The Grand Cabaret
February 5, 2003 12:42 AM   Subscribe

A model shows off her bra ? A model ? A model ? How unusual to see someone like this (not a race issue)showing off her bra...Or is it just me not used to see things like that ?
posted by bureaustyle (71 comments total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: It's just you. Really.



 
here, knock yourself out
posted by mb01 at 12:47 AM on February 5, 2003


wha? lane bryant's a plus-size clothing store, if that's what you're talking about. but aside from that... so what?
posted by jimmy at 12:47 AM on February 5, 2003


(isn't that the chick from living single on the left?)

also: rather poorly phrased front page post.
posted by donkeyschlong at 12:51 AM on February 5, 2003


These are called plus size models. They model clothes for women who don't starve themselves to fit some impossible stereotype set forth by people like you. Not that there is anything wrong with being svelte, it's just that people come in all shapes and sizes, and should not be made to feel ashamed.

PS
I find her rather attractive.
posted by buz46 at 12:58 AM on February 5, 2003


Hi. Can someone tell me how to get to MetaFilter?
posted by gluechunk at 1:01 AM on February 5, 2003


Plus size clothing is sort of Lane Bryant's thing. On the other side, husky men get John Madden. Glad I can shop for regular sizes nowadays.
posted by owillis at 1:03 AM on February 5, 2003


Why, bureaustyle, whatever do you mean? Surely we must be misunderstanding your intentions.
[/benefit of the doubt]

This thread makes me happy.
posted by hippugeek at 1:23 AM on February 5, 2003


They model clothes for women who don't starve themselves to fit some impossible stereotype set forth by people like you.

What an odd way of describing thin people. If you were any more eager to show what a sensitive, modern man you are I'd conclude you were trying to conform to an impossible stereotype.
posted by ed\26h at 1:24 AM on February 5, 2003


What an odd way of describing thin people. If you were any more eager to show what a sensitive, modern man you are I'd conclude you were trying to conform to an impossible stereotype.

I know there is a dig in there somewhere. However, I'm having trouble ascertaining what it is....?

I was not suggesting that all thin people starve themselves, only that those who are structurally and/or metabolically pre-disposed to being "large" shouldn't be ridiculed for daring to call themselves models
posted by buz46 at 1:42 AM on February 5, 2003


buz: Yeah I know what you mean.

I didn't see the original post as ridicule, just suprise, so found yours rather over-zealous. If indeed "bureaustyle" really is mocking, I totally agree.
posted by ed\26h at 1:58 AM on February 5, 2003


That chick* isn't even large.
The models at mb01's link are large, but bureau's models are just normal. I think that's the definition of voluptuous. The top the one on the left is wearing is sub-optimal and in a style intended for a thinner woman, though.
But, yeah, they're "plus size" models and not really a rarity. Just not as oft-masturbated to as the skinnier ones.

In any event, attraction in the straight male example of homo sapiens sapiens has been observed to be more a function of proportion than anything else. There's a certain chest-hips-something** ratio (as well as ratio of distances between nose, mouth, and eyes) that seem to flick the switch. Fairly universally as well. Specific numbers described by those ratios seem to vary widely from culture to culture, though.

No, I don't have anything to cite. I'm sure a few minutes of dilligent googling would turn something up, though.

-K

*please don't give me grief about this word.
**I forget what the last one is.
posted by kavasa at 1:59 AM on February 5, 2003



But, yeah, they're "plus size" models and not really a rarity. Just not as oft-masturbated to as the skinnier ones.


And therein lies the rub, so to speak. Fashion relies so heavily on sex to sell that we consumers forget that they aren't in fact selling sex. Chest-hip-waist ratio or not, why should we expect models to not only be attractive visualisation aids, but quasi-soft-core porn stars as well?
posted by 4easypayments at 2:23 AM on February 5, 2003


Hi. Can someone tell me how to get to MetaFilter?

