U.K. Government May Ban Thin Models

Taking a cue from Madrid, U.K. government officials are hoping to tell fashion designers how to run their businesses.

Cultural Secretary Tessa Jowell is among those calling for ultra-thin models to be banned from London Fashion Week — after a similar move by Madrid's fashion week. Her comments were echoed by Lib Dem London Assembly member Dee Doocey on Tuesday. "With eating disorders on the increase, it is irresponsible to be glorifying unnatural images that put impressionable girls' and women's health at risk," she said.

A British child psychiatrist who studies eating disorders, Jon Goldin, thinks that opponents of svelte runway models are being a bit alarmist. He told the BBC News website:

"It would be simplistic to say there is a clear relationship between seeing a model on the catwalk and the development of eating disorders."

Simplistic or not, the thinness cops are undeterred. Now it's models they want to prevent from working. Next, will they outlaw pictures of Calista Flockhart and Lindsay Lohan? Crack down on diet foods, which after all sell the notion that 'thin is in'? Confiscate Barbie dolls and use them to fuel a sacrificial bonfire?

Just for comparison's sake, the leftmost photo is a picture of Cultural Secretary Tessa Jowell, who (you could argue) is 'normal' and 'healthy' — in short, an example that she apparently feels others must emulate.

Next to Ms. Jowell's picture is a shot of a model who Madam Secretary would like to ban from the runway.

Which of the two would you prefer to see in beautiful clothes (or without any, for that matter)? Nuff said?

Comments

[David]

Which of the two would you prefer to see in beautiful clothes? Nuff said?

Definitely Ms. Jowell, if the alternative is seeing her without any.

I love to think there's a point when people realize that you can't ban everything. Unfortunately, I've seen a local cases where following one statute causes a person to break another.

[Jozef]

Forget clothes. The important question is whom I'd like to see *without* clothes...