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Is skinny the norm again? Shifts in beauty standards are recognized as a cyclical pattern in society which happens to directly tie into the world of fashion. By analyzing other periods of time in history we can observe how the appearance of the “ideal” woman has changed particularly in regards to physique. For many years being slim was deemed to be a qualifier for entry into a career in modeling, with the exclusivity increasing for bigger luxury brands. More recently, the “Body Positivity” movement gained traction and resulted in the embracing of diversity, straying away from the skinny standard. A number of brands enlisted representation from women who did not fit the traditional mold, notably plus size and curvy women. Many additionally made a point to advocate for representation by offering variety in sizes and styles. However, it seems as though the standards are changing now as aesthetics like "Heroin Chic" have returned. Some question how genuine the actions that seemed to align with acceptance were.
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Inclusivity has been championed through movements like “Body Positivity” that promote a healthy acceptance of diversity in body types. Pressure has been placed on the fashion industry to take accountability for upholding strict expectations that lead to dangerous perspectives on self image. Social media is one of the largest avenues that this pressure has been applied through. It could be considered successful as brands and companies began to create space for different types of women in the form of campaigns, lines, and model representation. The plight of finding fashionable and appropriately fitting clothes has been expressed for a while, along with the negative emotions that stem from a lack of representation. These are among a few of the reasons why this societal expansion was widely perceived as a win. Big name brands like Nike and Aerie to smaller brands like Girlfriend Collective exemplify the implementation of this change.
Although there is still a significant presence within the industry that promotes and upholds the values that align with body positivity, there is no denying that a shift has occurred and is currently unfolding. It is apparent when viewing the newer appearances of celebrities and influencers, the types of models on runways, as well as the popular content circulating on the web. Some reference the current Kardashian aesthetic as one of the early indicators for the start to this transformation. The end of the “BBL” era and return to slimmer frames, speaks to what has become a trendy outlook on body standards far beyond the context of plastic surgery, as women with similar features aren’t excluded from the impacts. Chioma Nnadi, The Editorial Director of British Vogue highlights the issue, "We're in this moment where we're seeing the pendulum sort of swing back to skinny being 'in' and often these things are treated like a trend and we don't want them to be." She attributes factors such as the rise of Ozempic to being a catalyst in the cultural shift and re-emergence of the relative trends.
As momentum seems to grow, so do concerns about the implications of returning to a state where skinny is associated with the concept of ideal beauty. Worries have been expressed as these changes can be viewed as a regression on a journey that only recently began. What do you think was the main influence behind this shift and where do you think it’s headed? Can we anticipate the trends changing again or is the traditional norm being reinstated?
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