New York Fashion Week - The Good. The Bad & The Exploited ----

New York Fashion Week -Autumn 2017 - didn't let followers of fashion down.

Among the big names, and not so big names, famous faces and the ordinary, there was also some fabulous clothes, and some great new styles from the fashion labels.

There was the usual outlandish designs, but outlandish is to be expected, as showing off these incredible creations in cloth, is the way the design houses give us mortals, a taste of what will be in the shops in 2018.

This year's award for bad, goes to Calvin Klein. Satin cowboy shirts matched to satin pants – is not a good look for man or woman. And quite frankly the whole idea is a big cheat.

I wouldn't be too critical if the shirts were original in design. They are not. They are the same pattern, as a check cowboy shirt, just made out of different colours of satin, patched together. Awful.

photo Fashion Weekly 

photo ABC news 

I have added a link to Vogue - showing the ready to wear collection - I am sorry, I am not impressed by any of it - which is a shame, as I usually like Calvin Klein, clothes. 

shows/spring-summer-2018

I'm not going to bother saying anything about Fenty and Puma's ghastly offering at the show – someone might like the stuff – just not me.

Whilst not actually bad – I am very disappointed by Victoria Beckham's offering. With all the pre-show hype, I was expecting great things from her. What we actually got was a collection of baggy, shapeless clothes that did nothing for the models wearing them. You can be poetic, as one fashion journalist has, about the sheer see-throughness of some the clothes, but would you wear them on a Saturday night out at the local club? Probably not when a pair of leggings can set you back, £1,340. The ordinary girl going to the pub on a Saturday night, most likely won't be able to afford the clothes anyway. So I guess it doesn't matter that you will show your knickers to whoever's looking. To be fair there are several lovely pieces in the collection.

Victoria Beckham

The saving grace for me – definitely – Brandon Maxwell - his clothes are chic, stunningly designed, and extremely wearable. There's nothing I see that I don't like. I love all his clothes. Here's the link to see his collection thanks to Vogue Runway - 

Roll on 2018 – when the clothes will be available in the shops - again you will need a healthy bank balance to buy them.  

Vogue fashion-shows/spring-2018

photo Getty Images

Apparently the best fashion accessory at this years Fashion Week – according to a report from a certain magazine – has been worn, or rather held, by Chukka Khan. It's really revolutionary (sarcasm here) – it's a fan. Yep I kid you not – a fan. Okay it is a big fan. And it does have Chukka on it in big letters – and she does look fabulous - but the best fashion accessory at the show – give me a break.

As much as I deplore stick-insects parading along the cat-walk, I also deplore the Fashion Houses, jumping on the PC bandwagon by using obese models, and justifying their actions by saying the clothes are for the curvaceous female. These models are not curvaceous they are fat. You can call them plus-size models, but it makes no difference – obese is obese. 

Getty Images

Using obese models, is every bit as bad, as using anorexic models. Neither extreme is appropriate.

What does these extremes say to the impressionable young? It says – it's fine to be seriously overweight – and it's fine to be seriously underweight.

Neither are fine – far from it. Anorexia can lead to heat attacks. Low bone density, and a myriad of other dangerous side-effects.

Obesity is a major factor in high blood pressure (inflated risk of a stroke), and the type 2 diabetes explosion. Blindness, and limb amputation just two of the health problems caused by diabetes.

And what about the models? Does the fashion industry give two hoots for their health? Of course not. If there's money to be made in promoting obesity, then corporations won't think twice about it. These fashion houses can dress (pardon the pun) – it up anyway they choose – plus size – love your skin – whatever – they have always, and are continuing to cause health problems to women who mistakenly aspire to these extremes. 

Getty Images

Here's a revolutionary idea – what about using models that are at a correct weight. Yes women come in all shapes and sizes – Miss/Mrs Average is not standard – but promoting physical extremes that can result in serious health issues, is, in my opinion, cynical exploitation to say the least. Bring on the normal women – the women who are neither too thin or too fat – but healthy and normal.

I think it's about time the fashion world got honest with itself, and us – boobs, hips and thighs on a correctly proportioned frame – is what the industry should be showing to the consumers. Morbid obesity- is not to be celebrated. It should be seen as what it is - a health problem that has reached epidemic proportions.

There is no joy in being fat. In feeling tired, and being out of breath. Dreading the summer months because your legs chafe as you walk.

I know. I've been fat. And hated every uncomfortable moment of being overweight. 

The lingerie looks lovely, but there's nothing beautiful about the emotional suffering that hides beneath the fat. 

Rant over - 

And so on to London Fashion Week - 15th September to 19th September.