(You shouldn't'a taken that left turn at Farquaquerque. I don't know what's going on, but I don't much like it either.)
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 2:33 AM on February 5, 2003


O-Dub, since you mention it, how is the diet going since the 40lbs/10 inches report on your site?
posted by planetkyoto at 3:01 AM on February 5, 2003


Clarification: The what's-the-big-deal/she's-attractive responses of the first few posters made me happy. The fact that this thread exists does not make me happy at all. If that's clear.

Kavasa, no grief about "chick"--doesn't bother me a bit--but if you anticipate that other people are going to complain and there's no compelling reason to call her a chick, perhaps it would be easier to just call her a woman.

The chest-hips-something (waist? height?) ratio is interesting. Has to do with fertility signals, I suppose--large breasts, childbearing hips--but I don't know why the preferred numbers would vary from culture to culture. Body fat ratios have more to do with the ability to carry a healthy pregnancy to term than almost any other physical factor. Seems like men of all cultures should look for adequately-padded women.
posted by hippugeek at 3:05 AM on February 5, 2003


Hi. Can someone tell me how to get to MetaFilter?
Now I'm confused. The shade of blue looks familiar and yet i can't quite recognise the content .......
posted by dg at 3:35 AM on February 5, 2003


Reality check

While people do come in all shapes and sizes, promoting an "eat big and then exercise it off" might actually not be the best idea.

IOW, being obese is not necessarily the person's fault. Then again, maybe it is.
posted by magullo at 4:11 AM on February 5, 2003


The shade of blue looks familiar and yet i can't quite recognise the content .......

I'm with you there.

The sneering pomposity just seems SOOO out of place.
posted by ed\26h at 4:14 AM on February 5, 2003


i'd hit it.

/misdirection
posted by pekar wood at 4:23 AM on February 5, 2003


The what's-the-big-deal/she's-attractive responses of the first few posters made me happy. The fact that this thread exists does not make me happy at all. If that's clear.

Well, I didn't even know what the question was until I got to the second comment in the thread. I saw the picture and said, "yeah, a model shows off her bra. so?"
posted by jozxyqk at 4:34 AM on February 5, 2003


Sure, she's cute, but can she hold a conversation for more than 5 minutes?
posted by mischief at 4:45 AM on February 5, 2003


conversation, schmonversation.
posted by adampsyche at 4:57 AM on February 5, 2003


That chick was nasty..... yuckkkkkkkkkkkkk. What an image to wake up to. :-(
posted by Spacelegoman at 5:05 AM on February 5, 2003


As a large person who is working to lose weight, trust me, it's all the person's fault.
"Gland disorder" is a fat person's way of saying "I still gain weight, even though I've cut down to one box of Krispy Kreme's per day."

Chances are your parents got you fat through bad eating habits, you are still fat because you haven't changed, and guess what...you got kids? Well without intervention, they gonna be tubby too.

posted by CrazyJub at 5:06 AM on February 5, 2003


great farking post! i mean...er....aw crap.
posted by photoslob at 5:07 AM on February 5, 2003


Chances are your parents got you fat through bad eating habits, you are still fat because you haven't changed, and guess what...you got kids? Well without intervention, they gonna be tubby too.

There are exceptions to this, of course, but in general it's pretty accurate. Contemporary American culture and healthy, appropriately-sized bodies aren't very compatible.

"It's the exercise, stupid."
posted by oissubke at 5:11 AM on February 5, 2003


i'd hit it.

At least you are honest. Kudos to you for that.
posted by a3matrix at 5:16 AM on February 5, 2003


Now, now, everyone, I understand what bureaustyle was talking about.

Obviously that can't be a model! The woman isn't even wearing a true Lane Bryant bra! Of course, the style is close to the classic Lane Bryant "Smooth Performance TM Seamless Full-Coverage Underwire," but it has to be a knockoff.

And no real model would wear the wrong bra to a show. She has to be an amateur.
posted by ?! at 5:17 AM on February 5, 2003


A quick search on google brought up strangely enough, mostly sites offering information to transsexuals.

