Models

Smile Like You Mean It

Thursday, Feb 22, 2007 / 12:27 PM

lisacantunsmile.jpglisacantsmiley.jpg
The New York Times has a cryptic quiz online today, a sort of test to answer the big question, “Why are the models scowling?”
Among the answers guessed by readers…

“It cannot possibly be that by smiling, the models think it makes their faces look fatter. Can it?”
“Smiling represent the desire to please, and pleasing is a strategy for social success that smaller, less attractive people use.”
“I’m going to guess that it has something to do with lack of personality.”
“Smiling is a submissive gesture. Haute couture is all about power and exclusivity.”
“THE DESIGNER HAS TOLD THEM, NO SMILE ON THE RUNWAY!”
“The models are scowling because their hungry, thats pretty obvious.”

A note on that last explanation – Virginia Heffernan recently wrote in The Times Magazine on the loss of humor in anorexia patients (actually, it was about how sitcom writers are usually overweight, but that was in there). We genuinely don’t believe most models are anorexic, but during Fashion Week, they are certainly tired and often hungry from working such long hours.
The answer to this mystery won’t appear on the Times site until tomorrow, but at least now we can ponder – again – why the smiling models at Michael Kors looked so odd.


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Comments [41]

I feel like models don’t smile because your attention is supposed to be on the clothes not on their faces, no?

I feel like models don’t smile because your attention is supposed to be on the clothes not on their faces, no?

I feel like models don’t smile because your attention is supposed to be on the clothes not on their faces, no?

Omigod!
THAT’S why Marc won’t read my Office spec!
And why bags fly out of his Melrose store… they fit funny girls!
[smile, smile, desperate smile]
xoxo

Omigod!
THAT’S why Marc won’t read my Office spec!
And why bags fly out of his Melrose store… they fit funny girls!
[smile, smile, desperate smile]
xoxo

but Lisa looks so much better in the smile photo, don’t you agree?

but Lisa looks so much better in the smile photo, don’t you agree?

but Lisa looks so much better in the smile photo, don’t you agree?

but Lisa looks so much better in the smile photo, don’t you agree?

Fashionista: “We genuinely don’t believe most models are anorexic.”
Who writes this shit? The clueless ‘Fashionista’ obviously has never been to a fashion show and seen the nasty bones poking out of models’ frail, wasted bodies.

Fashionista: “We genuinely don’t believe most models are anorexic.”
Who writes this shit? The clueless ‘Fashionista’ obviously has never been to a fashion show and seen the nasty bones poking out of models’ frail, wasted bodies.

Fashionista: “We genuinely don’t believe most models are anorexic.”
Who writes this shit? The clueless ‘Fashionista’ obviously has never been to a fashion show and seen the nasty bones poking out of models’ frail, wasted bodies.

Actually, what’s ‘clueless’ is the way those who aren’t in the industry assume that every model must have a health problem because her body conforms to a difficult industry ideal. Thanks for the comment though.

Actually, what’s ‘clueless’ is the way those who aren’t in the industry assume that every model must have a health problem because her body conforms to a difficult industry ideal. Thanks for the comment though.

Faran darling, don’t assume I’m not in the industry just because I think models are grotesquely skinny. In fact, you’d be surprised to know who I am. Perhaps I’ll introduce myself next time you crash one of my parties…god knows you and your annoying Paris-Hilton wannabe friends are never actually invited (and never will be!).

Faran darling, don’t assume I’m not in the industry just because I think models are grotesquely skinny. In fact, you’d be surprised to know who I am. Perhaps I’ll introduce myself next time you crash one of my parties…god knows you and your annoying Paris-Hilton wannabe friends are never actually invited (and never will be!).

Faran darling, don’t assume I’m not in the industry just because I think models are grotesquely skinny. In fact, you’d be surprised to know who I am. Perhaps I’ll introduce myself next time you crash one of my parties…god knows you and your annoying Paris-Hilton wannabe friends are never actually invited (and never will be!).

Faran darling, don’t assume I’m not in the industry just because I think models are grotesquely skinny. In fact, you’d be surprised to know who I am. Perhaps I’ll introduce myself next time you crash one of my parties…god knows you and your annoying Paris-Hilton wannabe friends are never actually invited (and never will be!).

ha! you’re definitely not in the industry, at least not mine – I have very few friends and I haven’t been to a proper party in weeks ;)

ha! you’re definitely not in the industry, at least not mine – I have very few friends and I haven’t been to a proper party in weeks ;)

ha! you’re definitely not in the industry, at least not mine – I have very few friends and I haven’t been to a proper party in weeks ;)

ha! you’re definitely not in the industry, at least not mine – I have very few friends and I haven’t been to a proper party in weeks ;)

Please, please, please, stop trying to kiss up to the models– “We genuinely don’t believe most models are anorexic, but during Fashion Week, they are certainly tired and often hungry from working such long hours.” You’re not friend with them, stop trying to make us think you are with your “kiss, kiss, love ya girls!” posts. We’re not stupid…not sure we can say the same for you.

please…let’s all continue to use the term anorexic in a derogatory fashion…that’s really helping….i’m sure all the disgustingly thin and frail anorectics are really grateful for the attention.

please…let’s all continue to use the term anorexic in a derogatory fashion…that’s really helping….i’m sure all the disgustingly thin and frail anorectics are really grateful for the attention.

please…let’s all continue to use the term anorexic in a derogatory fashion…that’s really helping….i’m sure all the disgustingly thin and frail anorectics are really grateful for the attention.

please…let’s all continue to use the term anorexic in a derogatory fashion…that’s really helping….i’m sure all the disgustingly thin and frail anorectics are really grateful for the attention.

