WHAT AGE IS "UNDERAGE" IN RUNWAY?
The CFDA wants designers to stop using models who are under 16 in their runway shows. This is obviously a contentious issue in the modeling/fashion world. Marc Jacobs has flatly stated that he'll use young models if he damn well pleases, and he does.
“There are children actors and children models for catalogs and stuff, so I guess if a parent thinks it’s O.K. and a kid wants to do it, it’s fine,” Jacobs said.
Below are models Ondria Hardin and Thairine Garcia who walked in Jacobs' show yesterday. . . both girls are 15 (Thairine just barely).
Honestly, I think making sure that the runway models are healthy (ie: not starving themselves) is way more important than their ages.
What do you guys think about 14/15 year olds walking runway shows?
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| Above: Ondria in Jacobs' show |
Below is Thairine. . . I just don't believe that this girl just BARELY turned 15. . . how is that possible? She looks like a grown woman. . . well, at least 20.
posted by Rackk and Ruin at
14.2.12
14 Comments:
They really do not look their age. Perhaps these designers are going for that 20something year old look with but with a 15year old body.
I was watching a movie not too long ago about a model and there was a section in the movies when they discuss age. Many of the models even the ones who were barely teenagers agreed that they should not be exposed to the sort of things that happen in the modeling world at least not until they were old enough to make sound decisions on their own.
I am not sure why designers do not find it odd that they have to consult a childs parent about work....why not hire a model old enough to actually make her/his own decision.
Strange.
wow, really amazing beauty.
I find Jacob's argument, "there are children actors and children models for catalogs and stuff..." entirely ridiculous. Yes, there are children models for CHILDREN'S clothes. Those kids aren't dressed up in adult women's clothes and sexualized the way runway models are. In the first two shots I feel like the girls look scarily young, like they are playing dress up. It's not until they are slathered in makeup that they could pass for any older.
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Marc Jacobs exploits young girls with the objective of making money. I would find it hard to believe if Marc Jacobs really cared less about the welfare of these girls. I agree with the CDFA.
i work in fashion and we had a fitting before the show with a girl who was had just turned 15. she was sick, fending off some kind of cold, and spent the day changing in and out of clothes occasionally grabbing a sip of juice when she could. no one batted an eye and her mother was not even there. just because a parent is ok with that sort of situation does not make it all well and good. exploitation of child actors, models, whatever often starts at home with parents making decisions that benefit themselves not their children.
your text is way to small for large pics like the one you post, fix it Molly pehleez!
Girls can be any age in runnways they're not there to make sex but to show the clothes to the public, that's all folx:)
what i think is is that the people flicking through magazines and watching these shows are seeing these child like figures and might think that only they can look good in those clothes which might lead to some rather unhealthy consequences :/ xx
wow amazing pictures. didnt think they' be so young.
Love Lois xxx
http://lisforlois.blogspot.com/
I think pandora's box has already been opened, theres no use in trying to shut it now. Not that i totally approve of it, but if someone's parents want their child to model, who am i to tell them they shouldn't?
Oh, and toddlers and tiaras, anyone? At least fashion is an art form, i can imagine pageants are ten times more psychologically damaging.
On movie and television sets, they have tutors and other arrangements so that the child doesn't miss schooling or work as hard as the adults. I'm having a hard time understanding why fashion doesn't adhere to these standards.
Jacobs may treat his underage models well but not every designer has his resources, ethics or fear of consequences should his girls suffer poor treatment. If less ethical designers and agents follow his example of using very young models then they will feel no need to comply with the guidelines any more than Jacobs did. The notion that it must be OK since the parents are allowing it to happen is one crazy argument. In some 3rd world nations parents routinely sign their children up to work in sweat shops. Does that make it OK? It is the responsibility of the agents and designers to respect these girls, compensate them fairly and regulate themselves as an industry before someone steps in and does it for them.
Child actors are treated well and paid fairly, because of SAG (the Screen Actors Guild). Perhaps it will take something like SAG to get the models a better place at the table.
Right now young girls are used for editorials and runway with terrible pay in most cases and by the time they are old enough to stand up for themselves they are too old for the industry. Child actors would never be expected to fend for themselves that way.
Jacobs should be a leader if he wants to make a positive impact in his world. If he doesn't, then I guess selfish indignation will be his lasting impact.
I like this conversation and it raises issues that are part of a bigger picture; women/girls in modeling are part of a larger male dominated capitalist regime that is interested in harvesting female sexual power for personal wealth building. Those in power have no interest in paying these girls fairly for their contribution. Doing so would mean lower profits for them.
As part of the larger trend - witness our own federal government convening a panel of ALL MALE participants to determine the future availability of female birth control?
So, these young women need advocates and they need to advocate for themselves as well. SAG is essentially a union for actors but as I understand, there is no equivalent for models? Right now, the only options they have are to opt out, or to be subject to the whims of industry.
Gabrielle is right; just because parents allow it doesn't make it right. Its usually an issue of economics.
Good day
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