Real Women vs. Fashion
I ran across this blog post because a bunch of my friends have, and still are, sharing it on social media: The 2014 VS Swim Guide: A Mom’s Buying Guide. The blog, in short, attacks this years Victoria’s Secret Swim Suit Guide, with this blogger going on about how very few real women can actually wear these items.
I can’t wear any of these swimsuits either, actually, and I was pleasantly surprised to see Victoria’s Secret actually carrying their one piece swimsuits in the Macon, Georgia store where I live.
The blog piece written was funny and snarky, pretty much right up my alley and I enjoyed it. Yeah! Let’s hate on Victoria’s Secret for putting out a product that millions of people buy and is based on lingerie.
Here’s the thing: we forget what Victoria’s Secret is selling, or rather we know what they are selling and we have a problem with it. When was the last time we were shocked to see that sex sells?
I’m going to be honest- I can’t wear any of the swimsuits this blogger targets. Not many people can. And even thought the man who was my most recent relationship (also the last man to see me naked or in a swimsuit) SWEARS I can wear a bikini- I don’t. I won’t. Unless it’s some kind of high waisted one because despite what my modeling pictures may look like on this blog- I have had two children and my stomach very much reflects as much.
But what I think really confused me is this blogger writes about how ones day might be RUINED upon opening this magazine. I’m sure she’s speaking tongue in cheek, hell I do it myself, and I don’t read her blog enough to be familiar with her “tone”. Yes, it’s sad that VS doesn’t have bathing suits for us regular girls but- oh!- wait!- they DO actually. Here you go:
And here…
But let’s say they didn’t carry one. Did you really expect anything less? I think the real question is, do any of us real women really need to look to certain brands to make us feel like a woman? I certainly hope not.
It’s such a balance between loving our bodies just as they are and also working to stay in shape. I will admit there is an unfair expectation of women to work the full time job, be full time mommies and full time sex kittens who are effortlessly fitting in to a size 2. It’s not realistic.
But at the same time I don’t think we should shame the industry. We can demand what we feel is “better” but at the same I think we need to keep fashion in perspective. This isn’t the first time that “fashion brand” in general is shamed for not appealing to every single body form.
Brands have a target demographic- and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Fashion is very much a wearable, walkable, breathable ART FORM. Do we shame an auction house for selling a Picasso as better than the painter who lives across the street? No. Not only that but Victoria’s Secret isn’t the only catalog out there selling swimwear. They might be one of the largest lingerie and by extension, swimwear, companies in the world but is that really their fault? No- that’s good marketing and branding.
Frankly, by the time I was at the end of this blog post I was rather mad. Do I look like one of those models? BAH hell no, but my guy thinks I do and I don’t have to pull my self esteem from this sales catalog either. I would suspect many of the women I know sharing that post don’t either, because- oddly enough (insert snarky tone there)- all of these women are BEAUTIFUL. And they’re moms and they have full time jobs- they freaking do it all. These women are superwomen to me.
Let’s be honest, shopping for a bathing suit pretty much sucks for anyone- and apparently we’re going to hold it against those who it doesn’t suck for because we think they can’t look like them. Ridiculous.
You ladies are gorgeous- please don’t let a brand make you feel otherwise, even though I would suspect that isn’t their goal. Their goal is to sell bathing suits and lingerie.
Love to all yall
Molly
