Welcome to this weeks summary of lingerie chat! The topic of this week’s lingerie chat was all about the representation of women. This post is a summary of everything we chatted about:
@iamaliciarose began by saying, "I feel the lingerie industry represents women in a better light than the fashion industry… …I wonder if this is because there are lots of female lingerie designers? Lingerie seems to be for women to enjoy not men?"
@LibertyImages responded, " Or to just make themselves happy & feel alluring." @iamaliciarose agreed and noted that many women wear lingerie no one’s sees just to please themselves.
@32aabra said, " I don’t know… to me, a lot of lingerie seems made to satisfy men."
While there was agreement on both sides, @orange_lingerie felt the objective is dependent on the individual designer/company.
This led to the first question:
Q1. "Does the lingerie industry give a more realistic representation of women than fashion?"
Some companies are making a conscience effort to do so. @LilacLingerie noted, " Also a lot of lingerie companies- like Jacob have adopted a no re-touching policy which allows consumers to see real women." and @PS_Lingerie said, " Both lingerie & fashion in general are improving their representation of real women – Elomi, Playtex, most shapewear brands…"
Q2. "What makes you relate more to images and advertising from lingerie designers rather than fashion?"
@32aabra said, "that you’re allowed to have curves!"
@LibertyImages said, " The good ones use images that seem more realistic than fashion & big lingerie retailers." and @LilacLingerie said, " It’s great to see real women being represented in the industry- we try to use women of all shapes and sizes for our photo shoots."
@PlumsLingerie said," I think I relate to lingerie more than fashion because I know what I wear is underneath and no one can judge it apart from me." @LilacLingerie agreed, " I love that- you could be wearing a black business suit but underneath lacy lingerie and it’s just for you!" @32aabra also agreed, " good point… it isn’t so dependent on what other people think, but on how YOU feel." @LibertyImages, @PS_Lingerie, and @iamaliciarose also agreed.
@32aabra also noted that she did feel. "like some lingerie commercials try to impose rules on women… like, that you need to have cleavage and perky breasts and no cellulite… etc…and when everything is push-up/add two sixes, it sends a message to women like me" and @LibertyImages concurred, " Ahhh. Yes…there will always be perfectionism & retouching, IMO. That is irritating as can be."
@iamaliciarose said, "I think those companies encourage you to make the most of what you have." @32aabra replied, " ok, but does that have to mean truckloads of padding? I mean really." while@LibertyImages said, " Mmm…I think they’re pushing a certain look as "correct"."
Q3. "Looking at all the images from lingerie brands are there any that you think do a great job of relatable images?"
@PlumsLingerie said, "I think Freya do a great job of having gorgeous images that represent a lot of women." @iamaliciarose agreed, as did @Miss_Merx, and @LilacLingerie said, " Jacob Lingerie has implemented the no retouching policy so their ads are more realistic."
Q4. Do you think there is a negative impact of lingerie advertising on women? The idea they need to be a certain shape?
@32aabra felt it depended on the company, but sometimes there were negative impacts.
@LibertyImages said, " Absolutely, I think so. At least across most of the big brands. @32aabra makes good points… It seems as if all women are supposed to have enormous breasts & no hips, cellulite or changes in skin tone! " and @LilacLingerie said, " oh most definitely- just like with the fashion industry, lingerie models don’t accurately depict real women." while @tj_bras4mums said, "Yes, I think the media’s use of lingerie images is what matters most rather than lingerie advertising per se."
@LilacLingerie said, " It would be nice to see lingerie advertisements done in the fashion of Dove’s real women ads!" @PS_Lingerie loved the idea. @LilacLingerie continued, " yes! Models with cellulite, thighs and curves would make it easier to envision oneself wearing the lingerie!" @iamaliciarose agreed.
@PlumsLingerie asked, " So would models who had cellulite etc make you feel better about yourself? In real life they do have all these things."
@32aabra said, yeah, honestly I think it would help. plus I think real = more beautiful." @LibertyImages agreed," I don’t think the representation that all breasts should look like the same molded foam cup is positive at all." @iamaliciarose also agreed as did @LilacLingerie and @tj_bras4mums who worried women wanted a certain look to please their men.
@PlumsLingerie said, "But is there something deeper to deal with… If we have a robust self confidence these images should affect us less?"
@LibertyImages said, " As a survivor of anorexia, I believe the media has a great deal to do w/female self-image/confidence. Powerful." and @tj_bras4mums said, " Yes self confidence is one thing, but what they see in media ‘must have’ is difficult for some."
Many agreed that women of all ages are tougher on themselves than others are. @LilacLingerie said, " I have to go but I’ll leave with my favourite quote: "Nobody can make u feel inferior without your consent" – Eleanor Roosevelt"
@Miss_Merx said, " I feel like the women a lot use have enhanced breasts big enough for the brand."
@orange_lingerie said, " I don’t think the representation that all breasts should look like the same molded foam cup is positive at all."
Q5. For you who would be your ideal lingerie model or (more than one) if you had a choice of a few to cover diff body types?
@32aabra said, " I don’t have a single "ideal" lingerie model, because of what we’ve been saying."
@LibertyImages couldn’t think of anyone who fit that bill, nor could @iamaliciarose.
@PS_Lingerie nominated herself… with a note, " Well I’ve got the cellulite & wobbly bits… " @tj_bras4mums agreed that she might also be in the running based on those qualifications.
@PS_Lingerie went on to offer, " Ideal models: Kate Hudson, Judi Dench, Dawn French, Katie Price…….."
Join us next week for Lingerie Chat at our new time, Tuesdays at 8pm GMT and 3pm EST September 13th, 2011.@iamaliciarose will be hosting and the topic will be how we got involved in the industry and how we think it’s changing. If you have any questions you want asked, you can either add them to the comments under this post or message me @PlumsLingerie on Twitter.
Tags: airbrushing
