There are endless studies and data to justify this reasoning. For instance, research conducted with young Australian people in 2010 on behalf of the
NEDC,
the National Eating Disorders Collaborations, indicated that 62.8% of the interviewees know up to five individuals who may have an eating disorder. Another possible scenario is that the fashion industry has made people hopelessly ashamed of their bodies which could explain the increased customer demand for conservative styles that offer more coverage.
Retro Inspired One-Piece by Laura Urbinati
According to Denise Greenaway, an Australian psychologist specialising in image-disorders, the return to the more curvaceous, goddess like women, will certainly be welcomed by the majority of women.
As a psychologist working with girls and women with eating disorders, I can vouch for the effect fashion has. While fashion may not create eating disorders per say, it does have a negative impact on ‘recovery’. Many girls are asked if they are models. Receiving positive praise for thinness discourages them from gaining weight. And for obese patients, their depression is exacerbated by fashion which extols thinness as a virtue.
Besides Denise’s reflections on the probability that the retro fashion has resulted from consumer pressure, she emphasises that a lot has to change in the fashion psyche before women can be celebrated for what they are: diverse. A one size fits all approach does not serve them, especially when that one size suits only the smallest fraction of the minority.
COURTESY OF: DENISE GREENAWAY | PHOTOGRAPHY BY: PRESS OFFICE LAURA URBINATI SRL | EDITED BY: ELIZABETH DEHEZA