From: http://www.gendernet.org/sarah/quicktip.htm

"What is your optimal figure? This interesting tip comes to me by way of "Peter", my good neurobiologist friend from the "Coming Out to my Colleagues" article (December 1996). In his book, The Evolution of Desire, Dr. David Buss discusses the optimal female figure. That's right! This sort of thing has actually been investigated scientifically! Anyway, there seems to be an ideal ratio of waist to hip measurement of 0.7 which "optimizes" the femininity of your appearance. It's also commonplace fashion sense that your bust should stick out about as much as your bottom and that your bust measurement should be about that for your hips. That would mean that ideal proportions would be, for instance, 42-29.5-42, 50-35-50, 60-42-60, and so forth. "

So there you go, it's all about proportion, not about size.

Allegedly.
posted by pixeldiva at 5:22 AM on February 5, 2003


I don't know if you American's know the phrase "don't need to look at the mantlepiece whilst stoking the fire", but it fits here...

She's not cute, she's grim, but that's face (or maybe expression) not a weight issue. Put a prettier face on her and I'd 'hit it' all day long.

My current gf is probably a larger size than that model. Hell, I've probably got bigger breasts than her, and I'm a bloke (last time I checked).

Sod the weight crap... it wasn't that long ago the most sexy thing in the world was a chunky woman with huge tits carrying you two quarts of beer...
posted by twine42 at 5:29 AM on February 5, 2003


Body fat ratios have more to do with the ability to carry a healthy pregnancy to term than almost any other physical factor. Seems like men of all cultures should look for adequately-padded women.

Because, you know, there's no conceivable reason to date/marry/fuck besides childbearing, and everyone wants kids.

Right. Give me an automatic-miscarriage figure any day.
posted by IshmaelGraves at 5:41 AM on February 5, 2003


If you think that being fat is automatically being unattractive, there are resources out on the net to educate yourself with. Start at NAAFA and go from there.

Ok, if I had actually said anything about looks, that would have been a good argument. fortunately, I didn't so Pfffft!


There are many other reasons why one should be conscious of their size, health is a BIG one.
And being Fat doesn't make you lazy, it's the other way around. Hey, I'm not speaking as an outsider here, I was close to pushing 300 when I woke up and realized what I was doing TO MYSELF! Hear that? MYSELF!

And since you're not working to lose weight, thanks for being part of the problem.
Happy being fat, my ass! Of course you're happy, you're like an addict who's happy doing crack! Look, unhealthy foods (and actually some healthy ones) that make you fat are very addictive, giving up all that bread and pasta and rice and sweet stuff was almost as hard as quitting smoking, if not harder.
But no one is here saying that you are to blame for your current con...oh wait, YES I AM!!!
posted by CrazyJub at 5:42 AM on February 5, 2003


That chick was nasty..... yuckkkkkkkkkkkkk. What an image to wake up to. :-(

And you can say this because you are physically perfect yourself, right?

Whatever, dude. I'll gladly take her off your hands. She's exactly my speed. Hubba-Hubba.
posted by jonmc at 5:44 AM on February 5, 2003


I was close to pushing 300 when I woke up and realized what I was doing TO MYSELF!

And I'm over the 300... 315 still makes me wince every time i watch that simpsons episode (Which seems to be on too damned often) but I'm losing it. But Just because you are over weight shouldn't mean that you can't look good. Crap, I'm six foot four and can't get shirts with long enough sleeves. Part of our problem (a small part maybe) will be solved by people like these pushing fashion for the overweight so that they don't look like blamonge... Yeah, she probably shouldn't wear a crop top and hot pants, but it doesn't make her hideous.

We live in a culture where we are force fed (almost) crap foods... if you can eat those 24/7 and still stay skinny without burning thousands of calories in the gym then you are the one who is unhealthy...
posted by twine42 at 5:52 AM on February 5, 2003


all day long.

*cue Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing*
posted by adampsyche at 5:55 AM on February 5, 2003


troll
posted by crunchland at 5:57 AM on February 5, 2003


Oh, lighten up. Nobody's trolling here, just having fun.
posted by adampsyche at 6:00 AM on February 5, 2003


We live in a culture where we are force fed (almost) crap foods... if you can eat those 24/7 and still stay skinny without burning thousands of calories in the gym then you are the one who is unhealthy...

