Size zero or 0 is a women's clothing size in the US catalog sizes system. Size 0 and
00 were invented due to the changing of clothing sizes over time, which has caused the adoption
of lower numbers. Modern size 0 clothing, depending on brand and style, fits measurements
of chest-stomach-hips from 30-22-32 inches to 33-25-35 inches. Size 00 can be anywhere
from 0.5 to 2 inches smaller than size 0. Size zero often refers to extremely thin individuals,
or trends associated with them.
Criticism
The use of size 0 in advertisements and products of the clothing industry has been met with
some media attention. For example, Dawn Porter, a reporter from the UK, who had been challenged
to go on an extreme celebrity size zero diet for a new BBC programme, Super Slim Me, logged
her experiences about her journey to a size zero.
A study conducted in the UK found evidence that anorexia nervosa is a socially transmitted
disease and exposure to skinny models may be a contributing factor in the cause of anorexia
nervosa. In July 2009, Katie Green won a competition
to represent Wonderbra. They referred her to the Premier Model Management agency for
representation. Green reported that "one of the guys from the PR agency from Wonderbra"
insisted that she lose weight, that it wasn't normal for models to be a size 8. "Unless
I could drop down to that weight, they wouldn't be willing to get me more work." Green, who
is 5 ft 11 in tall and in May 2011 weighed 145 lb, at first complied, but then quit
the agency. She then, with Liberal Democrat MP Lembit
Öpik, launched a campaign titled "Say No to Size Zero". They began a petition drive
with the goal to put an end to size zero and underweight models on the catwalk or working
in the fashion industry. They set a goal to obtain 20,000 signatures and plan to present
it to the UK Prime Minister and Parliament. They are campaigning for legislation that
would require regular health checkups for all models before undertaking any assignments.
Movement against size zero
After the death of Luisel Ramos from anorexia in August, 2006, Madrid Fashion Week banned
size zero models the following month, and the Milan fashion show took the same action
shortly afterward, banning models with a body mass index of 18 or below. As a result, five
models were banned from taking part. Italian fashion labels Prada, Versace and
Armani have agreed to ban size zero models from their catwalks. As of 2007, the British
Fashion Council promoted the creation of a task force to establish guidelines for the
fashion industry. They also urged fashion designers to use healthy models. An Italian
inquiry reported in September 2007 that up to 40 percent of models could have an eating
disorder and made a number of suggestions to promote health, yet ruled out a ban on
size-zero models. Under the new self-regulation code drawn up in Italy by the government and
designers. all models in future shows will be "full bodied, healthy and radiant Mediterranean
types". Larger sizes 14 and 16 - would also be introduced into shows and all models under
the age of 16 would also be banned. Fashion designer Giorgio Armani has given
support to the effort to eliminate ultra-thin models. "The time has now come for clarity.
We all need to work together against anorexia." In September 2010, Victoria Beckham banned
size zero models from her New York Fashion Week runway show. Herself a size two at 36
years old, she reportedly barred 12 models from appearing in her show after deeming them
"too skinny". Her fashions will be modelled by "healthy girls who look 'realistic' to
encourage a positive image to impressionable teens."
Israel banned underweight models in March 2012. Their law stipulates that women and
men hired as models must be certified by a physician as having a body mass index of no
less than 18.5. The legislation also requires the inclusion of an informational note in
adverts using photos manipulated to make models look thinner. There were divergent views on
the ban within the Israeli fashion industry. One modelling agent, who had helped promote
the bill, suggested that the fall in typical dress sizes for models in the preceding 15–20
years amounted to "the difference between death and life". However, another described
the law as "arbitrary" and "not appropriate for every model".
See also EN 13402
Female body shape Body image
Clothing sizes Vanity sizing
References