22 Responses to “Paris’s Next Big Model: Velvet”

Aristotle Says:
October 6th, 2006 at 10:57 pm

They say that black is a slimming color. It makes you appear 20 pounds lighter. However, I’m not so sure it’s working here (and what if IT IS?!). Yikes!

Aristotle Ford
Marketing Director
Erin Marie Fashions
http://www.ShopErinMarie.com

stevie Says:
October 7th, 2006 at 1:33 am

i hate this. i saw her on tv the other day and she acts like a total queen. throwing her arms in the air and dragging them down her body! terrible! like a clown in my opinion. i have NO problem with larger size models but why did he pick this large of a model? and why dress her in this ugly outfit? its not complimenting her body shape..? why not try to show larger women they can be pretty… not a joke.

Brandy Says:
October 8th, 2006 at 11:48 pm

I actually just finished a draft about this that I’m going to post tomorrow. Here’s the text:

The above image of a plus-sized model named Velvet modeling in the Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2007 Ready to Wear collection has been circling the internet. So recently after the Madrid decision to ban too-thin models, the sight of a zaftig figure on a runway probably came to many as a sigh of relief. But was the inclusion of Velvet in Gaultier’s 30th Anniversary extravaganza truly a move forward to a more realistic body image on the runway?

I highly doubt it. Gaultier is known for including things that appear shocking on the runway. In his Fall 2006 RTW collection, he sent a pack of animals down the runway that included a greyhound wearing a plastic cone that matched the one his accompanying model wore. The Fall 2006 Couture show featured a model who wore a veiled candelabra on her head. The runway of the Spring 2006 RTW show was covered with hay. A Gaultier show is like it’s own game of “Choose What Doesn’t Belong”. And in his most recent show, Velvet would be that which didn’t belong.

Sending down a solo plus-sized model in a sea of ultra thin ones makes it appear that the plus-sized model is the anomaly. If he had paraded down a series of plus-sized models with a single waif to highlight how truly thin, and possibly unhealthy, she was it would have sent a different message all together.

Robyn Says:
October 9th, 2006 at 10:58 pm

great comment, brandy. i was worried about that…

Designer Ella Says:
October 10th, 2006 at 6:13 pm

Aristotle, I feel bad saying this, but I think it is. Or perhaps it’s tight lingerie, but her uncovered thigh is her widest part.

Thanks, Stevie. I’m not sure why to pick her, see the next post that shows some of an interview she gave.

Excellent commentary, Brandy. You are precisely right.

Carol Says:
October 12th, 2006 at 7:56 pm

Are you sure she’s really a professional model? Plus-size models are, while larger than the normal size 2 models, usually in good shape. This woman looks like she’s just a random woman JPG found on the street and paid to walk the catwalk.

Sad all around, really.

Anonymous Says:
October 25th, 2006 at 7:18 pm

Hello… She looks like she should model for McDonalds and I totally agree with Carol. They shouldn’t look like they feast on 2 Big Macs per each meal. Plus size models eat healthily and excercise, and this woman looks gross and she looks like she is very obese. Being overweight is very normal because of natural predisposition but obesity seems to be brought on by bad diet and bo excercise

Cynthia Says:
October 28th, 2006 at 12:50 am

This woman is too big to be a plus-sized model. Aren’t plus-sized models size 12?

Designer Ella Says:
October 30th, 2006 at 11:25 am

Carol, she’s a professional performer type. She does some modeling and some other things.

LOL, Cyntha, plus-sized clothes don’t even come as low as size 12. They start at 14. Would they specially make clothes in smaller sizes for models? That would be some conspiracy to uncover! I’m sure they’re 14 - 16 maybe to 18.

aquafin Says:
November 1st, 2006 at 5:06 pm

Unfortunately, black is not slimming for everybody, but so much better than white.

http://www.StyleBlvd.com

Famous Brand Shoes Says:
November 2nd, 2006 at 10:01 am

Yikes! Not too flattering, but hey, ya gotta give her credit for putting it out there and being proud of it. It sort of creates a beauty of its own.

shanae Says:
November 20th, 2006 at 7:29 pm

i think she looks great i dont see none of yall out there modeling, so don’t hat cuz she getting money

sammi Says:
November 21st, 2006 at 5:00 am

hey i think she looks great…i would love to model like she does….she shows real confidence in herself…so everyone saying bad things about her are just jeaslous or have nothing better to do with there time….

