Male Models are Feeling the Skinny Pressure, Too

Fashion PR spin says male models are getting skinnier because of consumer demand for that look (yeah, right) while casting agents point to Hedi Slimane (nope, the last name is not lost on us), former head of Dior Homme, who is credited with setting the scrawny chic dude trend in motion. There are theories o' plenty, but not too many definitive answers--and even fewer proposed solutions. As has been the case from the beginning of the discussions about the unhealthy size of models, this is a classic game of responsibility hot potato. But the bottom line is that men on the runways are shrinking.

Demián Tkach is a 26-year-old model who said that when he came here from Mexico, where he had been working: “My agency asked me to lose some muscle. I lost a little bit to help them, because I understand the designers are not looking for a male image anymore. They’re looking for some kind of androgyne.” [New York Times]