The dangerously emaciated look is so common that I’m almost desensitized to it. Almost.
It has to be pretty bad for it to make my jaw drop and my rage spike.

But it still happens.
From the Urban Outfitters splash page. Under the heading “Summer Time”.
“Yeah, we’re going to have to shoot the model sitting down, because if she stands up her shin bones will snap.”
Reminds me of this post over at Photoshop Disasters.



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seven comments
I agree the skinny models thing is sick,
but some people are just skinny, by nature,
and now we're picking on them almost as much as large people.
Posted by Sarah
June 14, 2008, 11:35 AM
It's not about criticizing people for being skinny, but the fashion industry for expecting it and for sending the message that you must be painfully skinny to be beautiful by only ever using models with pencil-thin legs like this.
Posted by Cate
June 14, 2008, 12:38 PM
Absolutely Sarah, some people are skinny by nature. But there is no way the model in this picture (or the way she's been retouched to appear) represents anything but being very unhealthy.
From looking at the shadows, I'd actually say there's a good chance an already skinny model has had her calves airbrushed out.
Posted by Catherine
June 14, 2008, 3:38 PM
Eww. Naturally skinny is one thing, but showing that is just not cool.
Posted by Lindsay
June 14, 2008, 6:07 PM
Yes, I supose so.
Posted by Sarah
June 15, 2008, 9:59 PM
I love how the internet and the ubiquity of photoshop has turned everyone into a photographic forensics expert.
Posted by Pragmatica
June 16, 2008, 9:23 AM
I love how the ubiquity of Photoshop means more people use it and understand how it works. And are better able to recognize this garbage when they see it.
Posted by Catherine
June 16, 2008, 10 AM
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