Kadejah Says:
November 24th, 2006 at 11:41 am

how do i get in touch with Velvet?…i am plus sized and just as confident to strut my stuff on the cat walk….

can you send her my email to contact me?

Mary Says:
November 29th, 2006 at 7:51 am

And you’re all perfect, right?

Being a big woman myself, most of the large “models” look terrible and are an embarassment to view. Velvet, though, does this with style. She looks good and presents herself well. That’s more than I can say for most people. One’s beauty and sexuality is not about size or the lack of size, but about how one fees about and presents themselves.

Brava, Velvet, Brava!

velvet jr. Says:
December 2nd, 2006 at 11:47 pm

Y’all are some bitches. Velvet has now became my inspiration for sexiness. There are too many anorexic hoes out there on that runway and it’s destoying so many young women out there, and y’all ought to be shamed of yaselves. Velvet honey, if you read this already, keep pushing on, and take it to the bank!!!!

sa Says:
December 10th, 2006 at 4:36 pm

plus size models are a size 12 but the average size is generally between 12 and 16 so i think its right they call her a plus size model as she is larger than average, however it is also about how the designer has dressed her that is the main problem here and is why she looks so bad, look at how john galliano dressed her! she looks confident and sext the above is a jpg sticking his fingeres up at the fashion industry and i must say, very mature, as a young person studying fashion i think shes the most refreshing model to see on the catwalk this year and it indicated a big change in things to come, watch this space.

size 16 Says:
December 16th, 2006 at 8:23 pm

she is perfect and if you BITCHES HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT THEN DEAL WITH IT because she is big and sticking her finger down in her mouth people have a problem well I am a model and I model for teens Iam a size 16 and am 16 yrs old and you should see how people have respect for me for not trying to cover up my fat but dress it up I work at a camp for plus size girls and when they come to the camp they are different from the world because it is so hard out there when you a teen I stopped a girl from killing herself becuase some much pian was killing and all she wanted to do was make it all go away well now she it a model with me and has a sexxii boyfriend who she has been dating for 2 years now and all you have a problem with this model talk to me and I will have some hot words for your asses

Karenmarg Says:
December 31st, 2006 at 4:28 pm

Oh dear god, size 16, bless your heart, WHAT? I know there was an important message in there, But I Couldn’t Understand What You Were Saying… Please, please, please take the time to consider that humans are going to have to read this, and that you are not a monkey at a typewriter.

Emily Says:
January 22nd, 2007 at 11:50 am

Let’s face it. She looks terrible.

Obviously this was just for shock value. Plus size models are fine, but this is just gross.

I’m a size 16 and I would never, EVER walk around in too-tight, thigh or stomach bearing clothing because I know no one wants to see that!
As a matter of fact, we fat girls should dress in a conservative way. If we want to wear more stylish clothes, we need to lose the weight. Simple as that.

Katie Says:
June 10th, 2007 at 8:09 pm

I think she’s beautiful…even if the clothes may not be the most flattering for her volouptous figure. I myself am a size six, but i wasn’t not always that way and the way I became that size was quite unhealthy. We need girls like her to strut their stuff on the runway to boost young girl’s confidences so they stop doing harmful things to their bodies.

Nema Says:
June 10th, 2007 at 8:12 pm

I don’t know what the hell is wrong with you people.
You all have close minds about when it comes to the idea of beauty.
Who cares if she isn’t a size two.
She’s beautiful.
Her confidence is inspiring.