Memo To Karl: Curves Are In, You Are Out
 Monday, June 15th, 2009  by Connie T.

We wouldn't exactly expect 75-year old Karl Lagerfeld to know what's in or out anymore...but he could at least run his comments by a modern publicist before spouting off like this. Lagerfeld recently got catty, telling press, "Heidi Klum is no runway model. She is simply too heavy and has too big a bust. And she always grins so stupidly. That is not avant-garde - that is commercial!" He went on to make a beyond rude comment about Heidi's husband Seal's complexion (a result of discoid lupus erythematosus), saying, "I am no dermatologist but I wouldn't want his skin. Mine looks better than his. He is covered in craters." Not cool at all.

We already knew Karl was out of fashion when he decided to defend using real fur in fashion, calling anti-fur protestors mission to save animals from barbaric fur industry practices as "childish." With this latest stunt, though...well, we just wonder if he's prepared to make this kind of commentary about Tyra Banks and see what happens! He had to choose sweet, eloquent little Heidi to pick on.

Suddenly - yes, like Tyra's "Kiss my fat ass!" viral video clip - women in the spotlight are starting to take a stand for healthy vs. frail and feeble.

Left, Mariah at the Apollo Theater 75th Anniversary Gala in NYC last week, via CelebUtopia;
Right, Kelly Clarkson at the Women's World Awards this year, via Tsui

Mariah Carey, often a target for her weight changes, has said she moved her personal trainer in with her, but is still maintaining the va-va-voom of her physique. Husband Nick Cannon told US Mag recently, "I always tell her, 'Girl, you've got all those curves and me with no brakes.'" He added, "It ain't about trying to be super-skinny. That's not what's hot. It's about what's inside."

A week or so ago, I was listening to a pop radio station, when the DJ came on and said, "Have you seen these latest pictures of Kelly Clarkson performing? I've posted them on my blog under the title, 'I Do Not Hook Up Work Out.'" I had to check myself before I drove down to the studio and guy (no Ryan Reynolds himself) what for. But Kelly is taking the mainstream media's criticism in stride.

"For seven years it's been happening," she says. "It's like, 'OK, cool, the fat joke.'" She says she runs when she feels she needs to, but isn't trying to be a size zero. "I am just being me," she says. And America chose her for who she is and what she can do, not the circumference of her thighs.

Our conclusion? The majority of the negative hype comes from the media (mostly the loud and trashtastic media), with a few Lagerfeld exceptions. The trend is being healthy and loving your own body, which, given the pressure of non-conformity, is actually the harder thing to do. This July's Glamour published a letter from Alexander Fallows of New York City, which stated, "It was so wonderful to come upon [Glamour's May 2009 feature] 'Now That's A Sexy Swimsuit!' and see a beautiful girl with my figure - without the horrid, demeaning tokenism of mentioning she's a plus-sized model. Thanks for showing that girls above size 4 can look amazing in bikinis!"

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