Does trendy mean skinny? In a time when bullying, eating disorders and body image issues are even more on the rise, why would companies that target teens and women intentionally advertise for the “perfect body” or exclude anyone over a size small? Is it because they want their company name to be relevant regardless of the negativity? Or do they truly believe being cool is only for those with a certain body type? Regardless of the answer, these companies are contributing to these issues girls and women are dealing with every day. The irresponsibility of Abercrombie, Lulu Lemon and Victoria’s Secret are just a few who have made it clear that in order to be cool, trendy or beautiful you need to have a body that is not only fit, but small in size as well. Another company that is popular with teens is Brandy Melville. The clothes are fun, flirty and fashionable but they only come in one size, small. Although the label can state “one size”, only a select few can wear these clothes. This is a clever way to discriminate against anyone who may not fit those smaller proportions.
Teen girls and women need to be vigilant against these body shaming companies as this negative message is contributing to the negative body images and eating disorders that frequently begin in adolescence. It can start quite innocently but if a teen has friends who can wear these clothes and she cannot or doesn’t like the way she looks because of the fit, there is a good chance an innocent desire to look better can go down a dangerous path. That isn’t to say everyone who decides to change their appearance will have an eating disorder, but with the pressure to be part of the “popular” crowd and to “fit in” there is a real possibility this girl will either start to hate the way she looks or take extreme measures to make sure she can wear these clothes. Additionally, why should she have to change? She should be accepted and embraced by clothing companies as well as others to be herself and not have to change to their unattainable standards.
Companies that embrace women’s differences, body types and sell clothing that is flattering to all sizes, need to be recognized. ModCloth not only sells to many body types but has models of all sizes on their website, as does American Eagle. Both stores stopped airbrushing their models and now put women who are true representations of today’s teens on their stores’ websites. More realistic and positive images of teens are shown in trendy clothing that comes in a variety of sizes. Uniqueness, individuality, and various shapes, sizes and heights are what make girls interesting and attractive. These differences should be embraced and celebrated instead of trying to persuade girls to conform to one standard. There is enough pressure, socially, with teens. Let’s be responsible and help them to have the confidence to be themselves, express their opinions and wear the clothes that make them feel good!
