Fashion Week: Where are the Grown-Ups?

Ever feel a disconnect when you are looking at fashion show photos?

It may not be just because the clothes are weird or unwearable: it may be because the models themselves are young enough to be your grandchildren.

Although the Council of Fashion Designers of America issued a recommendation that designers only employ models over the age of 16, CFDA member Marc Jacobs this week used several 14 year olds according to The New York Times.

That's right: a middle-schooler is parading around wearing clothes you are supposed to want to buy.

Look, this argument about underage models is nothing new (Remember Brooke Shields? She was just 14 when she became the face of Calvin Klein jeans.).  But that doesn't make it any less creepy.

Why does a fashion designer need a 14-year-old to wear his or her clothes? Or use a man modeling womens' clothes, for that matter (which is what happened when a feminine-featured model was used not long ago).?

What's so wrong with real women that we don't deserve to be represented on the runway?

I'll tell you what part of it is: we have curves. And as much as our men may love our curves, they present problems for fashion designers. It's not easy to make full-legged trousers lay right over size 12 hips or have a beaded bodice tunic hang correctly over double Ds.

Instead, most fashion looks best on models who are nothing more than hangers: tall, skinny and with no breasts (hence, the need for those younger, skinnier gals.)

But set aside the fact that the clothes work better on the youngsters, and think for a minute about what these middle-school girls are being exposed to: the fashion crowd is not exactly known for its clean living and healthy habits.

What do you think about fashion designers using underage models?

More Fashion Week for Grown-Ups:

• What to Wear to Fashion Week
• 5 Fashion Labels for Grown-Ups
• My Fashion Week Crushes