While the fashion world has made some big steps towards being more diverse, there is still a long way to go.
Case in point: Vogue's September issue, which features no plus-size models in any of its 832 pages, except for six women featured in a Lane Bryant ad.
The double-page spread features the silhouettes of six, unidentifiable women (Yahoo! Style suspects it's the members of ALDA -- a collaborative of models who aim to promote body diversity), wearing lingerie and high heels. The advertisement reads: "#PlusIsEqual" with the tagline "It's time for a change. Be part of it." There's also a link to the yet-to-be-launched plusisequal.com, which will go live on September 14.
Currently, the site's landing page features statistics about plus-size models and the representation in the media:
"It’s time to represent. 67% of US women are size 14 to 34. But they’re underrepresented on billboards, magazines, TV… everywhere," it reads. "We believe all women should be seen and celebrated equally. It’s time to unite our voices. Because there’s power in numbers and together we can change the equation. See what people are saying. Read the facts. Then, add your voice and join us in calling for equal representation."
This ad comes after Lane Bryant's #ImNoAngel campaign, a not-so-subtle stab at Victoria's Secret advertisements. Clearly the retailer wants to showcase the lack of body diversity in the media, especially fashion.
But as Yahoo! Style puts it, "Plus is most certainly not equal when the only pages of the world’s leading fashion magazine that include women above a size 6 (and that’s being generous) had to be paid for."