Who says a size 12 doesn’t look as good as a size 0?

The picture above is just part of a spread shot by Terry Richardson for V Magazine. The magazine will be on newsstands January 14, but for now you can preview it at Refinery 29. It will be interesting to see how this impacts the fledgling “real people as models” movement. From what I can see, Richardson (of all people!) makes a good case for the sexy non-stick hanger.

 Loving this shoot by V Magazine showing that bigger girls can rock hot clothes too, it truly puts a smile on my face. Theres so many girls out there that lose there confidence when they see all the “skinny” girls and then they think they are unable to wear certain clothes, which is true, but only to a certain extent. It’s how you wear clothes that really depicts how you look not your size, so this shoot really pleases me, very positive message. I like.

Photography By: Terry Richardson

IMG|SOURCE: FGR

The latest controversy in the industry is V magazine featuring two models:  a size 0 model, Jacquelyn Jablonksu and a plus size model, Crystal Renn. The story is an inside editorial for V Magazine’ s Januray issue called “On Size Fits All”. I am loving the idea! The magazine is openly addressing an issue that has been going on for decades, demonstrating that every body type can be equally beautiful. What do you think?

V magazine’s upcoming issue on newstands Jan. 14th, is the “size” issue, with spreads proving that being an average size can do all kinds of things for sexy.

See more photos at V magazine’s website, as well as previewed by models.com.

Crystal Renn is the plus-sized model featured in the spread and as reported by the Huffington Post: Renn told the AP in an interview, “I’d like to see everyone take on the attitude that there are women of all different shapes and sizes as ‘the beauty ideal,’ and that it’s not one type or another. There are women who are naturally a size 2–you can’t forget them, and that’s discrimination the other way. All women bring something different to the table and we have to appreciate them all.”

“The Size Issue”

V Magazine Issue#63

In this issue Terry Richardson features plus-sized model Crystal Renn along side a traditional model-size zero, Jacquelyn Jablonski. Wearing identical looks, the models are similarly posed to prove a point. To prove that bright, form-fitting fashion can not only work on girl with a 24 inch waist but can also look just as fashionable around Renn’s 41 inch hips.

Word has been going round for some time now about V Magazine’s ‘Size Issue’ - which will be hitting stands on January 14th – and finally we get to see what all the fuss is about with these images. Showing 5′9″ beauty and plus size model Crystal Renn next to ‘regular’ model Jacquelyn Jablonski, the spread suggests ‘One Size Fits All’, with both women shown in similar poses and identical high-fashion attire from the likes of Proenza Schouler and Dolce and Gabbana.

V Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Stephen Gan recently told New York Post:

‘Big, little, pint-size, plus size – every body is beautiful. And this issue is out to prove it.’

The magazine follows Glamour, who ran a ‘Plus Size Issue’ this November and who have also featured the likes of Renn on other occasions, without the urge to highlight her slightly-larger-than-normally-shown body.

It is this need for magazines to declare an issue dedicated to size that seems a little worrying. By creating just ONE magazine that celebrates all sizes, the isolated issue itself admits the industry’s problem in ignoring larger ladies in editorial shots for the remaining eleven months of the year.

What’s even more hilarious is the fact that Karl Lagerfeld - who notoriously stated that nobody wants to see curvy women – has been involved with the issue alongside photographers Terry Richardson and Bruce Weber.

Judging from these photos, Renn is looking as hot as ever, but with measurements of 36-31-41 , is she really the definition of ‘real women’? Well, of course not. I know, I know, we’ve heard it all before: designers don’t make sample sizes big enough so magazines don’t get a choice in the matter… blah blah. But still, this is bound to get people talking. Plus, I like a good rant.

Despite the mini attack, I do look forward to seeing the full outcome of January’s V Magazine. I just wish that issues like this weren’t such a departure from normality.

Images

'One Size Fits All' by Terry Richardson

Size zero? That’s so two-thousand-and-late! And here’s the proof: Photographer Terry Richardson (also responsible for the 2010 Pirelli calendar) put two different sized models side-by-side in the same outfit.

Plus size model and author of ‘Hungry’ Crystal Renn and fresh face Jacquelyn Jablonski show off the season’s most sizzling looks., with a powerful effect that proves that fashion can flatter any figure.