You could always just not eat the "crap foods". Seems like eating healthy might be the answer to your problems.
posted by bshort at 6:05 AM on February 5, 2003


The model is Mia Tyler, Liv Tyler's sister, Steven Tyler's daughter. She's been a Lane Bryant model for several year's now. Other Lane Bryant models have included Queen Latifah, Anna Nicole Smith, Carrie Otis, and Emme.

Keep in mind that a "plus size" model is of a US size 12 or greater. I'm having trouble finding the studies to back me up, but IIRC, 40% or more of American women are a size 12 or greater. A 12 is not an unhealthy size.

She's beautiful!
posted by onhazier at 6:06 AM on February 5, 2003


But, yeah, they're "plus size" models and not really a rarity. Just not as oft-masturbated to as the skinnier ones.

I'm doing my part to equalize that ratio.

Goddamn I think the bra woman in the original link is sexy as hell. I'd walk barefoot across 100 miles of hot desert sand to kiss the back tire of the laundry truck that was carrying away her dirty panties.

But that's probably just me.
posted by vito90 at 6:07 AM on February 5, 2003


Last week, The New Republic ran a very interesting article [free registration required, I believe] regarding the issues of obesity, health and dieting.

From the introduction:
A careful survey of medical literature reveals that the conventional wisdom about the health risks of fat is a grotesque distortion of a far more complicated story. Indeed, subject to exceptions for the most extreme cases, it's not at all clear that being overweight is an independent health risk of any kind, let alone something that kills hundreds of thousands of Americans every year. While having a sedentary lifestyle or a lousy diet--both factors, of course, that can contribute to being overweight--do pose health risks, there's virtually no evidence that being fat, in and of itself, is at all bad for you. In other words, while lifestyle is a good predictor of health, weight isn't: A moderately active fat person is likely to be far healthier than someone who is svelte but sedentary. What's worse, Americans' (largely unsuccessful) efforts to make themselves thin through dieting and supplements are themselves a major cause of the ill health associated with being overweight--meaning that America's war on fat is actually helping cause the very disease it is supposed to cure.
The rest of the article cites several studies and, to a layman, at least, does a good job of backing up its assertions.
posted by thorswitch at 6:08 AM on February 5, 2003


Root Boy Slim was right
posted by donpardo at 6:10 AM on February 5, 2003


And of course (some images NSFW): Sophie Dahl.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 6:11 AM on February 5, 2003


Crazyjub,

You're an ass. Do you really think you'll be one of the 2% of people who successfully lose weight and keep it off? (and that 2 percent is those who lose weight and keep 15% of the loss off over 5 years.)

Fat people can be healthy and fit. There are just as many lazy thin people as fat. But as long as you fit society's ideal look, you can sit on your ass all day long, right?
posted by SuzySmith at 6:26 AM on February 5, 2003


Hi. Can someone tell me how to get to MetaFilter?

If there are no further nominations for Best Comment Ever, I'd like to move they be closed now.
posted by yhbc at 6:30 AM on February 5, 2003


You could always just not eat the "crap foods". Seems like eating healthy might be the answer to your problems.

I am, that's why I'm losing weight. But if you try and find prepared food that is good for you, and you will have a hard time. Ditto trying to find food to eat for lunch when you are away from home. Our culture pushes us harder to eat stuff that is bad for us while suggesting we do less. Yes, it's will power, but it's built in...

There are very few parents out there who refuse their kids burgers or pizza or coke.
posted by twine42 at 6:32 AM on February 5, 2003


Goddamn I think the bra woman in the original link is sexy as hell. I'd walk barefoot across 100 miles of hot desert sand to kiss the back tire of the laundry truck that was carrying away her dirty panties.

Yes, but you'd have to crawl over my dead testosterone-oozing corpse to do it, vito90. Beisdes, I will go further, I'd swim a mile through shark-infested piss just to hear her fart.

