Shocking ad ruffles designer feathers

by Anne Metz (Subscribe to Anne Metz's posts), Posted Sep 27th 2007 at 11:46AM

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Filed under: CELEBRITY STYLE, Celebrity, News

The biggest story to come out of Fashion Week in Milan isn't Jil Sander's new collection or Naomi Campbell's triumphal return to the catwalk; it's a billboard. The shocking Nolita billboard features a photograph of a 27-year-old French woman by the name of Isabella Caro. Next to her 68-pound frame, the poster reads "No Anorexia." Though Caro is not a model, she has suffered from anorexia for 14 years.

The billboard has been endorsed by the Italian Ministry of Health. Officials claim the image promotes responsibility for the worldwide problem of anorexia.

Designers, on the other hand, feel differently. Giorgio Armani challenged the connection between anorexia and the fashion industry, saying, "Even people who take no notice of fashion get anorexic." Dolce and Gabbana echoed that sentiment, pointing out that anorexia is a psychological ailment that has "nothing to do with fashion."

So what do you think of this poster? Is it too much? Do you think it is fair to pin the problem of anorexia on the fashion industry?

Filed under: CELEBRITY STYLE, Celebrity, News

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 18)

Janice 9-28-2007 @ 2:07PM

Yes, I do think that the fashion industry plays well into what a man believes is beautiful. Shattering the personal images of many women no matter where she is in the world.

Mandi 9-28-2007 @ 2:10PM

That's Disgusting!

Mandi 9-28-2007 @ 2:11PM

gross

Lissa 9-28-2007 @ 2:11PM

Anorexia isn't caused by the fashion industry, but they sure don't help make sure it doesn't spread.

Janice 9-28-2007 @ 2:13PM

Yes I do think that the fashion industry helps destoy a womans self image no matter where she lives in this world. This is a MANs perception of beauty.

natalie 9-28-2007 @ 2:57PM

thats just nasty

nickinredoak 9-28-2007 @ 2:14PM

i do think its fair... the fashion industry has made women believe if u cant wear this ur to fat... i watched americas top model last yr... and the winner... jasline... if u go and look at the achives.. ur will see she lost a considerable amount of weight.... is there a connection.... YEAH.. i truely think there is

Jane 9-28-2007 @ 2:16PM

I don't feel like this billboard is pinning the problem on the fashion industry. I feel like it's simply showing the world what anorexia looks like. But I don't see how this is going to help anorexics, who look at this woman and think she has the "perfect" body. On the other hand, there actually are models that aren't much bigger than this woman. So I do believe the world of fashion needs to wake up and stop denying the unhealthy image they put out.

LWOOD 9-28-2007 @ 3:42PM

SINCE I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE ANOREXIC...OR HOW THIS CAN HAPPEN...I CAN ONLY SAY THE VISION IS GORY.

nickinredoak 9-28-2007 @ 2:18PM

i truely believe the fashion industry has alot to do with anerixia... i watched americas top model last year... and if u seen it u will agree the winner jasline... lost a considerable amount of weight.. a connection... yeah i think so...

Gina 9-28-2007 @ 2:22PM

I'm 48 and when I was a kid the smallest adult woman's size was a "3", which only A VERY FEW select stores carried; most stores only carried sizes 5/6-13/14. The average adult woman then was a size 12, which is the same as it is today.
So do I think today's fashion industry has anything to do with anorexia?!
YOU BET YOUR NON-EXISTENT ASS I DO!!

Jane 9-28-2007 @ 2:22PM

I don't feel like this billboard is pinning the problem on the fashion industry. I feel like it's simply showing the world how scary anorexia looks. However, there actually are models (and celebrities) that aren't much bigger than this woman. So I do believe the world of fashion needs to wake up and stop denying the unhealthy image they put out. If she was maybe 20 lbs. heavier and had on stylish clothes, this could easily be an ad for a fashion company.

Angel 9-28-2007 @ 2:22PM

To say anorexia isn't influenced by fashion is rediculous. When you take a healthy average girl and tell her she's "fat" or needs to loose a few pounds for the sake of a dress...that's sick. Look at Britney Spears, yea she's got issues and yea she shouldn't have worn that outfit...but for a mom of 2...she's way ahead of the curve. So yea, media...fashion... hollywood-mentality as a whole have alot to do with anorexia.