The V magazine ‘Size Issue’ (issue #63) does not hit newsstands before January 14th 2010.

Photography: Terry Richardson, Styling: Mel Ottenberg

Photography: Terry Richardson, Styling: Mel Ottenberg

Photography: Terry Richardson, Styling: Mel Ottenberg

Just a blink-and- you- miss- it post today pointing you in the direction of the latest post on The Curvy Fashionista. Marie Denee gives us a preview of the much anticipated plus size issue of V Magazine, featuring the always gorgeous Crystal Renn going head to head with straight size model, Jacquelyn Jablonski. Go there now. The issue hits the street on Jan 14th.

Here we go again.

V magazine has jumped in on the trend and has dedicated its January issue to “plus-size” models. In an attempt to prove that “everybody is beautiful” (as said by editor Stephen Gan), the mag shows a waif thin model side-by-side with a so-called “plus-size” model (in reality, I don’t see anything “plus-size” about her). Just in case you’re curious, here are their measurements:

• Jacquelyn (left): 5 ft, 9 in; 32/24/34

• Crystal Renn (right): 5 ft, 9 in; 36/31/41

Despite both wearing the same designer clothes, in my opinion, the “big girl” rocks it way more than her skinny counterpart.

It’s nice that magazines are featuring “bigger” girls, but why go out and specifically call an issue “special” just because of the fact that you’re using normal-sized girls. Why not make this a common thing? There’s not one ideal size, one ideal weight, or one ideal image of beauty. Why use one standard type of model repeatedly?

As Amy Odell (love her!) wrote in a recent post: “When magazines devote entire issues to that thing that they’ve shunned, it has the effect of tokenizing it.”

Let’s not shun the curvier girls in society.

V, I applaud you for your attempt at recognizing a broader range of beauty. But, would it hurt to include all types of models from now on?

Next time try harder.

Baby steps.

xoxo,

L

Source: The Cut

Terry Richardson rocks my world!

Jacquelyn Jablonski & Crystal Renn by Terry Richardson for V magazine.

Via Fashiongonerogue

V Magazine goes plus size in V63 which hits newsstands January 14th in this editorial shot by Terry Richardson and styled by Mel Ottenberg.

The spread features models Crystal Renn (Sizes 5 ft, 9 in; 36/31/41) and Jacquelyn Jablonski (Sizes 5 ft, 9 in; 32/24/34)

You’ve already heard from us about Crystal Renn appearing in a forthcoming issue of V Magazine.  Well, thanks to the the Daily Mail we now have a first look and absolutely love what we see!

The premise of the V Magazine’s editorial is straight size versus plus size and the two models featured are none other than Ford Models’ Jacquelyn Jablonski and Crystal Renn. Upon first glance the story might suggest a tension between the two models and their respective sizes, but look more carefully at the pictures and you soon realize the tension is pure artifice because in fact both models are beautiful.

Full marks to V Magazine for this story.

See more pictures from the forthcoming V Magazine editorial featuring Crystal Renn and Jacquelyn Jablonski by reading Tamara Abraham’s article in the Daily Mail.

Jacquelyn Jablonski vs Crystal Renn (Photography by Terry Richardson)

HIYA!

Bet you didn’t think you’d be hearing from me this side of 2009, right? I’ve been in enforced fashion hibernation for the past few months. But I’m counting down the seconds till 2010 when hopefully I’ll be able to join in the fun again.

In the meantime, I’m sure all you savvy fatshionistas have heard the news about V Magazine’s size issue, due out in January! It promises to be super exciting and fabulous, even despite the inclusion of Karl (two pints of)Lager(and a packet of crisps for the fatties)feld. Models.com and V have released preview pictures of one of the shoots, called One Size Fits All. I see what you did there. It shows straight-size model Jacquelyn Jablonski and plus-size supermodel Crystal Renn in a series of near identical shots, which manages to prove the point that we’re all trying to make here: size is irrelevant to the supposedly-sacred ‘fashion fantasy‘ pearl-clutching fashion zealots use repeatedly as a reasoning to abandon models above size 2. Because look, here’s a 2 and a 12, and they’re BOTH workin’ it! Have one example, where they look spookily like an American Apparel ad:

Who looks better? Actually that’s kind of an irrelevant question – they both look incredible, don’t they? I have to admit I’d have loved a Velvet D’Amour or a Johanna Dray in a modern shoot like this, but I’ll take any high fashion size acceptance that I can. And damn, do I want a necklace like theirs.

