The latest in this season’s photoshop horror stories is in–this time, the culprit is Ann Taylor LOFT.
In yet another swimsuit Photoshop fail, LOFT’s ad features a girl whose top half is vastly disproportionate to her bottom half. Well, unless her waist actually does look like that, in which case I offer my sincerest apologies. It’s clear that her upper half was reduced while her bottom half was overlooked. Her arm is also way too skinny and disproportionate to belong with her bottom half. I’m not saying her thigh gap was emphasized either, but you could drive a Hummer through there.
This brings to mind just one question for me. Why do we have to Photoshop our models at all? In my mind, there are two easy ways to solve this dilemma. First, you could follow the examples of companies like Aerie or Dove that proudly use real women with real bodies of all shapes and sizes. Or, if you do want a rail-thin model for your swimsuits at all costs, why not hold a casting call for models who already fit that ideal image? Photoshop fails like this teach women that thin, healthy, and beautiful is unattainable, when that clearly is not the case.
What we need to stop doing is telling girls that being Photoshopped is beautiful. Real is beautiful. Now, I’m not saying that thin or healthy or toned should be shamed. In fact, I’m saying the opposite. Why do we teach girls that Photoshop is the only way to achieve a great look, as opposed to proper diet and exercise? I’m disappointed in LOFT, but I hope this sparks a discussion–girls look beautiful on their own, and girls can be healthy without Photoshop. Here’s hoping the change in the industry happens sooner rather than later.
[via Jezebel]