Alright, so I decided to really dig into this whole “runway models skinny” thing that you see everywhere. It wasn’t for any big project, just something I got curious about, you know? Like, why is this the look we always see?
My Dive into the Visuals
So, what I did first was just… watch. A lot. I spent a good few evenings just clicking through runway shows online, from different designers, different years. Then I got out some old fashion magazines I had lying around, and new ones too. Just looking, observing.
What I Started Noticing:
- The clothes. It really felt like the clothes were the main character, and the models were, well, like really elegant hangers. No offense to them, they move beautifully, but the focus was so much on how the fabric draped, how the silhouette looked without any… interruption, I guess.
- Consistency. It was pretty striking how consistent this look was across so many different brands and shows. Sure, there were slight variations, but the general slim frame was almost a uniform.
- The ‘idea’ of the garment. I started to think that maybe designers sketch these clothes on very elongated, slender figures. So, when they bring them to life, they look for models that fit that initial drawing, that pure concept.
Trying to Understand the ‘Why’
I then tried to put myself in a designer’s shoes, just hypothetically. If I designed something, how would I want it presented? I even tried sketching a few outrageous outfits myself, just for kicks. And yeah, when you draw, it’s easy to make the figure super sleek because you’re focused on the lines of the clothes.
I also spent some time just looking at tailoring. How a seam lies, how a fabric falls. On a very slim frame, there are fewer curves for the fabric to navigate, so it can hang in a very direct, often dramatic way. I guess it shows off the cut and the material in a very straightforward manner.
A Few Frustrations Popped Up:
- It felt a bit… repetitive after a while. Like, okay, I get the artistic vision, the “clothes first” thing. But still.
- I found myself actively looking for shows or designers that broke this mold, even slightly. And when I found them, it was like a breath of fresh air, honestly. It made me realize how much this one particular look dominates.
So, What Did I Get From All This?
Well, I didn’t exactly solve any great mystery. But I feel like I got a better sense of the visual language of high fashion runway shows. It seems to be a very specific aesthetic choice, driven by how designers conceptualize and want to present their creations in their most “unadulterated” form, as they see it. The model becomes an almost abstract figure to showcase the art of the garment.
It’s like they’re trying to present the clothes almost as sculptures. And for that, a very lean silhouette seems to be the canvas of choice. It’s not necessarily about real people or everyday wear, it’s more about the ideal form of the clothing item itself. That was my main takeaway from just sitting down and really looking for a while. It’s a whole different world, that runway presentation thing.