Check out the full size shots here or see Frances of Corpulent’s take on it here.

Both photos are copyrighted to V Magazine and Models.com and were taken by Terry Richardson. More shoot previews are coming in the next few days. Thanks for spoiling us at Christmas, all of you! Mwah!

¿Será que el mundo está cambiando? Meses después de que la revista Glamour hiciera su edición especial con modelos de talla grande, V Magazine seguirá esta tendencia para su edición de enero 2010.

“Grandes, pequeños, medio litro, tallas grandes…Cada cuerpo es hermoso y esta edición lo probará”, comenta Stephen Gan editor de V.

Estas son una de las primeras  imágenes de esta edición, publicada por Models, y muestra una doble visión…la misma ropa pero tallas diferentes con la modelos Crystal Renn y Jacquelyn Jablonski con el título One Size Fits All Day 1.

Nota: Modelos como Crystal Renn son plus size por no ser talla cero y realmente no representan lo que es una verdadera mujer de talla grande, pero sea una moda pasajera o no, estas tendencias editoriales pueden significar un cambio…una señal de que los mega cuerpos y las curvas se reposicionen en las pasarelas 

Copenhagen is the subject that should be on everyone’s minds. The world is dying – global warming is the single biggest issue to affect us and still world leaders can’t commit to doing anything about it. Instead of getting up and demanding action – most people don’t seem that bothered.

Most papers and magazines make mention of the issues but nearly every magazine, and most tabloid papers, instead are filled with pictures of celebrities. Beyoncé has cellulite, Jennifer Anniston is too thin, Keira Knightly needs a burger – this kind of drivel is everywhere and these publications are flying off the shelves. 

Our nation appears obsessed with weight and tabloids hound celebrities to lose weight or gain pounds on a day-to-day basis.

It’s nearly Christmas time and the mounds of mince pies, Yule logs and all things festive, sweet and bad for you are piling up. In the lead up to Christmas there is a never-ending supply of sugar filled goods around in most offices.

As it’s only once a year everyone forgets their strict dietary regimes and puts off the scales until the New Year resolutions set in, and why not – we might as well enjoy the festive season as it does only come around once a year.

Our obsession with weight has once again riled its inquisitive head and the pro-size debate has emerged with more force than ever in the January ‘Size’ issue of V Magazine. Following pro-size publications in both the US Glamour and the German Brigitte another magazine is following suit.

Crystal Renn, a plus-size top model, and other slightly curvier than your average models will be appearing in the January issue, which is aimed at all shapes and sizes.

In a month when most of us are desperately trying to lose extra Christmas pounds, it will be a refreshing change to see real women in the magazine instead of the impossibly thin waifs that usually fill the pages of most mainstream mags.

And guess who will be photographing these normal sized women – famous photographers including Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, Terry Richardson, Bruce Weber and you guessed it Karl “no one wants to see curvy women” Lagerfeld. It seems the fashion don has joined the bandwagon and no longer thinks curvy women should stay out of the catwalk – a Christmas miracle? or an excellent publicity stunt?

V Magazine’s editor-in-chief , Stephen Gan, said: “Big, little, pint-size, plus-size – every body is beautiful. And this issue is out to prove it.”

The fashion industry and its critics are forever obsessing over the weight of celebrities and models alike, and by creating this special issue the magazine is highlighting the fact that these women are different from the average model.

Fashion and celebrity blog Jezebel said:  ”The flip side of highlighting one kind of model in a ’special’ issue is that they’re actually being segregated, placed in a ghetto, away from the other ‘real’ models.”

However much this is true I still think it’s a good move towards making the fashion industry more acceptable and allows much of the female population to feel a bit better when glancing through the latest edition of their favourite fashion magazine.

Glamour’s and Brigitte’s plans do seem to be more long-term than V’s one off edition. Brigitte is to replace size zero models with normal women  from next year, and Glamour has stated  it would be “committing to picturing a wide range of body types in our pages.”

