For years, the media and fashion industry has been the target of blame for eating disorders and low self-esteem among young women. I've recently begun to wonder how the obesity epidemic can be coinciding with the phenomenon. The only consistent thread is unhealthy body image.
The ideal silhouette has fluctuated throughout history. I don't think anyone is complaining that the days of corsets and stomachers are over. However, for at least the last half century, the feminine ideal has been thinness. Things haven't changed much in the fashion industry since the 1960s when Twiggy ushered in the Mod look and only became more intense in the 1990s with Kate Moss's heroin chic.
Typically, I play the role of fashion industry defendant when others have brought up the negative influence of fashion and media on young women's health. It is especially hard to listen to these appeals when they are spoken by an obese young women, as was the case in my Women's Studies class last year. However, I've began to wonder if the idealization of a body type that is unattainable for most girls and women is actually attributing to the obesity epidemic as well? Are overweight individuals giving up because they have unrealistic expectations and goals for themselves?
Many young women idolize celebrities. When they look at successful and
beautiful women only a few years older than themselves, they often
become insecure. Instead of being inspired by these powerful females,
they are comparing themselves to their idols and, as expected, are
falling short. One friend refused to watch the Victoria's Secret fashion
show with me because the beautiful models gave her negative feelings. Another came over my house for dinner and whined about needing to lose weight while picking at her healthy meal and side salad, preferring to munch on Oreo cookies later that evening.
Although the media's obsession with celebrities' weight may trigger disordered eating habits that could lead to unhealthy weight in either direction, I don't expect the fashion industry to change fundamentally. While Milan's fashion week now refuses to use models with an unhealthy BMI, much of the reason for using thin models is tied to practicality. A skinny model functions like a hanger for clothes and can wear anything. If there was too much size variation in the modeling world, there would be a problem with sample sizing.
So if we can't rely on the media and fashion world to set a healthy example, how can young women find a healthy body image? We should be focused on looking and feeling our personal best through healthy food, an active lifestyle, and realistic self-expectations. If we stop worshiping these unhealthy ideals, media and fashion trends will follow.
There's something about the start of spring that evokes a feeling of rebirth and freshness. I was taking a stroll around midtown Manhattan on one of those first spring days, enjoying the first fresh cantaloupe of the season. While I was already optimistically dressed in a summer-appropriate ensemble, I became inspired to truly reinvent my look this season. Each spring, we go cleaning and shopping, each experiencing a sort of personal renaissance. 
Inspired to make a change, I naturally turned to shopping. After checking out the new spring trends at influential department stores Saks Fifth Avenue and Barneys New York, I was enthusiastic to adopt some of my favorites. I was also becoming frustrated by my purple Pucci prescription sunglasses, which were missing a piece and had an outdated prescription. I popped into a local optical store and tried out quite a few pairs that I'm enthusiastic about. However, if I'm going to spend $300-600 on designer frames, I can't have any doubts, so I'm going with my mother over the weekend for a second opinion on my selections.
Although this major purchase is fairly necessary, I happen to be a broke college student, so I can't exactly buy myself a whole new wardrobe. Throughout the last year, I've been much more cautious in my shopping decisions. It's an understatement to say I have a large quantity of clothes and accessories and, considering space is a commodity in New York City, I've begun to favor quality over quantity in terms of my fashion choices. If I don't truly love it, I won't buy it. For example, during the beauty sample sale at Marie Claire magazine (where I intern), I didn't make a single purchase because everything I liked was too similar to something I already have. Although I am more focused on quality products, I have also become savvier at finding deals. New York City is a great place to find sample sales and deals at discount retailers, but the internet is also an invaluable resource. I frequent flash sale sites, where my most recent purchase was a pair of classic yet sexy black Vince Camuto boots for under $100. It's hard to resist a rare find at any price, such as the British fascinators I uncovered at the Brooklyn flea market next weekend. So get creative: refresh your wardrobe with unique, high-quality products that will perfectly supplement your wardrobe and fit comfortably within your budget.