I don’t think most models are anorexic either. For the most part they make it in that industry because they are built like that. My own sister is 5’10″ and barely weighs 100lbs. She’s not even close to anorexic (girl eats like a horse most days!) yet her bones stick out all over the place. Some people really do just look like that.
And I like that the models don’t smile. When they do the show becomes about how pretty they are instead of how pretty the clothes are (or aren’t…)

I don’t think most models are anorexic either. For the most part they make it in that industry because they are built like that. My own sister is 5’10″ and barely weighs 100lbs. She’s not even close to anorexic (girl eats like a horse most days!) yet her bones stick out all over the place. Some people really do just look like that.
And I like that the models don’t smile. When they do the show becomes about how pretty they are instead of how pretty the clothes are (or aren’t…)

I don’t think most models are anorexic either. For the most part they make it in that industry because they are built like that. My own sister is 5’10″ and barely weighs 100lbs. She’s not even close to anorexic (girl eats like a horse most days!) yet her bones stick out all over the place. Some people really do just look like that.
And I like that the models don’t smile. When they do the show becomes about how pretty they are instead of how pretty the clothes are (or aren’t…)

I don’t think most models are anorexic either. For the most part they make it in that industry because they are built like that. My own sister is 5’10″ and barely weighs 100lbs. She’s not even close to anorexic (girl eats like a horse most days!) yet her bones stick out all over the place. Some people really do just look like that.
And I like that the models don’t smile. When they do the show becomes about how pretty they are instead of how pretty the clothes are (or aren’t…)

I don’t think most models are anorexic either. For the most part they make it in that industry because they are built like that. My own sister is 5’10″ and barely weighs 100lbs. She’s not even close to anorexic (girl eats like a horse most days!) yet her bones stick out all over the place. Some people really do just look like that.
And I like that the models don’t smile. When they do the show becomes about how pretty they are instead of how pretty the clothes are (or aren’t…)

I don’t think most models are anorexic either. For the most part they make it in that industry because they are built like that. My own sister is 5’10″ and barely weighs 100lbs. She’s not even close to anorexic (girl eats like a horse most days!) yet her bones stick out all over the place. Some people really do just look like that.
And I like that the models don’t smile. When they do the show becomes about how pretty they are instead of how pretty the clothes are (or aren’t…)

I don’t think most models are anorexic either. For the most part they make it in that industry because they are built like that. My own sister is 5’10″ and barely weighs 100lbs. She’s not even close to anorexic (girl eats like a horse most days!) yet her bones stick out all over the place. Some people really do just look like that.
And I like that the models don’t smile. When they do the show becomes about how pretty they are instead of how pretty the clothes are (or aren’t…)

I don’t think most models are anorexic either. For the most part they make it in that industry because they are built like that. My own sister is 5’10″ and barely weighs 100lbs. She’s not even close to anorexic (girl eats like a horse most days!) yet her bones stick out all over the place. Some people really do just look like that.
And I like that the models don’t smile. When they do the show becomes about how pretty they are instead of how pretty the clothes are (or aren’t…)

since when does writing enthusastic posts about models count as “kissing up”? are you just afraid someone in the industry might have a different opinion than the outsider screamers who claim that every single model out there doesn’t eat, ever?

since when does writing enthusastic posts about models count as “kissing up”? are you just afraid someone in the industry might have a different opinion than the outsider screamers who claim that every single model out there doesn’t eat, ever?

since when does writing enthusastic posts about models count as “kissing up”? are you just afraid someone in the industry might have a different opinion than the outsider screamers who claim that every single model out there doesn’t eat, ever?

since when does writing enthusastic posts about models count as “kissing up”? are you just afraid someone in the industry might have a different opinion than the outsider screamers who claim that every single model out there doesn’t eat, ever?

since when does writing enthusastic posts about models count as “kissing up”? are you just afraid someone in the industry might have a different opinion than the outsider screamers who claim that every single model out there doesn’t eat, ever?

Please, please, please, stop trying to kiss up to the models– “We genuinely don't believe most models are anorexic, but during Fashion Week, they are certainly tired and often hungry from working such long hours.” You're not friend with them, stop trying to make us think you are with your “kiss, kiss, love ya girls!” posts. We're not stupid…not sure we can say the same for you.

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