Spain Makes Sense of Fashion

The Washington Post reports that Spain's government has decided to implment a five year plan to standardize women's clothing sizes. Several major designers have agrred to take part in the program. (hat tip: Broadsheet)

The program, designed by the Health Ministry, will also prevent those companies from using window displays featuring clothes smaller than a European size 38 (10 in Britain, 8 in the United States). They will have five years to phase in the change.

The Spanish Health Ministry seeks to establish beauty that is not "removed from the social reality of a community," and designers should "promote a healthy phsyical image that conforms with the reality of the Spanish population". In order to determine what real Spanish women are, "the ministry plans to measure 8,500 Spanish girls and women between the ages of 12 and 70."

It's really great to hear that a country is taking steps to stop this never ending search for size 0. Limiting displays to a minimum of a size 8 (US) is a great place to start. Any more a size 8 is viewed as "big" by the fashion industry. It's disturbing, especially when the average American woman wears a size 12.

And really, how great would it be to know for sure that a size 8 is a size 8 everywhere. I hate that I can wear anything from a size 2 to a size 10, depending on the designer. Even within the same brand, I can fluctuate between sizes (though in a smaller range). I don't know how Spain plans to implement this plan or keep the designers in compliance, but it's a great place to start. It's definitely better than the Council of Fashion Designers of America regulations.