Member-only story
Self
Unusual Model Exposes Ugly Underbelly of Fashion World
A PR stunt that turned into a step for body positivity.
I’d arrived that morning.
It was my first time visiting New York City.
I’d expected some level of eccentricity. The city is famous for it.
I hadn’t realized that it was Fashion Week. Even further, I was staying in a hotel alongside many head designers.
The highlight was when I’d just boarded the lobby elevator.
Just before the doors closed all the way, they paused and opened back up, revealing two men. One had heart-shaped tinted glasses on. The other had aqua-colored hair. Both wore neon bright colors and were stoned-faced.
It was a total caricature of what you’d expect designers to look like.
They stood beside me and, while looking straight forward, said, “Eight please”.
I obliged.
From behind the camera, it’s hard to stand out in the fashion industry. In front? It’s a bit easier — given how homogenous models can be.
Gucci managed to do so and generated huge viewership while exposing a still-ugly side of the fashion world.
