Body Hatred Baby Clothes

U.K. retail giant Tesco is selling these "Does my bum look big in this?" shirts for baby girls in size 3-6 months. Better hold off on that breast milk and formula, lil munchkin! Looks like you've got some...what do you call that? Oh, yeah. Baby fat.

I'm betting the mommies who are drawn to these shirts are probably so used to talking smack about their own bums that they're totally clueless about why it might be, I don't know, WRONG to hand down their body issues to their daughters in the form of a message tee. And one more thing: How would anyone's bum look big in a t-shirt, anyway? Just asking. Or is that the joke? I'm gonna say not funny. [Any-Body]

Write to Tesco and tell them this shirt is beyond ridic.

Fashion Week Has Issues... And That's Good News

New York Fashion Week kicks off tomorrow amid serious conversations about diversity of size, shape, and ethnicity on the runway. The buzz word is "change." And while that trend might be slow to take off, it's certainly one we're committed to following for the long haul.

CFDA Health Initiative Chair Nian Fish tells us that CFDA President Diane Von Furstenberg sent out a letter in advance of the New York shows reminding designers to follow the guidelines set out last year.

Three industry forums have been held in New York to discuss the lack of models of color on the runway.

Newly-appointed Chairman of the British Fashion Council Harold Tillman intends to enforce strict adherence to the Model Health Inquiry's recommendations. "If the British Fashion Council weren't doing something about it I wouldn't have joined," he told The Evening Standard. London Fashion Week starts February 10th. [British Vogue]

"Real people models" are turning up in ads and on runways in other cities. Will we see any during New York Fashion Week? Time will tell. [Newsweek]

Model Mentors

Runways are filled with girls modeling clothes meant for women. Behind the scenes, these young models' careers depend on their ability to behave with savvy and sophistication well beyond their years. Their physical and emotional health depends on whether they can manage to stay grounded in an industry built on fantasy. Veteran models who have been there, done that, and lived to tell about it could have a lot of guidance to offer these girls. That's why the British Fashion Council's newly appointed chairman Harold Tillman is advocating for model mentoring.

"These are women that younger models admire," he said. "We should get these original supermodels on board and get them more involved." Tillman is also serious about adhering to the guidelines developed by the Model Health Inquiry. "Many girls are looking after themselves but there is unfortunately a minority that isn't. We need the rest of Europe and the rest of the world on board." [British Vogue]

New Miss America Will Focus on Raising Awareness of Eating Disorders

Kirsten Haglund from Michigan was crowned Miss America on Saturday. The 19-year-old was diagnosed with anorexia when she was sixteen and says her disorder was triggered by pressures she felt when she was trying to become a professional ballerina. She plans to spend her "reign" educating others about the dangers of eating disorders.

To Kirsten's credit, she avoided talking specifics about her weight and eating behaviors in her interview with the Associated Press (although the reporter did throw in the shocking info that Kirsten actually ate the chocolates on her pillow in the hotel. OMG!). It would be great if she continued her outreach with the same savvy. We would also love to see her work in partnership with a reputable organization like the National Eating Disorders Association.

And of course we hope that Kirsten takes care of herself in her own recovery. Ballet is not the field to be in when you're trying to overcome anorexia, but the pageant circuit is no picnic either. [AP]

Diversity and Responsibility in Fashion

With NYC Fashion Week fast approaching, agency owner Bethann Hardison hosted a forum this week to discuss the absence of models of color on the runways and in the pages of fashion magazines. This was the third event in a series she launched in September.

The topic is an important one, and we were especially pleased to see that some of the most vocal contributors to this conversation have also been leaders when it comes to addressing the issue of eating disorders and other health issues affecting the industry. Nian Fish of KCD, who chairs the CFDA Health Initiative (and who we interviewed about her role) and creative director James Scully, who has been a strong proponent of eating disorders education and awareness, both spoke at this week's forum. Their leadership is evident in their ongoing willingness to take responsibility, start tough conversations and to speak the truth about their own experiences in order to bring about positive changes.

In a message he wrote for the diversity forum, Vogue editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley expanded on the Obama slogan (he is currently volunteering for the campaign) to say "change we can believe in has to happen." We'll second that.

For more coverage, check out Jezebel.

"How Not to Look Old" is a Bestseller. Meanwhile, 16 People Die From Botox.

It's not such a shocker that How Not to Look Old by former Glamour beauty director Charla Krupp is a hit. Forget growing old gracefully. Ageism is a very real prejudice, and women are expected to fight tooth and nail to get rid of those gray hairs and beat back the wrinkles if they want to compete for jobs (including that title of President of the U.S. of A.) and be taken seriously in today's world.

“My book is hitting a nerve because I am giving not looking old a spin as if your life depended on it,” Ms. Krupp told The New York Times. Well, if Botox is part of your "not looking old" plan, that question of life and death is no laughing matter. Consumer advocacy group Public Citizen is now asking the FDA to include a strong warning with Botox after reviewing reports of 16 deaths related to injections. So our lives depend on looking young, but cosmetic procedures might kill us. Is it Friday yet?

"Nice Resume. Have You Considered Botox?"
"U.S. Group Seeks Botox Warning After 16 Death Reports."

Coming to a Bookstore Near You: Professor Happy Cat's Guide to the Lolcats and The Skinny Bitch Journal

Random but entertaining news...

Word on the street is that Gotham is publishing I Can Has Cheezburger's Professor Happy Cat's Guide to the Lolcats this fall. It will feature old and new images from the blog.

Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin have sold Skinny Bitch Journal, for publication in early 2009. "Dear Diary, last night I had a dream about a thick, bloody steak. I couldn't help but wonder: Is 'skinny bitch' just another term for a really freakin' hungry lady?" A Skinny Bitch book adapting their message for guys will hit shelves in fall of 2009. Enough already! Do not want.

[Publishers Marketplace, sub required]