The size of things to come

In my last column I mentioned an incident at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week in which a swimwear label caused outrage by using real women in its show? Well I?m happy to report that the trend appears to have spread to southern Europe; and not only that, it?s been given the seal of approval by at least some members of the fashion community there.
The Spanish have done something truly weird -- tantamount in weirdness to banning bullfights or declaring that chorizo sausages should be venerated as earthly manifestations of the pagan god of spring; they?ve implemented the world's first ban on thin models at a high profile Madrid fashion show. Organisers of the event ? which takes place annually -- used the body mass index or BMI - based on weight and height - to measure models, turning away 30 per cent of women who had taken part the previous year.
They (the organisers) had removed the fluff from their ears and heeded warnings from protest bodies that young women developed eating disorders by trying to copy models? rail-thin looks.
How to respond to such an unprecedented attack of common sense?
What can I say? "WHOOPEEEEEEE!," Springs to mind?
Needless to say representatives from New York's Elite modelling agency ? let?s call them the "thinnists" whinged that the fashion industry was being used as a scapegoat for illnesses like anorexia and bulimia? which is a bit like claiming that Christmas is ?used? as a scapegoat for the habit of giving presents, singing carols and falling asleep in front of the television every December.
The Madrid show was even described by thinnists as discrimination against models and designers, who claimed the move could harm the careers of "naturally gazelle-like" models.
What can I say? "GET OVER IT!," springs to mind?
Because frankly I want to know how the thousands of "naturally women-like" models that have been forced into nine-to-five jobs -- usually as journalists ?- are going to be compensated for years of being overlooked and underpaid, and am already planning how I can sue a number of model agencies for "discrimination".
The Spanish?s stand for normal women is yet another validation of us size 14s and up, and leads me to wonder whether the ground swell could be turning into a tidal wave.
Which brings me, naturally, to bras, and news of National Breast Pride Week, New Zealand?s recent celebration a "positive and intelligent" view of DD plus cup sizes.
After more than two decades in the underwear business, National Breast Pride Week spokesperson Carol Rashleigh says she's seen girth sizes grow, and with them bust sizes.
She has also noted a recent burgeoning market for lacy, attractive lingerie for those of us who are, shall we say, well endowed.
"What we're trying to say with the awareness week is that it's okay to have big breasts. It's more common than not," she says.
What can I say? "THANKS CAROLE. LOVE YOUR WORK!," springs to mind.