YSL AD BANNED: how thin is too thin?

Image source: The Mirror

In the UK, The Advertising Standards Authority have removed and banned an ad image for French fashion house Yves Saint Laurent, because the model in the image appeared to be too thin.

The advert shows a model with, what I would consider, extremely 'thin legs' and 'a visible ribcage', laying on the floor wearing a LBD (little black dress for all you squares).

The ASA released their ruling yesterday; their statement,

“The ASA considered that the model’s pose and the particular lighting effect in the ad drew particular focus to the model’s chest, where her rib cage was visible and appeared prominent, and to her legs, where her thighs and knees appeared a similar width, and which looked very thin, particularly in light of her positioning and the contrast between the narrowness of her legs and her platform shoes. We therefore considered that the model appeared unhealthily underweight in the image and concluded that the ad was irresponsible.”

The image appeared in Elle magazine in the UK, and thus was brought to the ASA's attention by a reader who thought the model looked unhealthy, and the ad was irresponsible.

In the statement, the ASA also mention that YSL did not agree that the model was too thin. I dont think they have eyes. This is what really bothers me about the fashion industry; you have heavy weights like YSL not caring about the health of their models, like the one featured, yet people like Chrissy Teigen have been ridiculed for being and looking healthy and beautiful.

Minimum weight restrictions for models has been a topic of much debate in recent years. The French Government even made a ruling that models must show medical evidence of having a BMI above 18 to be able to work. Modelling agencies can even be heavily fined if they are found booking jobs for models that don't meet that requirement. I am beginning to think that France is actually full of great ideas to help the greater good- health and wellbeing of the people on this earth.

YSL's banned image:

Image source: The Guardian