Now there's no further nominations.
posted by jonmc at 6:34 AM on February 5, 2003


yhbc : You know, I'd almost suggest quonsar's comment...
posted by twine42 at 6:37 AM on February 5, 2003


I've been overweight for a long time, too long in my opinion. I do a treadmill 4 times a week, aerobics 5 times a week, resistance training 3 times a week. I eat fair sized portions of food, not large portions. I burn and burn and burn, and yet I still have trouble losing weight.

When people say, "well, I was fat, but it was my fault; so everyone who is fat must blame themselves," it is no better than categorizing any group into a stereotype. All people are not the same, and while one person's overweightness might be caused by laziness, another's might be caused by the curse of genetics.

I can't count the number of times I've just thought about just throwing everything up, or to stop eating at all. I honestly questioned my life (ahem, interpret please) during High School because of redicule for something that I had such a hard time controlling.

It comes off very slowly for me, that's just something I have to accept. I will probably never be ripped and bulked, not that I want to be. Men and women both have unrealistic body images thrown in front of them constantly. And some reasonable people don't find those unrealistic images desirable.

Fact is, ask any overweight person if they'd like to be thin, and I bet they'd say yes. But don't claim to know any individuals problems and issues if you don't know them at all.

We live in a world in which body image is shown to be everything and the only important thing. I'm gay, and I think that makes it worse than for a heterosexual man. But I keep going, keep trying, pushing myself further. And that's all you can expect.
posted by benjh at 6:37 AM on February 5, 2003


Sophie Dahl - She's cute as hell, but how does she fit into the non-anorexic models debate?
posted by twine42 at 6:39 AM on February 5, 2003


Ick. These women are not merely curvy (which I adore...); they're FAT. Ick.
posted by ParisParamus at 6:41 AM on February 5, 2003


Sophie Dahl - She's cute as hell, but how does she fit into the non-anorexic models debate?

At one time she was one of the examples alway pointed to when folks would talk about full figured beauty. I haven't been keeping up apparently.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 6:47 AM on February 5, 2003


Why should Iraq be any different? Are they somehow more worthy than a starving Rwandan? Who chooses those worthy of our God-like intervention?... Act consistently or not at all.

You're wrong. While it might not meet either of our criteria for consistency, taking out one hell-regime is better than taking out none, even if the others are equally hellish. A country has the right to act in its own self-interest. But even beyond this, a hellish country, the behavior of which spills out beyond its borders is rightfully more important than one whose hell is contained. Which is why Africa is not the priority of an Iraq, Iran, Syria, North Korea or, perhaps, Sudan.

Moreover, as even Casey Kasim would recognize, as countries are taken off of the "Hell Charts", lesser ones rise to the "top." So, today Iraq and North Korea are the most dangerous, needing the most attention, but tomorrow, when Iraq is liberated, North Korea and Iran, or Syria will get the world's attention.

Eventually, as the world is gradually improved, the hells of Africa will come into focus. But if we don't take care of the hellish places which threaten us directly, we won't be around to help Africa.

In sum, the "liberate them all, or liberate none" argument is supremely lame and defeatist. If attacking Iraq is wrong, argue that on its own terms; thankfully, most people don't think like that.
posted by ParisParamus at 6:47 AM on February 5, 2003


ParisParamus : you in the right place there? ;)
posted by twine42 at 6:50 AM on February 5, 2003


And what's really scary is when a healthy but thin woman decides she need to lose more weight. I saw a terrifying Claire Danes on Conan recently: bony chin and arms like pipe cleaners. Ick indeed.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 6:50 AM on February 5, 2003


jonmc

Pistols at dawn?
posted by vito90 at 6:51 AM on February 5, 2003


bahahahaa.

ick. he's not merely posting, he's posting in the wrong place.

/troll
posted by wickedfat at 6:54 AM on February 5, 2003


The thirty-something, single, fat chick chimes in--five feet nine inches tall, Lane Bryant size 18/20 here. I've been heavy to varying extremes all my life. I once starved myself to being 120 lbs. thin and had heart palpitations, bruised easily and suffered from severe anemia. I'll take fat over that any day. My weight problem is part genetic pre-disposition to being plump and part my own fault for not eating healthier and exercising more.

