If you believed what you read in fashion magazines,
you'd think that in the past 20 years, there have been significant changes in the kind of body
that is considered ideal in western haute culture.
Yeah, right.
Like six pounds--distributed mostly in the chest area--constitutes a new body type.
I take it as a personal offense when I read a
fashion magazine's enthusiastic proclamation, "Voluptuous is in!"--
with an accompanying article on the social meaning of curvy bodies, and discover that their
definition of "voluptuous" is anorexic with breast implants.
To add insult to injury, the magazines always try to explain how the
"body of the moment" is not only more fashionable, but more
liberating and empowering to women as well. Meanwhile,
all the bodies in question look like slight variations on the same old theme.
If you believed what you read in fashion magazines,
you'd think that in the past 20 years, there have been significant changes in the kind of body
that is considered ideal in western haute culture.