The plus size models in V’s January edition are an average UK size 12-14 and as the UK average female size is a 16 –  it’s hardly representative of our nation.

But the fashion industry, which stringently clings on to it’s size 0 models, is beginning to change – it is a tiny step but we can hope, while writing our new years resolutions, that in  2011 models will include more normal sized women.

Maybe in the new year we will stop talking about weight and start worrying about the future of the world…however, if this year’s headlines are anything to go by it’s unlikely we  will get bored of this compulsive obsession - the issue will rage on well into 2011.

There is so much happening at Ford Models these days that it’s often a challenge to get this blog. We couldn’t, however let this story pass without comment. In case you haven’t heard, Crystal Renn will appear in a special issue of V Magazine devoted to plus size models. According to New York Magazine Crystal and other models will appear photographed by Terry Richardson and Bruce Weber amongst others.

It is no surprise that Crystal leads this story because the fact is there’s not another plus model (let alone model!) like her. Crystal long ago crashed fashion’s party and made it possible for plus models to appear on their own terms. Full figured, gorgeous, and the warmest personality are but a few qualities that make Crystal every editor’s dream.

Read more: “V Magazine to Devote January Issue to Plus-Size Models” — The Cut

Crystal Renn (Photo: Patrick McMullan)

I’ve been remiss about posting cover shots over the past few months, so here’s a recap of the cream and the sludge of the magazine cover crop for November and December! It isn’t too bad this time around, only a few serious flops…

The Good

A rockabilly Natalie Portman manages to look tough and fierce on V, guess her SNL skit wasn't far off!

Lily Cole gets the psychedelic treatment on November's Dazed and Confused

Can you think of a more perfectly cast model than Abbey Lee for this Where the Wild Things Are-inspired cover??

A great image invokes emotion and inspires dreams and this cover certainly is a great image! Arlenis Sosa Pena creates the ideal tableau for the NY Times' Travel Winter 2009 magazine

Strong '80s cover featuring a flawless Toni, who's a little dead in the eyes, but it's a striking image nonetheless

Luca Gadjus & Karolin Wolter double up for Vogue Deutsch

Interview gives layers K. Stew times three and gives her stunning eyes

Penelope (a bit unrecognizable) gets sultry for Interview's December/January issue

Jourdan Dunn and Chanel Iman are so fresh and clean on Teen Vogue's November cover. Simple but pretty and the diversity is always appreciated

Devon Aoki is dreamy for December's Numéro Tokyo

Daria Werbowy is ultra-luxe and dramatic on Vogue Russia's cover, those cat eyes!

The Mediocre

Cate Blanchett is regal on Vogue's staid and classy November cover - typical!

Isabeli Fontana is great, but the graffiti headlines are overpowering

Linda E. classic, but looking tired, on W's art issue

Abbey Lee's everywhere and I don't mind, but this is a distracting cover

Something about this cover is dull, even though Karlie is death staring/voguing the hell out of it

So '90s it hurts! But VS newbie Elyse Taylor looks quite pretty in a beach-ready way

Oh, the ultra-controversial cover - Photoshopped or not? Demi is still attractive for her age but the cover is a bore otherwise

Caroline Trentini gets her first cover in awhile, but her face looks... not so good

Tina Fey is a surprise cover girl for November Bazaar and she looks dang surprised about it too

This Laetitia Casta-devoted issue gets extremely dark on the cover, not really a fan of Laetitia styled in this way

A Marilyn-inspired cover that coulda been good if that had chosen a better shot

Sasha P looks more eccentric than usual on Vogue Nippon

The Bad

Even though they had these four ladies from Nine together, it still looks like they've been Photoshopped from separate shoots and it's best not to focus too closely on Nicole Kidman's face. Yikes.

SJP lookin' ok on Elle, but her outfit is a WTF

I have been reading with interest about V magazines decision to shoot all plus model for their latest issues, with even notorious fat-hater Kaiser Karl Lagerfeld shooting beauties such as Crystal Renn and Kate Dillon.

I’ve not been able to find all the pics online yet but have been reading various blog forums with interest; opinion seems to be divided between praising V for their stance and slamming these girls for being just as an unhealthy role model than the super-skinny catwalk girls.

