Size zero - is it doomed?

by Martha Edwards (Subscribe to Martha Edwards's posts)
Nov 4th 2008 3:00PM

Categories: Celebs & Entertainment, Motivation

"Good Lord," I said to my friend as we perused racks of clothing in the mall. "This wouldn't fit my right thigh, let alone my hips. Who is buying these? Thirteen-year-old boys?" That small exchange sums up my feelings towards size zero and its frightening successor, size 00 or double zero. Unless you're less than five feet tall and genetically petite, is it ever healthy to be a size zero? If not, then why are the people who model clothing that slim? Isn't that sending exactly the wrong message to the masses?

That's why I was intrigued by this article titles The Death of Size Zero from the Times UK.

The argument is that size zero is going out of style, especially since Daisy Lowe hit the fashion scene in Europe. Lowe, the 19-year-old daughter of Gavin Rossdale, is supposedly the hottest thing to hit the fashion scene of late, and some think her size has something to do with it -- she's slim but not 'model slim' (read: bones jutting out from her body.) And with the popularity of full-figures in the media these days -- take the popularity of Mad Men's voluptuous leading ladies, for instance -- teeny tiny sizes seem to be on the out.

What do you think? Are smaller sizes on the way out? Or will fashion designers always choose the slimmest models, regardless of the trends?

(via Diet Blog)

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Comments (12)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Petite 11-04-2008 @ 3:37PM

For someone who is 4'11'' and petite, I beg that manufacturers continue to offer these petite two, zero, or double zero sizes. In an era where waist lines are doubling and petite departments in most stores are shrinking, it's already nearly impossible for many of us normal, non-anorexics, to shop let alone find a good selection of clothing and shoes...and please, we don't want to be relegated to shopping in children's departments!

Chrissy 11-05-2008 @ 12:22AM

Thank you Petite, I understand what you are saying too well; I'm 5'3", size 1 and perfectly healthy, and it is almost impossible to find nice styles that are my size. The best I can do is to get to the store as soon as the mechandize arrives.

Erica 11-04-2008 @ 4:51PM

I think that modeling agencies are always looking for men and women with perfect, flawless figures. They often think of a size 0 as being the ideal size for a woman. I think that since normal, healthy, beautiful people come in all different shapes and sizes, so should models. There is nothing beautiful about starving yourself and trying to fit the description of a perfect body. Modeling agencies should look for healthy, beautiful people of all sizes. Being different is beautiful.

Fit in VA 11-04-2008 @ 5:14PM

I agree with "Petite". I'm 5'1" and 102 lbs. I'm into fitness and working out and I'm a vegetarian. But I'm hard pressed to find career clothing in a size 0. Please continue these sizes as I'm healthy and happy and in need of a navy blue suit!!

fitzness 11-04-2008 @ 5:23PM

I wear a zero, and as you know ... am uber fit! My trim appearance may not be everyone's favorite 'look', but I'm healthy and I feel good at this weight. It's already really hard to find clothes small enough to fit. In fact, last year I couldn't find any casual sweatpants or yoga pants to wear during the cold weather, because nothing was small enough. Really. Zero is just another size. Just like fives and twelves ... it's just a number to match with a particular body. We're all different and all fine. Fitz

Jo 11-04-2008 @ 11:08PM

Slim models will always be in. "Should" be healthy is a far off notion. Garments hanging on a bone canvas will be preferable for the forseeable future.
Though, I am a 4'10'' size zero (wearing the jeans at this moment). These were the only pair that fit in the entire mall!

Chrissy 11-05-2008 @ 12:31AM

I am happy all the petite persons are speaking up, there is nothing wrong with small sizes if the person is healthy and/or have a high metabolic rate. I wear mostly a size 1 and an occasional 0, I'm 5'3" and have no problem with my size or my weight. I eat the foods that I love and Often try to eat the healthy things along with my occasional work out. I also have no intentions of putting on weight unless it is a sickness or pregnancy both of which I may have control over.
I also have no problem with curvy women, it should be embraced and if the person is healthy, it makes it even greater.
I urge people to stop the discriminations against petite and curvy people who are healthy and happy.

andrea 11-05-2008 @ 4:53PM

I don't think any clothing size should disappear. I personally prefer skinny models- they showcase the clothes better. However, if designers want to use larger models, that's up to them. I think they have the right to pick. Consumers can express their disgust by not buying from them if they so desire.
As a 5'7" size 2 with very long legs, I also have trouble finding pants. I can find size 2's easily, but they are nearly always petites. I need long, and sometimes extra-long (if I plan on wearing them with heels).
The population is getting taller. We're also getting fatter as a society, but there's a small percentage of us who put forth great effort to stay fit, so there will always be size 00s, 0s and 2s. I don't think I should feel bad about keeping myself healthy, and I don't appreciate the 13-year old boy comment. Just because I don't have 20 pounds of lard hanging off my ass doesn't make me less of a woman.

aemo 11-06-2008 @ 1:38AM

I'm curious whether size 2s and 0s out there have always worn those sizes. I was under the impression that while America's waistline is growing, so are pants sizes -- so what used to be size 16 (fifteen years ago) is now called size 12. So, has size 0 always existed?

Suz Llaney 1-03-2009 @ 1:44PM

I am 5' 4", and cannot find clothing that fits. I am small framed, healthy, long legged. I need jeans, pants, etc. I did seasonally work in a department store, saw plenty of bargains, not in my size. I am a 0 or sometimes a two. I never have and never will be on a diet, so, some of the rude remarks made to me during my life are not just.

Vexx 1-15-2009 @ 4:12PM

My wife is 4'11" and weighs 95lbs. Shopping is infuriating for her. And yes, the sizes are being "scaled" to keep the newly obese happy. My wife has gone from a size 4 to a size 0 and recently 00 over the last 20 years --- all without a single inch of change to her body (and yes, she's got a good figure).
It is very rarely for a store to carry less than size 4 anymore.

We're seriously thinking of going to Tokyo specifically to buy her clothing for the rest of her life.....

small rant: 40% of Americans are now *OBESE* (not overweight, obese which means look forward to diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, all the secondary complications) -- yes, anorexia is terrible but lets focus on the avalanche of medical disaster a bit more shall we?