ALgurl27 9-28-2007 @ 2:23PM

no that isn't too much. how can they say anorexia has nothing to do with fashion. 95% of they're models have eating disorders. and the only reason women feel ashamed of their bodies is because the fashion and entertainment industry portray that the only way you can be physically attractive and sexy is to be a size 2 or smaller. i was a size 5 when i got into modeling and they told me i was too fat.

camilleclaudel 9-28-2007 @ 2:24PM

Bravo Italy!
The Fashion Industry has everything to do with the matter of anorexia and bulemia. Society is bombarded with advertisements every day that show women depicted as sex objects and human clothes hangers.
Most designers will openly admit that they NEED models that are stick skinny so the clothes will "hang better". Fit models range from size 4-8.
We all know that is NOT the size of the average woman.
In general, average, impressional young women are getting the messages loud and clear from the fashion industry every day that stick-thin is the only way to be, and in order to bring their bodies down to that size, the only way to do it is to starve themselves and work out obsessively.
Fashion industry big-wigs are living on another planet if they are unwilling, unable or just plain stubborn to acknowledge that there is a problem, and they are contributing to it.

DEEDEE 9-29-2007 @ 4:07AM

IF THE SHOE FITS ...WEAR IT. I HATE TO SAY THIS BUT IT IS VERY TRUE...DESIGNERS AND MODEL AGENCIES HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THE "SHAPE & SIZE" OF WHAT IS CONSIDERERED BEAUTIFUL YET YOU ALL STILL HAVE THESE WOMEN ON YOUR RUNWAYS THAT LOOK LIKE THEY HAVEN'T HAD A GOOD MEAL IN WEEKS.....NOT ONLY DO YOUR SUPER SKINNY MODELS REPRESENT LESS THAN 20% OF WOMEN IN REAL LIFE POPULATIONS BUT YOU GIVE OUR YOUTH THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY NEED TO BE A SIZE 0 TO BE BEAUTIFUL....IT'S SAD AND IT'S UNREALISTIC....SOMEONE OUGHT TO DO SOMETHING DOES ANYONE HAVE THE BALLS ?????? DEE-DEE ...HAPPY ASS HELL IN MY SIZE 8...

sally 9-28-2007 @ 2:26PM

You can never be too rich or too thin...oh wait a minute...I guess
you CAN be too thin...

Heather 9-28-2007 @ 2:25PM

So what do you think of this poster? Is it too much? Do you think it is fair to pin the problem of anorexia on the fashion industry?

In my opinion and the answer to this question. I do blame the fashion industry. There the ones that put so much pressure on women and men about what a "perfect person looks like". They have the money and the power to influence all types of people trying to be what is normal weight, and then it gets carried away to becoming a disease. I blame the people who are so easily influenced too. They should be stronger on the inside and out to find out who they are as people and not a "look". Lets face it people it is a lot easier to eat and puke or to not eat at all than it is to go to the gym. But if people of popularity are doing it then it must be ok. It is just a matter of inner strength and what you are trying to accomplish as far as body size.
I had a friend tell me that she was anorexic because she didn't want to go to the gym and gain muscle under her fat. She must have missed health class a few times to many. She said it was easier to loose weight faster. She got carried away. She is 28 years old, 5'7" and 86 lbs and her Dr. wont even release her to go back to work at a Dr's office because she isn't strong and healthy enough. But I bet she could get a modeling job.

BJ Byrem 9-30-2007 @ 3:09PM

Of course there is a connection. It may not be that anorexia is rampant in the fashion industry, but the role model they set for young women is that "you can never be too thin". Isn't this what encourages the anorexic. This worship of "thin" may not cause us all to develop anorexia, but it certainly isn't doing anything to discourage it in people who already have thing "mind bent".

linda 9-28-2007 @ 2:30PM

I see nothing about fashion in this ad. It just looks like a death camp person. I know nothing about anorexia, and think this poor soul needs help-badly

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