When it comes to fashion, the smaller the better seems to be the unspoken rule. In recent years, the trend of wearing size zero clothing has become increasingly popular, especially among young women. But what is size zero, and is it really as fashionable as it seems?
Size zero is a term used to describe extremely thin clothing. It is often associated with the fashion industry, where models and celebrities are often seen sporting size zero dresses and skirts. However, the term can also apply to everyday clothing, such as size zero jeans.
The average woman in America is a size 14, which means that most clothes are not designed for her body type. In fact, many designers only make sizes 0-6, which excludes the majority of women from even being able to try on their clothes. This can be frustrating for women who want to keep up with the latest fashion trends but can’t find anything that fits.
Size zero clothing is often criticized for promoting an unrealistic and unhealthy body type. Some people argue that size zero models are setting a bad example for young girls who are trying to develop a healthy body image. Others say that size zero clothing is simply too small and uncomfortable to be fashionable.
In today’s society, image is considered to be everything. We strive for the “ideal appearance” in order to gain respect. For the current generation, fashion is of utmost importance. Some females aspire to be “size zero.” Our objective is to demonstrate that we are up-to-date on the latest fashions. Recent articles indicate that size zero models are driven mad with their own sizes, becoming anorexic.
According to the National Eating Disorder Association, more than half of college-aged women engage in disordered eating behaviors. (1) This suggests that our generation is especially prone to developing eating disorders. So what exactly is size zero? In the UK and Ireland, a size zero is a women’s dress size 8.
In the US it is a women’s size 4. But in fashion, a size zero can be even smaller. A lot of designers create clothes for very thin models, often 14 years old girls who are still growing. These skinny models are then used to present the clothes on the catwalk or in magazines. As a result, many young girls want to achieve this impossibly thin figure.
The problem is that to achieve a size zero, girls often go to extremes. They follow crash diets and take weight-loss pills. Some even make themselves sick after eating, a condition known as bulimia. This can have serious consequences for their health, both in the short and long term. Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses with potentially fatal physical consequences.
One of the most worrying trends is the increasing number of teenage girls who are dieting to lose weight. In a recent survey, 43% of 9-10 year old girls said they were on a diet, rising to 62% of 11-12 year olds. (2) This suggests that more and more young girls are becoming unhappy with their bodies at an increasingly young age.
I’m personally interested in the fashion business, so I was interested to explore the issue: “Why should or shouldn’t size zero models be allowed to walk on the catwalk?” Size zero models should not be permitted on the catwalk. They are a bad influence on adolescent girls who try to imitate them or want to appear like them. Young females that attempt a “zero” do not grow as they should.
This is a serious problem, as their physical and emotional development is stunted. What is size zero? In the fashion industry, a size zero is considered to be a women’s dress size of 4 US (0 UK, 2 Europe). A size zero model is very thin, often with legs that look like twigs and a chest that resembles a boy’s. These models weigh less than 100 pounds (45 kg) and have a body mass index (BMI) of less than 17.5.
The pressure to be thin has always been an issue in the modeling industry but it was the death of size-zero model Ana Carolina Reston in 2006 that brought the dangers of being too thin into the spotlight. After years of struggling with anorexia, Reston died from multiple organ failure brought on by starvation. She was just 21 years old.
Size zero models are a controversial topic because many people believe that they are setting an unrealistic and dangerous standard for young women. According to the National Eating Disorder Association, as many as 10 million women and 1 million men in the United States suffer from an eating disorder. Of those, an estimated 5-10% will die from their condition.
Eating disorders have a very high mortality rate and size zero models are often seen as contributing to this problem. In 2007, Spain became the first country to ban size zero models from its runways after the death of 22-year-old model Luisel Ramos. France and Italy have since followed suit and implemented similar bans.
Another argument we hear frequently is that size zero places pressure on young women who are overweight. Young women who compare themselves to “zeros” have low self-esteem. They are convinced they are unappealing. To seem like fashion icons, they undergo the emotional strain of undergoing illegal cosmetic surgery, such as tummy tucks.
While the above argument may hold some truth, it’s important to understand that fashion is an industry. Like any other industry, its goal is to sell more products. For the fashion industry, thinner models help sell more clothing. That’s why we see size zero models in every fashion show and on every runway.
What people fail to realize is that these models are not a realistic representation of the average woman. The average woman is a size 14, which is considered plus-size. In fact, 68% of American women wear a size 14 or above.
So why do we continue to see size zero models? Unfortunately, the answer is simple: because it sells clothes. Size zero models help designers sell their garments to a larger audience.
It’s also important to understand that these models are not always naturally thin. In fact, many of them have eating disorders. They may suffer from conditions like anorexia or bulimia, which can be extremely dangerous.
So while size zero models may be the ideal representation of fashion, they are not a realistic representation of the average woman. And that’s something we need to keep in mind when we compare ourselves to them.