My opinion falls somewhere between the two; I think V is to be applauded for pushing the boundaries of what is accepted as beautiful, although I long for the day when this sort of thing isn’t an anamoly.

I also long for the day when magazines start featuring girls who aren’t super skinny nor super curvy; the day when models are celebrated for their healthy, womanly bodies. Saying that I don’t think many would disagree with me that Crystal looks beautiful in this pic…

I was reading up on Jezebel.com (a staple website, no matter how many times I disagree with the editors/writers), when I encountered their new piece on V Magazine’s special edition all plus size model issue.
What I found surprising was Karl Lagerfeld’s name attached to the project. Lagerfeld being one of my fashion Idols of Holiness, has been no stranger to criticism of the plus sized industry, or better yet “curvy women”. He’s definitely not for it, and as a “plus sized” woman, I find it a little disheartening that I will never hope to find a Lagerfeld outfit in my size.
Somehow, he IS attached to the V magazine special issue as a photographer, but why? Why have someone so anti-fat do a phootshoot of women who are curvy, or fat? Fat, next to “regular” models.
Simply I do not understand and find it flip floppy of Lagerfeld.
Another example is with Beth Ditto. Lagerfeld’s comments were right before tapping Beth Ditto and the Gossip (the band she’s in) to play the big Fendi party..how does that make any sense? On top of which, reports from the party itself came out how Lagerfeld was gushing over Ditto.
Should he even be “allowed” to partake in such a photo shoot, where “curvy” women are the new “It” thing, despite being vocal against it?

ANOTHER issue I have is with the amazing sisters behind Rodarte. One of them is “plus sized” but their clothing isn’t. Is it fair that their clothes reach just a size 12, and one of the designers doesn’t? In by no means an attack on them as individuals or designers, I don’t think it’s right that their clothing is solidly for “regular” girls. Why haven’t they branched out? I deem it very sizest of them. And while I don’t know future plans of theirs, it just bugs me that plus size clothing in most stores are limited to oversized tee shirts and grannyish sweaters. Or pleated trousers with elastic waists, in garish colors or patterns that even more scream: “Hey! I’m a fatty! Look at my clothes for proof!” Maybe they plan to expand their clothing demographic?
I am also realize that just because one of the sisters (Kate Mulleavy) is plus sized does not mean she has to be the designer to torch the way for fashionable plus size clothing. I get it. But I’m sure she’s struggled trying to find clothes to fit her style needs. Why not help the cause?
I also am aware of stores like Torrid, but I don’t shop there. Unfortunately for me, I am one of the few girls who’s “thin” in Torrid sizing. But then I’m considered “too large” in other trendy places like Hot Topic (finding cute tee’s is always a bitch).
Consider also that most fabrics and materials used for plus sized clothing are cheap, stretchable materials mostly in horrendous patterns and colors. It evidently always feels like a lose-lose situation.
It’s reasons stated above that I think Rodarte should extend their clothing sizes. Who wouldn’t be willing to pay the money for their amazing clothes? I would.

Of course it always goes back to the original issue: Plus size models. The issue being that a plus size model, like Crystal Renn is not really at all, a plus sized woman. Both are incredibly different from the other. Plus size models are thin in comparison, with lovely curvy waists. Plus size women are differently shaped, be it apple, or pear shaped. Plus size models are really sizes 10 through 12, as stated in the Jezebel article. Meanwhile the average woman is a size 14.
But since plus size models like Renn are currently all the rage right now, where does that leave the normal average plus sized woman who doesn’t come even close to look like that?
We developed eating disorders to look like Kate Moss, or Cindy Crawford. To what extent, if at all, will we go to achieve the Coca Cola bottle look of Crystal Renn? This all being the extreme case scenario to fit a certain unattainable look.

First it was Jennifer Hudson. Then it was Beth Ditto. Then Glamour featured a plus-seized woman.  Now V Magazine will be devoting their January issue to plus-size models.

What makes the issue even more interesting is that Karl Lagerfeld will be one of the photographers capturing these plus-size models (If you remember Karl has had some not-so-nice things to say about larger women in the past).

I’m actually interested in seeing what V Magazine deems plus-size models. Lara Stone?

-Septembre