lauren fiasco.
Latest Now in MoneyWatch
- Could "web-lining" be dangerous?
- Insurers respond cautiously to contraceptive plan
- Judge: Legally, breastfeeding not related to pregnancy
- Budget deficit drops to $27 billion in January
- Why the Powerball Jackpot is part of my investment strategy
- Is the new VW Beetle diesel worth the money?
- Consumer sentiment highlights risks to recovery
- Valentine blues? 10 best cities to be single
- December trade deficit widens to $48.8 billion
- Alcatel-Lucent returns to profit in 2011
- 6 things never to say in a performance review
- $26B mortgage deal: Who gets the money?
- Friendly's CEO steps down
- Quarterly loss hits $3.3B at Postal Service
- Greeks rail against cuts as EU demands more
- 6 things you should never share on Facebook
- Make moves now to increase financial aid
Latest CBS News Headlines
on Facebook
on CBS News
- Haiti 'Baby Doc' case spurs claim of gov't sway
- Haiti 'Baby Doc' case spurs claim of gov't sway
- Rio police strike exposes marred institution
- Argentine rights workers to Spain: lay off Garzon
on Facebook
- Adele sings a cappella for Anderson Cooper
- Beyonce and Jay-Z post first photos of Blue Ivy Carter
- Adele sings a cappella for Anderson Cooper
on CBS News
