Quote Originally Posted by RoadRaven
you too can look like this skinny catwalk model but here's a new recipe for chocolate cake... eat it, because you should feel good about yourself but as soon as you're done stuffing your face you must go on the latest fad diet... GRRRR...
This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. That's typical in a women's magaine - "WALK OFF WEIGHT" is the headline, but the cover picture is a gigantic gooey cake. Of course these magazines are bad for us. Even worse are the magazines marketed to girls, selling them on ways to look their best and how to attract boys. But let's not be biased - men's magazines are pretty bad too, being filled with girls who are hotter than anything one might find in nature and with expensive toys and cars that nobody can really afford.

I read a lot of fashion magazines by requirement of my schooling. The industry is sick; the average model size used to be size 8, which is still used as a standard for patternmaking. However - most coture houses and fashion companies make their actual sample garments in a size 0 today! All those beautiful gowns being worn by models and actresses, most of them are sample garments that have been loaned out - but they only go to people who can wear the size 0.

I was once asked if I'd like to participate in a plus-size fashion show. The models were all size 10. Size 10! When is a 10 a plus size? I usually need an 18 or a 20, and when I was fit I wore a 14 and weighed 195 pounds (or 14 stone, if you prefer ;-) ).

/rant