...well only throughout Suffolk, but since when has that been the point? I was called yesterday by Radio Suffolk, who wanted to feature the Mark Fast London Fashion Week story from the point of view of someone who thought bigger models was something we should be pleased about.
Of course, I jumped at the chance like a little terrier, and this morning I got to say my piece about the whole thing. Of course I made the point that there was an element of PR involved, with the Walks Beyond the Catwalk exhibition only opening on 18th September. But I also tried to push the point that the catwalk wasn't really a place where we should expect to see a sea change in model sizes. Catwalks, my lovelies, aren't even meant for people who shop in Next or Monsoon. They are a back slapping, self congratulatory luvvie fest designed for fashion editors and the in-crowd to "Oooooh" and "Aaaaah" about an inappropriate creation that doesn't even look good on a size 00 Albanian teenager.
Don't get me wong, I love the catwalk shows. I love 'Project Runway' and I pore over Grazia every week even though it annoys the crap out of me. But much as I applaud what happened with the size 14 models this week, I'm not under any illusions that we're about to be swamped by Beth Ditto-alikes, bursting lusciously from domino print dresses and strutting their wobbly bits like they mean business.
It's in the interest of the fashion industry to stay elitist. The people at the 'everyday' end of the market will cater for the curvy girls, because they know they have to diversify to stay afloat. As the models get skinnier, the people buying the clothes are getting bigger and the High Street needs to reflect the needs of its customers. But London Fashion Week isn't about Top Shop and Dorothy Perkins. It's about showing off. It's about 'the collection' that might be picked up by Harvey Nicks or Harrods but most of us will only see on the pages of the supplements dedicated to telling us what's 'in' and 'out' next season. So while we might see the occasional model with a discernible shape, I genuinely don't believe for a minute that introducing size 12 and 14 models is going to become the norm. Wouldn't it be fab if it was though?
The Interview: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/radio/bbc_radio_suffolk/ (James Hazell, 22 September. I'm first on at 9:40)
Oh my God! You are an iconoclast, Sarah. To come up with the idea that thin models are because fashion designers are lazy is utter genius. You've GOT TO get that into the zeitgeist!
Even better - thin models are a way of getting around a lack of talent.
Look back to the 1940s and 50s and designers had to use skill and talent to create beautiful outfits for women who were woman shaped and not straight up and down. That sort of skill has died and today anyone can be a designer because anyone can draw a piece of cloth that hangs well on an ironing board and then get some sweatshop machinist to run it up.
With today's shapeless models there is no need for design students to develop the dressmaking skills essential in the past.
So the whole thin model thing is a smokescreen.
Bring back proper fashion designers who can make clothes for the actual people buying them!
Get this out there.
Create the change you want to see in the world.