After hating my body almost all my life, I woke up at age 30 and started liking who I was and loving my body as is. How refreshing it feels!

Most men I've met prefer a size 12 and under. I've even been told by single men, "Gawd, you'd be the perfect woman if you just lost some weight" which hurt, but there are shades of Shallow Hal in all of us. I have my weight threshold for what I find at least initially attractive in a man-- though if he makes me laugh, is intelligent and has a kind heart I'd date a Chris Farley clone.

Issues for men and women concerning weight, body image and beauty will never go away. You have to find a way to be happy with yourself and surround yourself with people who accept you as you are.

It's not easy, but can be done.
posted by VelvetHellvis at 6:57 AM on February 5, 2003


For those interested in bras, I had just posted this versin at my site:
http://www.modobruxellae.be/images/boetiqk/yael_landman/yl13.jpg
posted by Postroad at 7:01 AM on February 5, 2003


Pistols at dawn?

Too early, Too violent.

Howzabout Supersoakers, maybe 3 in the afternoon, if there's nothing good on TV, of course.
posted by jonmc at 7:05 AM on February 5, 2003


Supersoakers? Hmm. I like it. But how about we each choose a representative to stand in for us to shoot the cold water at? See where I'm going here, my brotha?

I'll take the lovely Ms. Tyler, of course.
posted by vito90 at 7:11 AM on February 5, 2003


Sorry. I'm having some Mozilla Tab confusion issues. I asked Matt to delete the above.
posted by ParisParamus at 7:12 AM on February 5, 2003


Because, you know, there's no conceivable reason to date/marry/fuck besides childbearing, and everyone wants kids.

I was speaking from an evolutionary standpoint. The drive to procreate is pretty well hard-wired into us; recreational sex is a luxury. That said, it's a luxury I'm glad the species can now afford, and you certainly have my blessing to go recreate or procreate with whomever you want.
posted by hippugeek at 7:23 AM on February 5, 2003




The model is Mia Tyler, Liv Tyler's sister, Steven Tyler's daughter.

I'd pick Mia over Liv any day. Liv looks like a giraffe or something.
posted by oissubke at 7:48 AM on February 5, 2003


can i get in on this souper soaker gig?

NSFW-unfinished-biggerGirlThanMia_porno-self_link ... but since there's fellow admirers in the house, what the hell ... Simone Cherie
posted by danOstuporStar at 7:54 AM on February 5, 2003


Thats a.wholelottawoman.org
posted by Jeremy at 7:54 AM on February 5, 2003


Setting aside all questions about health and desirability of the models pictured in the photo--

--this is a fashion show for a manufacturer who makes plus-sized clothing only. Who else would be modeling the clothes other than women large enough to wear them? The reason Mia Tyler is showing off the bra is to model the bra to other size-14-and-above women who might want to buy one, not to provide bureaustyle with a delightful aesthetic experience.

I also didn't get the "this is not a race thing." That strikes me as one of those phrases that invariably means its opposite (like "I don't mean to be rude"), but I literally can't imagine its relevance here.
posted by Sidhedevil at 8:11 AM on February 5, 2003


I've even been told by single men, "Gawd, you'd be the perfect woman if you just lost some weight"

I sincerely hope you punched these people right where they fuck.

I also think the woman is lovely. This thread is intermittently depressing.
posted by Skot at 8:45 AM on February 5, 2003


Damn straight. The world needs more "I'm healthy" women and less "starve myself till I look like a twig" women.

I see women like the one referenced in the link, and I think "aww yeah, you could give her a bear hug and not worry. You give Callista Flockhart a bear hug, she'd snap in half like a #2 pencil."

I'm a *guy*, and I've got a Lane Bryant gold card, used to buy clothes for my girlfriends. They've got *great* stuff for people that are *normal*, healthy, but yet fit somewhere in between Old Navy and Bob's House O' Tents.
posted by mrbill at 8:45 AM on February 5, 2003


Luckily these models have other things to think about rather than whether Metafilter men want to have sex with them or not.
posted by witchstone at 8:48 AM on February 5, 2003


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